Schedule of Events - HUNSTEM



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FRIDAY, February 20, 2009

|8:00 am – 4:00 pm | Registration |

|8:00 am – 9:00 am | |

| |Continental Breakfast |

|9:00 am – 9:20 am |Sessio| |

| |ns |Opening Ceremonies |

| | | |

| | |Keynote Address: Dr. Brad Hoge, Director of HUNSTEM – Connecting Houston’s Entire Learning Community through |

| | |Effective Cyberinfrastructure |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|9:30 am - 11:30 am | |Workforce Needs and STEM Education |

| | | |

| | |(Buffalo Bayou Room) |

|1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | | |

| | |Houston’s Learning Community – Resources for Collaboration |

| | | |

| | |(Buffalo Bayou Room) |

SATURDAY, February 21, 2009

|8:00 am – noon |Registration |

|8:00 am – 9:00 am |Continental Breakfast |

|9:00 am – noon |Worksh|Exhibits and Posters in the Special Events Area |

| |ops | |

|9:00 am - 9:40 am | |Work Solutions – Looking to the Future |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|9:50 am – 10:30 am | |Learning About Water |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|10:40 am – 11:20 am | |Learning About Energy |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|11:30 am - 12:10 pm | |

Building a Better Learning Community for Houston

General Information

Registration in the UHD Academic Building, 3rd floor: Friday morning from 7-noon.

Welcome and orientation in the UHD auditorium: Friday morning at 9 a.m. Continental breakfast is provided.

Keynote Presentation: “Connecting Houston’s Entire Learning Community through Effective Cyberinfrastructure” – by Dr. Brad Hoge, Director of HUNSTEM

Sessions: Sessions will follow a variety of formats, include presentations followed by round table discussion; interactive hands-on activities and demonstrations; Town Hall style discussions and debate; panel discussions; and a “lesson plan potluck”. Read the Session Descriptions to see which sessions will follow which format, and how each format will work.

All sessions will be mediated by STEM professionals and will provide hands-on learning opportunities. Presentation and discussion topics will differ between sessions, but themes will be repeated so that conference participants can participate in each theme.

Presentations and roundtable discussions depend on you! Come "put your words into action!"

Lunch will be provided for all registered guests and participants. A variety of sandwich and salad choices will be available.

Saturday morning interactive workshops (concurrent) from 9:00 to noon.

Abstracts for workshops are included in the Program on pp 12-27.

Poster session from 9 a.m. Friday morning to noon Saturday: on topics in STEM, for everyone in the STEM community (that includes all k-12 students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, informal educators, etc.)

Exhibits in the UHDAcademic building from 9 a.m. Friday morning to noon Saturday

A list of exhibitors is included in the Program on pg 9.

Field Trips: Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. (box lunch provided for pre-registered field trip participants, but everyone is welcome to join!)

A list of Field Trips is included in the Program on pg 10.

Directions to UHD:

From North I-45 – Take the I-10 / Downtown Houston exit and stay left to enter Downtown Houston. Take the Milam Street entrance into Downtown and turn left on Commerce or Franklin. Turn left from Commerce or Franklin onto Travis. Turn right from Travis on Girard St. Turn right from Girard St. into the visitor parking lot.

From US 59 North and US 59 South – Take I-10 West from US 59 North or South. Take the San Jacinto / Downtown exit from I-10 West. Turn right onto Wood St. from San Jacinto and then left onto Girard St. just before Main Street. Take Girard past the UHD Police Station and turn left into the visitor parking lot.

From I-10 East - Take the Milam Street entrance into Downtown and turn left on Commerce or Franklin. Turn left from Commerce or Franklin onto Travis. Turn right from Travis on Girard St. Turn right from Girard St. into the visitor parking lot.

From I-10 West - Take the San Jacinto / Downtown exit from I-10 West. Turn right onto Wood St. from San Jacinto and then left onto Girard St. just before Main Street. Take Girard past the UHD Police Station and turn left into the visitor parking lot.

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Directions and Information Hotline: (713) 221-8289

Directions to the conference area from UHD entry points:

Main Street Entrance – if you are entering through the Main Street entrance, proceed to the end of the hallway and turn left. This will bring you to the Academic Building which is where the conference will be held. Proceed past the elevators and turn right to the auditorium and special events area.

