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APPROVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES
Updated September 30, 2002
The following GYSTC courses have been approved as professional development for certification renewal credit by the Georgia Department of Education. All courses are correlated with Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum and Georgia Performance Standards.
Chemistry & Physical Earth Environmental Health Crime Lab Science & Math Science/Math in Literature Science/Math in Space Archeology Science Fair Student Programs Local Excursions Coastal Excursions International Excursions
GENERAL
LAB DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE - (6-8) – This course is designed to provide teachers with the resources and training to design and implement a middle school physical, life, and earth science lab. (3 PLUs)
RESOURCES FOR K-12 TEACHERS – A GYSTC center is filled with resources for teachers to check out and use in their classrooms. This workshop will train teachers to use various GYSTC equipment, kits and materials in their classroom. (1 PLU)
SCIENCE ON THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS – (3-8) – Hands-on science activities selected to accompany and enhance the Magic School Bus videos and instructional books. Activities selected will also meet science QCC and GPS objectives at these grade levels. (2 PLUs)
SCIENCE THROUGH THE SEASONS - (PRE K-2) – Seasonal activities that show how to integrate science into already existing units taught in the early childhood classroom. (1 OR 2 PLUs)
TEACHING SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS - (K-8) – Teachers will learn how to capitalize on their student’s natural curiosity by introducing science process skills. This course will incorporate hands-on activities for the classroom that emphasize basic skills such as observation, prediction, classification, measurement, communication and inference. All activities are aligned to QCC and GPS objectives. (1 PLU)
THINK SCIENCE - (K-8) – This course is designed to enhance the educator’s understanding of instructional strategies (Inductive Learning, Compare & Contrast, Decision Making, Inquiry, Problem Solving, Concept Attainment, Discussion, Questioning, Metaphorical Expression) as a means of delivering science curriculum content to promote higher level thinking and learning in the elementary and middle school classroom. (1 PLU) CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE
FUN PHYSICS - (K-2) - This course will provide opportunities to become actively involved in hands-on investigations that will give a clear understanding of basic concepts in physical science. QCC objectives will be aligned and concepts that relate to the real world will be discovered. (3 or 5 PLUs)
TEACHING PHYSICAL SCIENCE THROUGH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE - (K-8) – Complete lessons for teaching hands-on discovery-oriented physical science using fiction and non-fiction books as an integral part of the instruction. Lessons contain clearly defined science content objectives and process skills. (1 or 2 PLUs)
SEE WHAT PHYSICAL SCIENCE IS ALL ABOUT - (K-8) – The goals of this course are to motivate teachers by getting them excited about physical science, demystify physical science by explaining how and why things happen the way they do, and demonstrate the value of science instruction as a vehicle for developing science process skills. (1 PLU)
MYSTERY SCIENCE (CRIME LAB SCIENCE) – (4-9) – This course teaches basic chemistry-based scientific procedures in forensic science, which will be used to solve a mystery and a make-believe “crime scene”. (2 PLUs)
GPS: MIDDLE SCHOOL EARTH SCIENCE – (6) – This course is designed to provide hands-on lab ideas and lesson plans for middle school earth science classes. Special emphasis will be given to topics and concepts covered in the Georgia Performance Standards for Sixth Grade Science. (1-2 PLUs)
ESSENTIAL SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS: EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE - (K-6) - This course is designed to deepen teacher's content knowledge in the Earth and space sciences. (3 PLUs)
FOSSILS, FOSSILS AND MORE FOSSILS - (K-12) – Teachers will have an actual field experience collecting and identifying fossils. They will learn how to develop and integrate paleontology into the classroom. (1 PLU)
PROJECT WET AND WILD - (K-12) – Project WET is a water education program created to promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through interdisciplinary activities which incorporate a variety of teaching strategies linked to state and national curriculum. Project WILD allows teachers to experience an environmental approach to science education that emphasizes wildlife biology Participants will need to purchase the two guides that are packed full of outstanding interdisciplinary activities. (1 PLU)
PROJECT LEARNING TREE/NATIVE SEASONS – (K-12) – Project Learning Tree provides students an opportunity to investigate environmental issues and encourages them to make informed, responsible decisions. Native Seasons is a curriculum developed by the Georgia Conservancy which focuses on Georgia's own native plant and animal species. Participants will need to purchase the two guides that are packed full of outstanding interdisciplinary activities. (1 PLU)
GEORGIA ADOPT-A-STREAM – (K-12) –This course is designed to increase awareness of streams and water quality by giving individuals the tools to evaluate and protect local waterways, to form local Adopt-A-Stream groups and to be the first line of defense in protecting water quality. (1 PLU)
TEACHING THE HUMAN BODY IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM - (K-5) – Elementary teachers will investigate basic life processes and body systems outlined in QCCs using hands-on investigations. (1 PLU)
MYSTERY SCIENCE (CRIME LAB SCIENCE) – (4-9) – This course teaches basic scientific procedures in forensic science, which will be used to solve a mystery and a make-believe “crime scene”. (2 PLUs)
AIMS FOR K-9 TEACHERS - Activities Integrating Math and Science is an excellent way to challenge students with innovative interdisciplinary activities. AIMS activities are very teacher friendly, using household materials and providing background material. Step-by-step instructions make using AIMS in the classroom fun. (1-3 PLUs)MATH GAMES & ACTIVITIES - (K-5) - Participants will explore new ways to introduce and reinforce mathematical concepts in the elementary classroom through dozens of hands-on games and activities. They will create and prepare game cards, gameboards, game pieces, etc., for classroom use. (1-2 PLUs)
