Workshop Descriptor
Science is organized curiosity.
We must provide students with opportunities to be curious.
And then we must teach them how to organize that curiosity.
To organize that curiosity we use scientific thinking.
This workshop is a hands-on-minds-on opportunity for participants to play with some of the 50 activities I have created or adapted which enable students to master each critical thinking skill of the scientific process.
For Teachers of Primary and Elementary: These thinking skills… Show more can be honed in very young students. Teach students the difference between a scientific question and a non-scientific question. Teach students how to hypothesize. Teach them how to observe, how to draw a conclusion, how to evaluate the fairness of a test. This workshop shares specific activities for each stage of the process.
For Teachers of Middle School Science: There is an assumption that students pick up scientific thinking while they are doing experiments on science topics. My students aren’t able to do this. I’ve made the mistake of explicitly teaching the science topics but not explicitly teaching the scientific thinking. By the end of the unit students know something about air pressure but still have not mastered how to design a fair test. This workshop corrects that practice. Scientific thinking needs to be broken down into discrete skills. Teach students the difference between a scientific question and a non-scientific question. Teach students how to hypothesize. Teach them how to observe, how to draw a conclusion, how to evaluate the fairness of a test. This workshop shares specific activities for each stage of the process.
Participants will:
Affirm that scientific thinking is not elusive but is used daily by everyone.
Take away ideas that spark curiosity in students of all ages.
Take away 50 activities they can use next week to develop these important critical thinking skills.
Take away activities that help us know what students are thinking.
Take away activities that help us teach students how to think.
Workshop Leader Biography: Jane Altemen
Jane Altemen has been a teacher and administrator for 26 years in Canada, the Middle East, Europe, and now South-East Asia. In the classroom she teaches Grade 11, 12 Chemistry, Grade 6 to 10 Science, Grade 6 to 10 Math. She runs science clubs for youngsters in Kindergarten through to Grade 5. With a degree in Neuroscience, Jane’s teaching practice is dominated by Brain-Based Learning, coupled with Visible Thinking Routines, and the Understanding by Design paradigm.
Her favourite lesson moments are when she:
1. Upsets her students with a discrepant event . Your students always want to know more when you show them something that doesn't make sense.
2. Gets her students on the edge of their seat as a science event is just about to happen. Then she suddenly stops and shouts ‘ PREDICT!! ’ The students know she wont continue the event until they’ve given a justified guess about what they think will happen. You must get your students’ attention if you want them to inquire authentically.
3. Correctly forecasts misconceptions students will have about the concepts. For true understanding, the brain must construct its own connections and it is easy for misunderstandings to be propagated long-term if left undetected.
4. Helps students correct their misconceptions . The future belongs to metacognitive thinkers.
5. Inspires her students to create create create new solutions, new problems, new passions. The future belongs to creators and meaning makers.
Workshop Timings:
Saturday 1 November
8.30 - 9.00 Introduction to the workshops
9.00 - 10.30 Session One
10.30 - 11.00 Break (snacks provided)
11.00 - 1.00 Session Two
1.00 - 1.45 Lunch (lunch provided)
1.45 - 3.45 Session Three
Sunday 2 November
8.30 - 10.30 Session Four
10.30 - 11.00 Break (snacks provided)
11.00 - 1.00 Session Five (conclusion of workshop)
Certificate
All participants will receive a certificate of participation for the workshop.
Costs
Early Bird Fee: US$250
Registration fee after the 15 August: US$280
Registration fee after the 15 Septemberl: US$310
Cancellation Policy
Please note that each workshop will proceed based on participant registration. Innovative Global Education will inform you by October 1st, 2014 if the workshop is to be cancelled. If the workshop is cancelled your full payment will be reimbursed.
Workshop Participation
If Innovative Global Education is informed by October 1st, 2014 that a participant is unable to attend the workshop, a full refund will be given. If notification of not being able to participate is after October 1st, 2014 IGE will be unable to refund the registration fee.
If, for any reason, a school needs to either transfer a registered participant to another workshop from the workshop registered or change the name of the participant attending a workshop, Innovative Global Education can make these changes on request from school or participant.
Alternative Payment Methods
If you are unable to pay for this event using a credit card please contact info@innovativeglobaled.org to arrange possible alternative payment methods. Where requested, an invoice can be sent to school and/or individual that will include bank details for electronic transfer.
Accommodation:
Innovative Global Education is pleased to partner with New International School, Bangkok who have located two hotels in close proximity to school. Rates have been negotiated for Innovative Global Education Conference. When booking, please state you are a registered participant at the Innovative Global Education Conference
Hotel Suggestions
U Sukhumvit
U Sukhumvit enjoys a prime location in the heart of Bangkok’s business and dining area in Sukhumvit Soi 15, just 300 meters away and a 4 minute walk to NIST. The overall interior and architectural design concepts are created with a modern living lifestyle in mind but featuring unique local touches.
Web link: http://www.uhotelsresorts.com/usukhumvitbangkok/
For reservations, please email reserve@usukhumvitbangkok.com with your booking details and mention that you are attending the Innovative Global Education (IGE) Conference at NIST International School to avail of the following rates:
Superior room - THB 2,000
Deluxe Room - THB 2,500
*rates are inclusive of breakfast and WiFi internet access
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 offers a new kind of comfort, approachable style and fun. Located in the heart of Sukhumvit, the hotel is situated 5 minutes away from the subway and sky train and is also 900 meters away and a 10 minute walk to NIST. Here, you can enjoy the simple pleasures in life, including great value and stylish comfort, feel-good treats, free bottled water, Free Wi-Fi, and the promise of a great night’s sleep
Web link: http://www.fourpointsbangkoksukhumvit.com/
For reservations, please email reservations.sukhumvit15@fourpoints.com with your booking details and mention that you are attending the Innovative Global Education (IGE) Conference at NIST International School to avail of the following rates:
Comfort Deluxe Room at THB 3,100++ sgl / THB 3,400++ dbl*
Comfort Premium Room at THB 3,400++ sgl / THB 3,800++ dbl*
*rates are inclusive of breakfast and WiFi internet access
*++ is comprised of 10% Service Charge and 7% Local Tax
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