In summer 2024, Appalachian Laboratory Associate Professor Dr. Emily Cohen and Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Claire Nemes, along with Dr. Mary Stapleton of the Towson University Center for STEM Excellence, will offer a unique summer workshop experience for Maryland middle and high school teachers.
“We’re excited to partner with the Center for STEM Excellence on this workshop,” said Cohen. “Supporting Maryland teachers and providing them with tools involved in the latest research is important to fostering the next generation of scientists working in our field.”
Science in Sync: Professional Learning Experience for Maryland Teachers will engage participants in the study of plant and animal phenology, examining how human activity influences patterns of events in animal and plant life cycles. During the workshop, attendees will participate in both field and classroom exercises with researchers, developing questions, collecting observations, and learning how to use existing datasets. Participants will also critically reflect on the use of volunteer-collected, or citizen science, data, exploring issues of bias and identity. Through these exercises, participants will develop their own Classroom Implementation Projects (CIP) for use in their classrooms during the 2024-2025 school year.
“Teachers inspire their students to be curious and explore the world around them,” said Nemes. “Through this workshop we will provide participating teachers with the tools they need to prepare their students to ask and answer thoughtful questions about the animal and plant life cycle events they see every day in their own backyards.”
The in-person workshop will take place July 1-3, 2024, at the Center for STEM Excellence in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendees will also complete asynchronous learning activities prior to the workshop and a virtual session following the workshop. Participants will earn a $500 stipend and three (3) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits upon completion. Teachers from all STEM disciplines are welcome to participate.
Early Bird Registration ends Thursday, March 13. Apply now through the online application or see the attached program flyer for additional information.
