Chemistry Outreach
Professional Development for Teachers of Chemistry and Science K-12
Science Express- Purdue Instrument Van Project
The College of Science at Purdue University, through its chemistry and biology departments, delivers research grade instruments to high schools and middle schools throughout central Indiana. This project provides an opportunity for young students, from all backgrounds, to have hands-on learning experiences with instruments used in research laboratories today. These experiences increase the students' and teachers' skills and understanding of modern scientific technology. Check our website at www.chem.purdue.edu/sciexpress/
AP Summer Workshops
Purdue University hosts summer workshops for Advanced Placement teachers in Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. The goal of the AP Summer Program is to prepare high school teachers to deliver AP courses through a wide variety of classroom and laboratory hands-on exercises. Particular attention is placed to matching course content and activities with requirements for AP courses.
Focus on Science
Focus on Science is a full week of hands-on mathematics and science activities for elementary and middle schools. The program seeks to excite and enlighten students about the importance of science in their daily lives. It exposes teachers to classroom activities that combine excitement, cooperative learning, and hands-on activities with real-world relevance. Activities for the week can include a convocation on science demonstrations and evening parent-student hands-on activities. In-service programs are also available which provide teachers with classroom activities demonstrated by outreach coordinators and training to be able to present these activities in the future.
Implementing Scientific Probes in Your 6-12 Science Class
Scientific probes offer an inexpensive way to include hands-on laboratory activities and a variety of technology in your classroom. Teachers will be trained to use Vernier Probeware with computers, graphing calculators, and handheld computers (PDAs). Laboratory experiments will be available for teachers. Teachers are strongly encouraged to adapt current classroom activities to use scientific probes, computers, graphing calculators, and PDAs. Effective use of the mentioned technology meets Indiana Academic Standards, saves time, increases student interest, and advances student problem-solving ability.
Indiana Department of Education Website
The Indiana Department of Education website is an excellent resource for teachers which include information about state academic standards, individual school test results, standards-based lesson plans and resources, and internet resources for science teachers. This workshop introduces and explores key parts of the website that teachers can use in their classrooms. The workshop includes time for teachers to explore the internet resources and develop lessons and classroom activities.
Inquiry Learning in the Mathematics and Science Classroom
This program introduces teachers to the concept and structure of inquiry-learning, provides a variety of sample inquiry activities, and offers an opportunity for teachers to modify a component of their current curriculum to include more inquiry.
Less is More, Unburdening Your Curriculum
This workshop discusses the consequences and challenges of an overfull curriculum and presents strategies for trimming nonessentials.
If you are interested in these existing professional development opportunities or if you have other areas of professional development that you would like to discuss, please contact: wbayley@purdue.edu