Visitors Parking Lot – if you are parked in the visitor lot, you will enter the building through the elevators on the first floor. Take elevators to the 3rd floor. Proceed down the hallway to the Academic Building which is where the conference will be held. Proceed past the elevators and turn right to the auditorium and special events area.

South Deck – if you are entering the building from the South Deck, please enter through the doors to the auditorium or cafeteria areas. Proceed to the registration area just outside of the auditorium.

North Deck – if you are entering the building from the North Deck, enter the building through the entrance opposite the Student Life Center. Proceed down the hall to your right to the main hallway. Turn right at the main hallway and proceed to the end of the hall to the Academic Building which is where the conference will be held. Proceed past the elevators and turn right to the auditorium and special events area.

From the Drop Off Area – if you are being dropped off on Gerard Street near the UHD Police Station, enter the building through the doors at the top of the steps leading to the Police Station and take the elevator to the 3rd floor. Proceed down the hall to your right to the main hallway. Turn right at the main hallway and proceed to the end of the hall to the Academic Building which is where the conference will be held. Proceed past the elevators and turn right to the auditorium and special events area.

Directions and Information Hotline: (713) 221-8289

Building a Better Learning Community for Houston

Session Descriptions

The Gathering Storm: Friday morning from 9:30 – 11:30

Workforce Needs and STEM Education (Kristina Hardwick, moderator)

A presentation on current trends in career needs and opportunities, including new data from the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC), and WorkSolutions. A presentation from the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) on the power of informal education, will also be incorporated.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period.

The Gathering Storm: Friday afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30

Houston’s Learning Community – Resources for Collaboration (Alexia Bieniek, moderator)

Panel Discussion: Panelists representing STEM programs from around Houston will share information about their programs and then answer questions from the audience. Particular attention will be made to how these programs can help teachers in the classroom as well as providing professional development and connections to informal science opportunities.

Panelists invited are:

Lawrence Spence, President of the Environmental Educator’s Exchange

Dr. Reagan Flowers, Director of CSTEM

Dr. Barbara Foots, Education Director of The Visual Realization Program

Xandra Earlie Williams, Program Director f of Secondary Science, Aldine ISD

Building STEM Communities: Friday morning from 9:30 – 11:30

How Can HUNSTEM Help You? (Dr. Brad Hoge, moderator)

A presentation of HUNSTEM, the Houston Urban Network for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics focusing on how to use HUNSTEM to find resources, use learning community tools, and find collaborations.

HUNSTEM is a learning community that includes schools, informal science institutions, professional societies, and institutions of higher learning working together to promote STEM in the Houston area. HUNSTEM brings a wealth of resources together through an interactive gateway that is extensive, user-friendly, and quality controlled via the integration of national (NCTM, 2000; NRC, 1996), state (TEKS), and local mathematics and science standards.

HUNSTEM is unique in its approach because it concentrates on community, not just on providing STEM curricula, and because it fosters collaboration between all facets of the learning community rather than just acting as liaison. HUNSTEM helps students, teachers, administrators and families move freely between the far-flung resources of their schools, professional organizations, and informal science centers. HUNSTEM is become a model for learning community development for the entire nation. The HUNSTEM website includes portals for teachers, parents, students, professional scientists and engineers, informal science educators, and administrators. Each portal takes visitors to a myriad of resources.

Building STEM Communities: Friday afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30

Informal Science Education – How Can We Work Together? (Kristina Hardwick, moderator)

Demonstrations of activities available from Houston area informal science centers and STEM organizations will be followed by a round table discussion about how classroom teachers can best utilize informal science resources.

Invited participants include: The Children’s Museum of Houston

The Health Museum

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Environmental Educators Exchange

The Houston GEOAlliance

The Greater Houston Energy Education Collaborative

STEM In the Classroom: Friday morning from 9:30 – 11:30

How Does the Brain Work and How Can We Teach So That Students Will Learn? (Dr. Jon Aoki, moderator)

A presentation by Dr. Jon Aoki (UHD) will be followed by hands-on activities that demonstrate how to apply current research in education and cognitive psychology into your lessons.

