Announcing a New AzGA Summer Geography Institute
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Social Studies Institute (STEMS 2013)
Financial Information
The stipend for attending all sessions and submitting all assignments will be $250.
Travel costs will be covered up to $100.
Teaching resources (books, magazines, maps, atlases) valued at over $400
Housing and Meals:
Those who live 50 miles or more from Arizona State University are eligible for free housing at a local hotel. Snacks will be provided throughout the day and all lunches will be provided. At least one mandatory dinner will take place during the summer sessions.
Requirements:
Attend all activities of the STEM institute
Read all assigned materials
Create an original lesson based on based on the Arizona Common Core, Geography, ELL and Science standards
Present your lesson to fellow participants in a prescribed format
Pilot your lesson in your classroom and revise based on feedback
Conduct 2 in-service workshops within your school district
Participate in future AzGA events
Download announcement from the AzGA Website:
http://geoalliance.asu.edu/azga/
or directly from http://alliance.la.asu.edu/asgi/2013STEMInstituteAnnoun.pdf
How To Apply:
Download the application from the AzGA website at http://geoalliance.asu.edu/azga or directly from http://alliance.la.asu.edu/asgi/2013STEMInstituteAnnoun.doc
1) Your resume condensed to one page.
2) A one page, typed essay outlining:
why you believe STEM education is important and
how you expect to benefit from participating in the 2013 STEM Institute
3) Two letters of reference (these can be mailed or emailed separately):
From your principal, arrange a letter of reference that addresses your skills in the classroom, plus your district’s willingness to facilitate your presentation of at least one staff development workshop.
From a colleague, seek a letter that discusses your classroom effectiveness and rapport with fellow educators.
4) A check for $100 made out to the Arizona Geographic Alliance. This money will be refunded in its entirety
if you cancel in writing by April 10, 2013
or if you are not chosen as a participant,
or at completion of the Institute sessions.
DEADLINE to apply: March 30, 2013.
Institute Format:
The spring meetings (April 20 and May 11) will be Saturday sessions dedicated to overall understandings of STEM education and how to reach ELLs. Topics will include: Science Notebooking, What is Geography?, What is STEM?, GeoSpatial Technology, and ELLs and the Next Generation of Science Standards.
The summer meetings (July 1-3 and 8-11) will be weekday sessions dedicated to content and experiential learning in the areas of Sustainability, Numbers/Mathematics, Earth and Space Sciences, Forensics, and Inventiveness. The days will be spent with a mixture of classroom lectures, application to classroom learning, and field trips to local resources (commercial enterprises using STEM, university resources such as ASU Mars program, and museums). There will also be lots of time for networking with your cohort.
The fall meeting (Aug 17) will be for sharing your original STEM lesson with your cohort.
Participants are required to attend all sessions.
60 Recertification hours will be given to all participants. One to three graduate (ASU) or undergraduate (MCC) credits can be arranged at participant’s expense.
Background Information:
Founded in 1992, the Arizona Geographic Alliance (AzGA) is part of a national network of state geography alliances sponsored by the National Geographic Society. AzGA is a statewide organization and has over 3,700 members and more than 150 teachers in its Teacher Consultant leadership cadre. Participation in this Institute offers the additional opportunity to join this leadership cadre.
This Institute is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education awarded to Mesa Community College. The goals of the institute are to produce more teachers who are trained in STEM content and strategies that will impact English Language Learners (ELLs). You do not have to be a teacher of ELLs but preference will be shown to those who are. Teacher Consultants of AzGA are eligible to attend this Institute.