Professional Development Workshops

Natural History Highlights of New York State – A Field Workshop
Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14, 2007 Leave campus at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 13; return at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 14. This workshop is appropriate for teachers, grades K-12, and interested members of the public. Option I: Sixteen hours toward Professional Development credit, $275 (includes lodging and transportation). Option II: This workshop is not available for graduate credit.	Dr. J Bret Bennington Gail Bennington Hofstra University Department of Geology Join geologists Bret and Gail Bennington for a two-day field workshop on the geology, flora and fauna of eastern New York. Highlights of this excursion will include tours of the Landis Arboretum and Albany State Museum, as well as geological hikes at Lake Minnewaska and John Boyd Thacher state parks. The goal of this trip is to help teachers improve their ability to teach students about the geologic history and natural environment of New York state. About the Presenters: The Benningtons have led numerous geology field workshops on the regional geology of New York and New Jersey for IDEAS. J Bret Bennington, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, often leads undergraduate students on regional field trips to support his courses in physical geology, historical geology, paleontology and geomorphology. He is also the co-director of Hofstra University’s study abroad program in the evolutionary ecology and geology of the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, as well as an occasional Charles Darwin impersonator. Gail Bennington, in addition to being an adjunct professor with the Hofstra University Geology Department, has taught earth science, and is currently the science curriculum coordinator for the Garden City school district. Download Registration Form (PDF)
Big Ideas in Physical Science: A Science Content Workshop for Elementary School Teachers
Saturday, October 27, 2007 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Hagedorn Hall, South Campus This workshop is appropriate for teachers, grades K-6. Option I: Eight hours toward Professional Development credit, $95. Option II: 1 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (CT 289F, CRN 95038).	Linda Frank Hofstra University Department of Engineering Do you dream of having the know-how for stirring the interest of your students in science? What about becoming the architect who designs a special area of your classroom devoted to the development of critical thinking skills in both your students and yourself? If this seems like a daunting task, or you feel that your background in science is not as strong as you would like it to be, we have the workshop for you. This workshop will help you develop scientific thinking skills and gain confidence in your ability to do science with children. You will get ideas for creating a science learning center in your classroom, and enhance your capacity to foster critical thinking skills in your students. About the Presenter: Linda Frank has been an adjunct professor at Hofstra for the past 10 years teaching such diverse subjects as biotechnology and the bioethical debate, an introduction to forensic science, and science methods and supervision. She has also done extensive consulting work with Long Island school districts and BOCES in the areas of science teaching and the science standards. Previously Linda taught in the Seaford Public Schools where she capped her career as the science department chairperson. She has a passion for science education. Download Registration Form (PDF)
Accessible Physics: A Workshop of Physics Demos and Activities
Saturday, November 3, 2007 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Hagedorn Hall, South Campus This workshop is appropriate for science teachers, grades 6-12. Option I: Eight hours toward Professional Development credit, $95. Option II: 1 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (CT 289E, CRN 95037).	L. E. Love Hofstra University Department of Curriculum and Teaching This is an activity-oriented workshop using easily accessible materials. Participants work with physical science “big ideas”, and engage in activities that allow students to expand their understanding of the physical world around them. These activities use simple mathematics as thought tools. As its theme, this workshop explores the simplicity, elegance and beauty of physics. The activities and materials reinforce the ideas of Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Bernoulli, and many others. This workshop will also be useful in urban education systems, and in areas that lack funds and facilities. About the Presenter: L. E. Love taught physics for 47 years in the Great Neck school district. Since 1988, he has been an adjunct professor in the Hofstra University Department of Curriculum and Teaching, where he helps pre-service elementary school teachers learn about doing science with children. For close to 25 years, he has also been connected to the National Labor College, which is part of the George Meany Center for Labor Studies in Washington, D.C., where he developed a program to raise the level of scientific literacy of students who are working toward a liberal arts degree. Download Registration Form (PDF)
Name That Rock II – The Science of Rock Identification
Saturday, January 12, 2008 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Gittleson Hall, South Campus This workshop is appropriate for all teachers and interested members of the public. Option I: Eight hours toward Professional Development credit, $95. Option II: 1 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (Geology 280G, CRN 10238).	Dr. Charles Merguerian Hofstra University Department of Geology This one-day workshop is devoted to the identification of rocks. Through the use of visual examination and testing with stereoscopic and petrographic microscopy, attendees will develop skills in the art of rock identification and classification. Starting with the basics of the rock cycle, the workshop will fully explore the significant rocks of the Earth’s crust and discuss various rock types of the major geological provinces of New York state. The session will end by developing insights into the use of rocks in the evaluation of geological history. This is a completely new workshop; attendance at last year’s “Name That Rock” workshop is not required. About the Presenter: Dr. Charles Merguerian started collecting rocks at age 5 when an interest in science, and in particular geology, was spawned. After earning a Ph.D. in geology from Columbia University, he joined Hofstra’s geology department in 1981. For more information on Dr. Merguerian, see pages 7 and 14. Download Registration Form (PDF)