From How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience and School (NAP, 1999):

|1. |Learning changes the physical structure of the brain. |

|2. |These structural changes alter the functional organization of the brain; in other words, learning organizes and reorganizes |

| |the brain. |

|3. |Different parts of the brain may be ready to learn at different times. |

STEM In the Classroom: Friday afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30

What is Constructivism and Can It Really Work in Today’s Classroom? (Dr. Jon Aoki, moderator)

Hands-on activities which demonstrate various methods of PBL (project-based and problem-based learning) will be followed by a round table discussion about how these teaching strategies can be used in today’s classroom.

Including: Houston Academy of Medicine Texas Medical Center (HAM TMC) Library

Harris County Public Library

Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Geophysical Society of Houston

HUNSTEM

Environmental Educators Exchange

Science and Engineering Fair of Houston

Houston Geologic Society – Maps in the Classroom

Engineering, Science and Technology Council of Houston

STEM Pedagogy: Friday morning from 9:30 – 11:30

Strategies and Resources for Hands-On Learning (Alexia Bieniek, moderator)

A presentation on the current state of STEM education in Texas will be followed by a Town Hall style Summit on current trends in STEM education and our needs for the future.

Topics will include:

A conversation about the new 4th year requirement for Science and Math

A comparison of the new TEKS to the previous TEKS.

A conversation about the recent deliberations concerning science education and the TEKS at State Board of Education meetings.

And more!

STEM Pedagogy: Friday afternoon from 1:30 – 3:30

Visitors in the Classroom – What Do Teachers Need from the Larger Learning Community? (Dr. Brad Hoge, moderator)

A panel discussion about how to connect teachers and students to the resources provided by professional societies and other STEM organizations.

Panelists invited are: Dr. Brad Hoge, Director of HUNSTEM, Associate Director of the SEFH, and current President of ECH

IEEE representative

SAME representative

SPE representative

Carolyn Sumners, HMNS

Building a Better Learning Community for Houston

Exhibits

Houston Academy of Medicine – Texas Medical Center Library

Harris County Public Library

Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Geophysical Society of Houston

VNet World - providing affordable online course and content management for students, teachers and organizations.

HUNSTEM

Environmental Educators Exchange

Science and Engineering Fair of Houston

Houston Geologic Society – Maps in the Classroom

Engineering, Science and Technology Council of Houston

Building a Better Learning Community for Houston

Field Trip Schedule

Rock Walk Through Downtown Houston (led by Dr. Brad Hoge)

The purpose of the “Rock Walk” is to learn about the rock cycle. We will see examples of each type of rock; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. As we go from stop to stop, keep in mind the story of these rocks, and of the earth itself. We will be traveling to the core of a batholith and out. We will ride a subducting continental plate as it is subsumed into the earth’s mantle. We will be resting calmly in seas and lagoons, lakes and hot springs, surrounded by sea life. We will be buried and heated and pressed into new forms. And, we will be lifted up from the depth of the abyssal plain to the peaks of the Appalachian Mountains.

Along the way, we will also see another lesson from geology, stratigraphy. We will discuss the earth’s history in the rocks we see, but we can also explore Houston’s “City Stratigraphy”. We will walk over tiles once adorning the floors of banks and hotels, now paved over for parking lots. We will see the regression of store facades from the pressures of widening streets. We will see pieces of Texas’ history imbedded in Houston’s building like the xenoliths we see in the rocks adorning them.

I hope you are ready for the ride.

Docent led trips to:

Houston Academy of Medicine – Texas Medical Center Library

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Health Museum

Children’s Museum of Houston

Building a Better Learning Community for Houston

Workshop Abstracts (Nancy Easterly, coordinator)

|8:00 am – noon |Registration |

|8:00 am – 9:00 am |Continental Breakfast |

|9:00 am – noon |Worksh|Exhibits and Posters in the Special Events Area |

| |ops | |

|9:00 am - 9:40 am | |Work Solutions – Looking to the Future |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|9:50 am – 10:30 am | |Learning About Water |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|10:40 am – 11:20 am | |Learning About Energy |

| | | |

| | |(Auditorium) |

|11:30 am - 12:10 pm | |

• Workshops may be added, and all workshops are subject to change.

Workshop Abstracts - Table of Contents: Page

Attack of the transgenic mouse! Providing Cutting-Edge 15

Genetics Research for Your Students

HAM-TMC Library (Academy of Medicine -- Texas Medical 16

Center)

The Immune System & Infectious Diseases: Providing Cutting-Edge 17

Research for Your Students

Technology in the Classroom 18

is a K-5th grade online science curriculum designed 19

to help science teachers.

