Coding Connections
at the Interface of Algebra I and Physical World Concepts
Professional Development Opportunity for high school Algebra I and Physical Science Teacher Teams
Tennessee Tech University is offering Coding Connections through an Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ) Grant award. Twenty-four high school teachers will be selected to receive training focused on computer programming and robotics with specific connections to Algebra I and Physical World Concepts. The project will include a two-week summer institute and one follow-up Saturday Fall 2016 for a total of 54 contact hours. Participants will receive professional development aimed to improve their math and science content and pedagogical knowledge with a focus on best practices for instruction as required by the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM). Math content and practices and physical science content as well as science and engineering practices can be aligned with computer science and computational thinking practices to help address 21st Century challenges for improving critical thinking and communication skills. Coding Connections proposes using the Python programming language with sensors and robots created using Lego® Mindstorms® to bridge the interface between the mathematics of Algebra I and real-world problems of Physical World Concepts.
Teachers will be recruited in teams of two per high school with at least one Algebra I and one Physical World Concepts (or physical science) teacher. Please apply if you are interested even if you don't have a team - we will be able to find a partner for you to work with.
New as of Feb. 19 - we are now accepting applicants in the following areas: High School Computer Science or STEM teachers; Middle School - Algebra I teachers, 8th grade science teachers, or Grades 6-8 STEM teachers.
Event Information
Professional Development Dates
All training will be held at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge
8:30-3:30 (11:30-12:30 lunch on your own)
June 13-June 16June 20-June 23
Sept. TBA
When?
Monday, Jun 13, 2016, 08:30 AM
Where?
Roane State Community College, Briarcliff Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
Updated Feb. 19.
- Preference will be given to teacher teams of Algebra I and Physical World Concepts or Physical Science teachers at the high school level in the following partner school districts: Campbell, Clay, Fentress, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Overton, Roane, Scott, Sevier, & White. Teachers from other districts are also encouraged to apply.
- Criteria for participant selection includes order of application receipt and fair representation from partner districts.
- New as of Feb. 19 - we are now accepting applicants in the following areas: High School Computer Science or STEM teachers; Middle School - Algebra I teachers, 8th grade science teachers, or Grades 6-8 STEM teachers.
- Please follow the link above for the application form.
Participating Teachers can expect to receive:
- 9 days of professional development
- $75 daily stipend for professional development days
- Three Lego® Mindstorms® EV3 Core Sets with sensors
- Publications geared for Algebra I and physical science instruction
Participating Teacher Responsibilities
Participants will:
- develop professional learning communities during the institute and communicate and collaborate using an online wikispace portal
- design and implement coding and robotics lessons in their own classes that reflect the Coding Connections ideology
- plan at least one local, regional, or state workshop on the use of coding or robotics embedded in Algebra I and Physical World Concepts
- complete pre-post content test and pre-post surveys
- agree to be observed in your classroom Fall 2016 by the Project Director
- share TEAM evaluation scores and student test data for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 school years with the project directors.
- agree to miss no more than 12 hours of professional development workshops (If more than 12 hours are missed, the participant must forfeit his/her place in the project and return all equipment and materials to the Project Director).
Meet the Project Leaders
Dr. Leslie Suters
Leslie is an Associate Professor with TN Tech University. She teaches math and science methods in the 2+2 program at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.
Dr. Adam Anderson
Adam is an assistant professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at TN Tech University.
Dr. Henry Suters
Henry is a professor of both math and computer science at Carson Newman University.
Have Questions? Contact Leslie Suters
865-481-2000 Extension 2320
Email: lsuters@tntech.edu
Website: http://goo.gl/forms/Yr6P0grOLB