Tag - science teachers

Great Workshop at NSTA 2005

What do you get when you cram 83 teachers into a small room with an endless supply of kitchen chemistry ingredients? You get an outstanding teacher workshop at the NSTA 2005 convention in Dallas. Kathy Denman, Mary Pat Weingardt, and John Walsh presented a great workshop entitled, “Eye-catching Demos Guaranteed to Get Kids Excited About Learning.” This picture was taken just seconds after the eruption of a giant Mentos Fountain. Kathy shared her experiences connecting science with popular pieces of children’s literature. On his way to the convention, John Walsh discovered that the TSA agents at the airport also like science. That’s why they decided to keep (confiscate) over half of his demos. But John’s a true pro and pulled together some great demos centered around light and optical illusions. John finshed up with a vinegar-powered rocket that lauched nicely, but covered the entire front row in residue! Mary Pat Weingardt presented a wonderful collection of classic pieces of children’s literature and build solid connections to hands-on science activities. It’s no wonder Mary Pat is a Presidential Award recipient in math and science.

Corporate training needs an overhaul

Corporate trainers should take a lesson from teachers (and perhaps little ol’ me) on how to inspire the people they’re teaching. Today, the buzz word in corporate training is “interactive”, but few trainers truly understand the meaning. To many traininers, the concept of “interactive” learning means, “Break into groups of 5 or so and share your thoughts and dreams with regard to baked Ziti.” That’s not interactive… that’s an easy way to spot a trainer who doesn’t have enough content to fill the day! I might be completely dead in the water, but I don’t think that most workshop participants find value in “discussion groups.” Try doing this with a group of 8th graders and they’ll eat you alive.

I hear some fantastic stories from science teachers around the country who have captured the hearts and minds of their students, not by parlour tricks, but with some amazing methods that involve and engage them. Just imagine starting the day off by inviting the class to decide if the regulation bowling ball will float or sink when Maria drops it in the huge aquarium filled with water. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to
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