Below is a list of the current professional development offerings of the Department of Science. As new courses are developed and scheduled they will be added to this list. So please check back often. For details on the current registration and payment procedures for professional development offered by the Division of Teaching and Learning, see the Teaching and Learning Professional Development page.
Please click on a link in the table for more information about a particular course, or scroll down to see all listings.
Differentiated Instruction: Accelerated Earth Science Regents Strategies and Resources
Dates: Nov 21
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wagner JHS 67 (Manhattan)
Target Audience: Teachers new to teaching 8th Grade
Holt Accelerated Earth Science Teachers
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Experienced DOE staff and Holt
Price: $25
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH149
Summary Description of Course: Regents preparation for Earth Science Holt accelerated schools. In a two-day series of inquiry based hands-on sessions, participants will learn best practices for conducting laboratory classes, review state requirements for the Earth Science regents, and gain an understanding of the NYS Earth Science Examination and the Lab Practical. Day one will include a review of previous regents examinations and data analysis of previous exams and the use of technology (through the use of Holt curricula). If time permits, differentiated inquiry labs will be introduced in order to enhance teacher understanding of content and pedagogy. Day two will introduce the lab practical in depth. Participants will set-up the practical, take the practical test and grade the test using a rubric.
Understanding High School Science – Chemistry
Date: Nov 21
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Columbia University, CERC,
1200 Amsterdam Avenue, NYC 10027 – Room 555
Target Audience: New High School Chemistry teachers
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Denise McNamara
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH154
Summary Description of Course: This one day institute for new teachers of Regents Chemistry will focus on the use of differentiated instruction to be more inclusive of all academic levels and interests in Chemistry. Through the incorporation of a variety of teaching techniques, hands-on activities and labs as well as literacy strategies will be included in the sessions. Of special interest to alll teachers but especially the members of the school inquiry teams, will be a review of current data and its use in differentiating instruction to target all populations of learners.
Understanding Text and Context: Helping Students Meet the Challenges of Content Area Reading in Science and Social Studies
Dates: Nov. 21, Dec 19, Jan 30, and Mar 13
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: New York Hall of Science
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, 47-01 111th Street
Target Audience: Science and Social Studies Teachers of
Grades 4-8
Maximum: 100
Facilitators: Dr. Roger Farr, author and literacy expert
Price: $400
FAMIS Item Number: TLJNT0006
Summary Desrpition of Course: This four-day intensive institute with Roger Farr will focus on content area strategies for social studies and science reading, including planning for the think-along/think-aloud strategy and developing the use of academic language, content vocabulary, graphics, organization and concepts by students reading non-fiction. During this workshop series participants will gain the necessary knowledge, strategies and skills that will enable them to help students make sense of content text, a critically important skill in the social studies and science core curriculum. Teachers will develop skill in differentiating instruction so that they can provide all students with the strategies and techniques they need when working with content text.
Dr. Roger Farr, a teacher of kindergarten through graduate school, has been working on the strategies to support reading in the content area for more than a decade. Dr. Farr is an author, a Professor Emeritus of Education and Director of the Center for Innovation in Assessment at Indiana University and a former president of the International Reading Association. He is a member of the IRA Reading Hall of Fame and was chosen Outstanding Reading Teacher Educator in 1988.
Preparing Teachers for the 4th Grade State Science Test – Performance and Written
Dates: Dec 3 and Dec 17
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wagner MS 167, NY, NY
Target Audience: Grade 4 Science Cluster or Classroom Teachers and upervisors
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Experienced DOE educators
Price: $200
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH128
Summary Description of Course: This two day workshop session will introduce and review both the written and practical components of the 4th Grade Science Test. An in depth review of the performance stations used for the 4th Grade State Science Test will be given on day one. Attending teachers will set up the stations, take the test and grade the performance tasks utilizing the state rubric. Day two will lead attending teachers in a review of the Science written test and introduce inquiry based activities which support student understandings. Teachers will review past New York State tests which will lead them to a better understanding of how to increase student performance on the tests. Teachers will receive a copy of the review book “Measuring Up”.
Preparing Teachers for the 8th Grade State Science Test – Performance and Written Component
Dates: Dec 4 and Dec 18
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wagner JHS 167, Manhattan
Target Audience: New Grade 8 Science Teachers
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Experienced DOE staff
Price: $200
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH148
Summary Description of Course: Day one will include an in depth review of the performance stations used for the 8th Grade State Science Test. Attending teachers will set up the stations, take the test and grade the performance tasks utilizing the state rubric. Day two will include a review of the written test and introduce inquiry based activities which will support differentiation activities to support student understanding. Teachers will review past New York State tests increasing their understanding of how to increase student performance, including the performance of Level 1 and 2 students, on the NYS ILSE (Intermediate Level Science Examination) test. Teachers will receive a copy of the review book “Measuring Up”.
