Professional Development Workshop Applications - See Below for Cell Phone Science & Underwater ROV

2010 Cell Phone Science Workshop

June 23-24 at the Macomb Intermediate School District, Clinton Township, MI

Join other outstanding physics and technology teachers from across the Midwest to discover the fundamental science and engineering of cell phones and other wireless communications.

We live in a world with instantaneous global communications.  Over 270 million Americans have cell phones.  Our students use iPhones™, BlackBerrys™, and other wireless devices every day.  Despite the ubiquitous nature of modern communications, most students (and teachers!) don’t have a clue of the science behind these wonderful, technological marvels.  Three high school teachers working with engineers from Cingular, Motorola, and the University of Michigan have developed an exciting and innovative 3-week program. 

We have discovered that these devices can be used to effectively teach physics concepts (vibrations and waves, sound, light, and electromagnetism), technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Not only will you learn the science and engineering, you will also learn

◊How to teach the concepts to your own students and to other teachers.  The program is inquiry-based and student-centered.

◊Participants will design, build, and test devices to send and receive their voices over personal radios, light beams, and through optical fibers.

◊Participants will learn the fundamentals of information theory including of Analog to Digital, Digital to Analog, and coding and de-coding techniques.

◊Participants will learn the fundamental of GSM and CDMA systems and structures of cell networks and the answers to the 20 most common student questions about cell phones.

The pedagogy is “constructivist” and based on the best practices in science education as outlined in the National Resource Council’s Guide, “How People Learn,” and “12 Brain/Mind Principles in Action (Corwin Press 2004/2008).

The Square One Education Network will host the 2-day workshop.  The workshop will be at the Macomb Intermediate School District in Clinton Township, MI June 23rd and June 24th from 8:30 AM till 3:30 PM. Square One will pay for training, invited speakers, meals, and a complete classroom set of equipment for participants.  CEU credits will also be available.  Mark Davids and Rick Forrest, authors and designers of the program, will lead the sessions.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will have over $1,800 of materials and equipment to use in their own classrooms.  All teachers who make at least one professional presentation and one full workshop by May 30 of 2011 will become owners of the equipment.

Requirements of Participants:

Teachers who would like to participate in the workshop need a letter from their principal committing $300 toward the cost of materials.  Participants will also need to pay their own travel, meals and hotel expenses. Square One will secure a group rate at local accommodations and provide you with maps and other information in your notice of acceptance into the workshop.

Some teachers will be selected as individuals and some as partners.  If you have a colleague who would like to partner with you, write a note “partner with ________” at top of both Application Forms and submit at the same time.  Partners will be expected to share one classroom kit.

Conference Details will be updated on the Square One website at: www.squareonenetwork.org

Application Form

2010 Cell Phone Science Workshop

Please forward the following information in word format to Completed application should be sent as an attachment to email by May 18, 2010 to:  markdavids@comcast.net

If needed, you can fax to: 313-647-9993 (All applicants will receive e-mail notification by May 28.)

Please contact Mark Davids by email or phone for further information

markdavids@comcast.net313.885.3895 (evenings)

(Please type)

Name:Summer e-mail address:

Home Address:Best Telephone Number: (        )       -

1.  Teaching Experience: must be teaching at least ½ time next school year

(List courses, levels, and years in reverse chronological order)

2.  Leadership Experience:  (list your presentations at local, state, regional, and national conferences, your professional awards, etc. in reverse chronological order)

3.  Professional Background in Pedagogy: (Modeling in Physics, brain-based learning, inquiry-based learning, etc. in reverse chronological order)

5.  FAX a letter on school letterhead from your principal committing $300 toward the cost of the materials to:(313) 647-9993

Underwater Remote Operated Vehicle Workshop Overview

There are three workshops from which to choose:

1.  Focus:  ROV’s in the Urban Classroom – Metro Detroit Area

Aug. 24 & 25 from 9-4 each day - Oak Park High School, Oak Park, MI

2. Focus:  ROV’s in the Classroom – Northwest Michigan

Sep. 24 4-9pm and Sep. 25 9am-5pm – Water Studies Institute, Traverse City, MI

3. Focus:  ROV’s in the Rural Classroom – Upper Peninsula

Nov. 12 4-9pm & Nov. 13 9am-5pm – Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

This is a two-day workshop and team attendance is required both days. Teams are welcome to

attend any of the three workshops based upon convenience and are not limited to the focus area.

This workshop is open to all K-12 educators who have interest in the STEM disciplines.  It will provide a truly unique educational outreach opportunity that includes the resources, instruction and support, for the designing, engineering, and building of a fully functional underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV).  Within the confines of the workshop participants will be exposed to the different engineering challenges faced within the marine environment. In addition participants will be presented with concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that will facilitate building a ROV with students.

Skills and activities presented in this workshop support the Michigan Merit Curriculum in science, mathematics and technology.  

During the ROV workshop participants will:

•Build a fully functional small scale ROV that can be replicated with students

•Gain a better understanding of the unique challenges presented by the underwater environment with comparisons to space exploration

Learn methods of propulsion and control in 3 dimensional space

•Resolve issues of buoyancy and weight

•Assemble a control tether and power distribution box using a 12V source

•Acquire the knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively mentor students in designing and building an ROV at their own school

•Network with educators with similar interests and share “best practices” in teaching and instruction and enjoy an introduction to opportunities presented by other related groups such as the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, the Convergence Education Foundation, NASA and the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary

•Learn how to use the completed ROV to support other academic offerings (biology, environmental science, social studies, etc.)

Building a Remote Operated Vehicle offers unique and exciting challenges and design parameters that are not addressed in other middle or high school level robotics projects. It is hoped that you will take this invitation to apply for a truly unique and enjoyable opportunity to put science, technology, and mathematics into practice in your classroom.

2010 ROV Workshop Application and Details

Please include each of the following components in your workshop application.

(Please submit as a Word document or PDF)

1) Applicant background information for each team member including:

Name, mailing address, phone number and email.

Educational institution, current subjects taught, grade levels and class load

SBCEU’s will be offered.  Please indicate if you plan to take advantage of them.

2)Educational Institution Information for each institution represented:

Name of Institution

Mailing address and phone number

Principal’s name and email address

Composition of the student population and demographics served by your school (grades,            ethnicity, economic levels, urban, suburban or rural)

3)Team Summary:

Why do you want to participate in this workshop?

How does your team foresee using the materials, information and expertise you will obtain from this workshop? Specifically, how will you use the materials to:

Impact learning in your classroom or school?

Support project-based learning in your classroom or school?

Support other classes across the curriculum?

Include any other special features of your team, school demographics, geographic area or student population that would support your application.

4)A letter of support from your respective school principal(s) committing $150/team ($50/person) toward the cost of materials used in the workshop.  All materials required to build one fully functioning ROV will become property of your school following the workshop.

5)Forward applications to barb@squareonenetwork.org.   Include ROV application in the subject line to prevent accidental deletion.  Successful applicants will be notified via email.   Space is limited to 8 teams of three for a maximum of 24 participants.