Teachers as Researchers: Professional Development From the Inside Out
Saturday, February 2, 2008 Workshop is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on four Saturdays with additional interaction electronically – 2/2/08, 3/15/08, 4/5/08 and 4/12/08. (Participants must attend all four sessions.) Hagedorn Hall, South Campus This workshop is appropriate for all teachers, grades K-12. Option I: Thirty-two hours toward Professional Development credit, $300. Option II: 3 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (CT 281H, CRN 22842).	Dr. Janice Koch Hofstra University Department of Curriculum and Teaching Action research, also called classroom research or teacher research, is a term used to describe professionals studying their own practice in order to improve it. Applied to teaching, it involves gathering and interpreting data to better understand an aspect of teaching practice that interests or concerns you. This workshop is designed to facilitate a process that engages you in your own professional development in your own classroom, allowing you to seek answers to your own questions. About the Presenter: Dr. Janice Koch earned a Ph.D. in education from New York University and is a professor of science education for the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at Hofstra University. She is the author of two college textbooks, Science Stories: Science Methods for Elementary and Middle School Teachers and So You Want to Be a Teacher? Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century. Currently she directs the IDEAS Institute at Hofstra University, and is the 2007 president of the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE). Download Registration Form (PDF)
Taking the “Che-mystery” and “Che-misery” Out of Chemistry
Saturday, March 1 and Saturday March 8, 2008 Workshop is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on two Saturdays (Participants must attend both sessions). Hagedorn Hall, South Campus This workshop is appropriate for science teachers, grades 8-12. Option I: Eight hours toward Professional Development credit, $95. Option II: 1 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (CT 289G, CRN 24417).	Dr. Keith Sheppard Director of the Science Education Program and associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology, Stony Brook University This workshop will explore some of the fundamental themes in the Regents chemistry core curriculum. Each topic will be approached from several different perspectives. First, an overview of the chemical concepts, their historical development, and issues of why some of the content might be difficult to learn will be introduced. Second, research about students’ misconceptions will be explored. In addition, a variety of practical activities will be introduced to illustrate ways that teachers can assist students in moving toward more scientifically accurate conceptions – hopefully taking the mystery and misery out of chemistry. About the Presenter: Dr. Keith Sheppard recently joined LIGASE (the Long Island Group for Advancing Science Education) at Stony Brook University as director of the Science Education Program and associate professor of biochemistry and cell biology. Previously, he coordinated the Science Education Program at Columbia University where he also directed the pre-service and in-service teacher education programs. Keith has been published widely on the history of science education, presented his work nationally and internationally, and serves as a reviewer on several science education journals. He has also taught and directed programs in the United Kingdom and Tanzania. Download Registration Form (PDF)
Geology, Mines and Mineral Deposits of Western and Central Connecticut – A Field Workshop
Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 2008 Leave campus at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 26; return at approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27. This workshop is appropriate for all teachers, grades K-12, and interested members of the public. Option I: Sixteen hours toward Professional Development credit, $275 (includes lodging and transportation). Option II: 2 s.h. Hofstra University graduate credit: (Geology 280H, CRN 23350) ($275 additional lodging and transportation fee).	Dr. Charles Merguerian Hofstra University Geology Department The geology of western and central Connecticut is the focus of this field trip, designed to provide a better understanding of the geological development of the Nutmeg State. For teachers and geology enthusiasts, rock and mineral collecting will be available. Having spent many years mapping and collecting minerals in Connecticut, Dr. Merguerian is well versed on the geological and mining history of this picturesque region. About the Presenter: Dr. Charles Merguerian joined Hofstra’s Geology Department in 1981. He is also president of Duke Geological Laboratory in Westbury, New York, and has broad consulting experience with the U.S. Geological Survey, the California and Connecticut State Geological Surveys, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and many geotechnical and engineering firms. Dr. Merguerian is recognized as the leading authority on the geologic structure and tectonics of the New York City area. He has devoted considerable effort to public education via television, radio and print media on the potential seismic hazards in the vicinity of New York City. Charles has led hundreds of field trips in the NYC area and throughout New England and has conducted field courses in California, Arizona, Hawaii and Wyoming. Download Registration Form (PDF)