Understanding High School Science – Environmental Science
Dates: Dec 6 and Dec 20
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Frederick Douglass Academy, 2581 – 7th Avenue, NYC 10039
Target Audience: HS Environmental Science Teachers
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Mauricio Gonzalez
Price: $150
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH157
Summary Description of Course: This three-day Saturday institute for new teachers will revolve around the building and monitoring of a desktop aquaponics system for the purpose of using it as a simple and effective tool for environmental science principles and sampling techniques. Day one will consist of a tour of the lab facilities and on-site models along with an introduction to ecosystems theory. Day two will consist of a lab on building aquaponics systems. Day three will consist of a lab comparing water parameters of samples from different aquaponics systems and the Harlem River. With these experiences, teachers will be able to apply practical skills in the field and classroom for students from grades 6 – 12.
Using Science Notebooks for Differentiated Instruction and Assessment – Level One
Date: Dec 9
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wagner MS 167, NY, NY
Target Audience: K-8 Teachers and Supervisors
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Experienced DOE educators
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH134
Summary Description of Course: This one day workshop session is designed for teachers with no experience in science notebooking. Teachers will learn effective strategies for using science notebooks as a thinking tool for their students and learn how to use student notebooks as part of students’ formative assessment. Teachers will learn how use of the science notebook integrates language arts in order to help students develop a deeper understanding of science content while attaining science literacy. Teachers will bring copies of their student’s science notebooks to discuss; look at differentiated student work; and discuss best practices in science. Teachers will receive a copy of “Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry”. Teachers will also be made aware of excellent websites and articles relating to notebooking.
Grade 5: Integrating Everyday Mathematics with Elementary Science, Inquiry Based Learning
Date: Dec 10
Time: 8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: City College of New York NY, NY
Target Audience: 5th Grade Teachers
Maximum: 30
Facilitator: Experienced DOE Consultants and Outside Experts
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH105
Summary Description of Course: The Everyday Mathematics program includes many cross-curricular enrichment links. With a focus on Grade 5, during this interactive workshop participants engage in inquiry activities that explore the important connections between mathematics and science embedded in Everyday Mathematics. They analyze the role notebooks play in deepening conceptual understanding of their students. Participants learn how to reinforce the skills of measurement, data collection, displaying data, and analyzing data.
Advanced Laboratory Techniques for HS Teachers
Date: Dec 11
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: St. Francis College, Brooklyn
Target Audience: High School teachers who are new to laboratory science courses
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Lynda Kessler
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH153
Summary Description of Course: This is an exciting new one--day offering that is designed to provide a detailed overview of the components of a well-organized laboratory facility. The institute will focus on a range of topics such as: Laboratory Safety and the overview of the Science Safety Manual, Equipment needed for a functioning laboratory, a review of the most common lab techniques such as titrations and gel electrophoresis and the proper use of equipment such as the microscope, Bunsen burner, triple-beam balance and gas collecting apparatus. New teachers will be given the opportunity to engage in a variety of teaching strategies that will ensure the inclusion of all levels of learners in the laboratory setting.
Learning the Practical for the Earth Science Regents
Date: Dec 13
Time: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Location: Murray Bergtraum High School
Target Audience: New High School Earth Science teachers
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Gloria Catalanotto
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH151
Summary Description of Course: This Saturday institute will introduce both the practical and written components of the Earth Science Part D Regents examination that was given for the first time in June 2008. Teachers will set up the stations for the practical examination, take the test and grade the performance tasks utilizing the state rubric. Differentiated strategies for teaching the skills needed for the Part D section of the Regents will be reviewed to ensure inclusion of all levels of student learners.
Using Science Notebooks in Grades K-8 for Differentiation and Assessment – Level Two
Date: Dec 16
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wagner MS 167, Mahattan
Target Audience: K-8 Teachers and Supervisors
Maximum: 24
Facilitator: Experienced DOE educators
Price: $100
FAMIS Item#: TLMATH135
Summary Description of Course: This one day workshop session is designed for teachers who have previously utilized the science notebook in their classrooms. Teachers will learn effective strategies for using science notebooks as a thinking tool for their students and learn how to use student notebooks as part of students’ formative assessment. Teachers will learn how use of the science notebook integrates language arts in order to help students develop a deeper understanding of science content while attaining science literacy. Teachers will bring copies of their student’s science notebooks to discuss; look at differentiated student work; and discuss best practices in science. Teachers will receive a copy of “Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry”. Teachers will also be made aware of excellent websites and articles relating to notebooking.
Courses Taught at the Dolan DNA Lab at John S Roberts Educational Complex at JHS 45
This site is a collaboration of the New York City Department of Education and the Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The Dolan DNA Learning Center (DNALC) is the world's first science center devoted entirely to genetics education. The DNALC is an operating unit of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), a world-renowned research institution that has been home to four Nobel Prize winners.
The following courses are available on a variety of dates throughout Fall 2008.
1. DNA Structure and Isolation – Middle School
2. Variability/Mendelian Inheritance – Middle School
3. Bacterial Transformation and Protein Isolation – Middle School and High School
4. DNA Restriction Analysis – Middle School and High School
5. Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing – High School
6. Alu Insertion – High School
Location: Dolan DNA Lab at the John S. Roberts Educational Complex
2351 – First Avenue (@ 120th Street)
New York, NY 10035
Facilitators: Dolan DNA Lab Staff
For further information and to register, please visit: www.dnalc.org/harlemdnalab.
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