EXPLORING SCIENCE & MATH THROUGH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (K-8) – Participants will identify ways to integrate the teaching of reading and the content area of science and math in the K-8 classroom. (1 PLUs)
TEACHING PHYSICAL SCIENCE THROUGH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE - (K-8) – Complete lessons for teaching hands-on discovery-oriented physical science using fiction and non-fiction books as an integral part of the instruction. Lessons contain clearly defined science content objectives and process skills. (1 or 2 PLUs)
TOYS IN SPACE - (4-8) – This course is designed to help teachers understand how physical science concepts on earth behave in space. NASA astronauts use toys to demonstrate the effect of weightlessness. Teachers will be provided with videotape and lesson plans. (1 PLU)
NASA “WHY” FILES – (3-5) –This curriculum supports the teaching of national standards using story lines involving the exploits of six ethnically diverse, inquisitive children who are excited about math, science and technology. They work together using scientific inquiry to explore and solve “real-world” problems. The program was developed by NASA. (1 PLU)
ARCHAEOLOGY ACROSS THE CURRICULUM - (K-8) – This course offers methods of organizing instructional time and materials around a topic, which lends itself naturally to the integration of curriculum content areas. Teachers will participate in a simulation of an archeological excavation. The information discovered during the simulation will be used to create lesson plans and activities, which integrate language arts, social studies, math and science. (1 PLU)
MAKING GREAT SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE PROJECTS - (3-8) – This course is designed to better prepare teachers to assist and guide students in creating social studies and science fair projects. (2 PLUs)
NO HASSLE SCIENCE FAIR (K-12) – Learn to take the hassle away from science fair projects. Strategies will be introduced to make the scientific method usable for students and make everyone a winner. (1 PLU)
SUMMER SCIENCE DAY CAMP - (K-8) – Participants will develop activities and create schedules for the summer day camp offered by a GYSTC Center. They will spend the first week planning and then teach the five-day camp to elementary students for a stipend. (5 PLUs)
SATURDAY SCIENCE ADVENTURE - (K-8) – Participants will learn concepts, activity procedures and plan to present monthly “Saturday Science Adventures” throughout the school year to students in their local school system. A stipend will be paid for executing the program. (1 PLU)
WONDERFUL WILDFLOWERS – (K-12) – This course will enable teachers to study native wildflowers in their natural habitats and to share knowledge with students through wildlife photography and preserved herbarium specimen. (1 PLU)
SCIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY - (K-12) – This course is designed in conjunction with local industries to help teachers show a connection between what’s taught in the classroom and what happens on the job. Hands-on activities for students will demonstrate real-world applications of science in the workplace. Teachers will tour selected industries and possibly prepare their students for future field trips. (1 PLU)
CUMBERLAND ISLAND: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF ECOSYSTEMS - (K-12) – Participants will explore four different ecosystems on Cumberland Island and study the interaction between each. They will acquire knowledge about the geography, ecosystems, plant and animal life of this barrier island. Lessons will be created to incorporate outdoor education and environmental studies into an interdisciplinary unit. This ten contact hour course can be expanded for a more in-depth study of marine flora and fauna. (2 PLUs)
CUMBERLAND ISLAND: BIOSTUDY OF BIRDS – (K-12) – Participants will discover the biology of birds using the field laboratory of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They will study the ecosystems of wild turkeys, marsh species and shorebirds. Concepts of adaptation, migration, nesting, food sources, conformation, and flight patterns will be covered. (2 PLUs)
EARTH, MAN AND TIME: A GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE - (K-12) – Participants will travel to Cumberland Island to become aware of the long term effects of man on the environment of a barrier island. They will be able to express an understanding of the five distinct ecosystems on a barrier island, select suitable examples of man’s interaction with the environment, and demonstrate appropriate research techniques for longitudinal studies. (2-5 PLUs)
FERALS, FLIPPERS AND FELINES: SPECIES OF CUMBERLAND ISLAND - (K-12) -Participants will investigate species of wildlife on Cumberland Island, their needs and impact on the environment. They will discover methods of management to best meet the needs of those species and the National Seashore and gain a better understanding of the interdependency of all wildlife on a barrier island. (2 PLUs)
INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL ECOLOGY OF SAPELO ISLAND – (K-12) – This field study will introduce teachers to coastal land features, test kits to gather water quality data and interpret results and observe and identify marine organisms. Science process skills will be used to explore coastal ecology of Sapelo Island. (2 PLUs)
EXPERIENCES BASED LEARNING IN THE RAINFOREST - (K-12) – This excursion to a rainforest of Central America will give participants an opportunity to gain an understanding of ecological diversity, recognize the importance of conservation, the ecological impact of rainforest destruction and recognize the Earth’s atmosphere, water, soil, climate, and geology variations from region to region. (7 PLUs)
WINGS OF WONDER IN MEXICO – (K-12) – In this course, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Wings of Wonder program by “migrating” with the Monarchs to Mexico. Teachers will establish relationships with partner educators in Mexico, visiting the Monarch sanctuaries, and exploring the cultural and natural history of authentic Mexico. (5 PLUs)
OTHER INTERNATIONAL EXCURSIONS ARE AVAILABLE
For more information on these courses, please contact your Regional Coordinator:
Paige Carithers Northeast GYSTC P.O. Box 65 Clarkesville, GA 30523 (706) 754-7851 FAX (706) 754-7853 negystc@northgatech.edu |
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