Environmental Educator’s Exchange 20

HUNWiki 21

HUNSTEM Lesson Database 20

HUNSTEM Workshop – Cartoon Laws of Physics 22

HUNSTEM Workshop – Kitchen Chemistry 23

HUNSTEM Workshop – Rube Goldberg Machines 24

HUNSTEM Workshop – Hopscotch through Geologic Time 25

Work Solutions – Looking to the Future 26

Learning About Water 27

Learning About Energy 28

Preparing for the Science TAKS 29

Attack of the transgenic mouse! Providing Cutting-Edge Genetics Research for Your Students

Health Education And Discovering Science while Unlocking Potential (HEADS UP) brings cutting-edge health science to middle and high school classrooms with videos and classroom activities all aligned with National Science Education Standards and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in Science, Math, Health, and/or Career Orientation. HEADS UP is made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health and is produced through collaboration of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and numerous partners including Project GRAD Houston and Spring Branch ISD. HEADS UP is a project designed to excite students about science and health science careers!

This workshop will highlight the HEADS UP Advanced Genetics module that explores the latest discoveries in the field of genetics and the exciting world of regenerative medicine. Topics include gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and animal models (transgenic and knock-out), plus ethical and policy-making considerations that influence what science can do. Designed by researchers and teachers for pre-AP 8th graders and high school biology students, materials feature award-winning videos with student and scientist role models that introduce basic content, classroom activities that expand upon video topics, enrichment activities, attention-grabbing graphics, and more. A variety of science careers are highlighted with brief video biographies of researchers and other science professionals. Workshop participants will be given a sneak peek at the videos and be guided through materials and classroom activities featured in the module.

Module titles include:

Genes, Health & You provides introduction to basic genetics concepts

Advanced Genetics (see workshop description below)

Diabetes/Cardiovascular Disease provides overview of the diseases and illustrates how body systems work together

Nutrition/Physical Activity provides overview of the digestive system and introduces concepts such as Go-Slow-Whoa foods, Nutrition Facts Labels, target heart rate, BMI

The Nervous System highlights the structure and function of one body system

The Immune System & Infectious Diseases examines the structure and function of the body’s natural defense system in response to pathogens and provides an overview of biological safety level laboratories and the importance of biodefense research

Research Evaluation Results

In a quasi-experimental matched comparison study involving a three-year prospective cohort of primarily Hispanic inner-city middle school students, HEADS UP demonstrated significant increases in Stanford 10 Achievement scores in science and interest in science.

Nathalie Sessions

HEADS UP Project Director │ Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living │

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston │ School of Public Health │

1200 Herman Pressler, RAS W910 │ Houston, Texas 77030 │ PHONE 713.500.9350 │ FAX 713.500.9329 │

sph.uth.tmc.edu/headsup/

HAM-TMC Library (Academy of Medicine -- Texas Medical Center)

Classroom Resources from the National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides and maintains a number of databases, websites, and online exhibitions which have applications and relevance for teachers and students. NLM is the world’s largest biomedical library and creator of MEDLINE®. Resources in biology, chemistry, genetics, consumer health, the history of medicine, and careers in medicine are available for all grade levels. Many resources are particularly relevant to middle and high school students and teachers. NLM provides FREE access to all resources, with no login or user information required for access. The workshop will spotlight several of these resources through demonstration and handout materials. Visit the exhibit booth to learn more about NLM’™s superior information services. This presentation will be given by the Houston Academy of Medicine--Texas Medical Center Library.

Cheryl Rowan

Information Services

HAM-TMC Library

1133 John Freeman Blvd.

Houston, TX 77030

713.799.7154

The Immune System & Infectious Diseases: Providing Cutting-Edge Research for Your Students

Health Education And Discovering Science while Unlocking Potential (HEADS UP) brings cutting-edge health science to middle and high school classrooms with videos and classroom activities all aligned with National Science Education Standards and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Science, Math, Health, and/or Career Orientation. HEADS UP is made possible by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health and is produced through collaboration of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and numerous partners including Project GRAD Houston and Spring Branch ISD. HEADS UP is a project designed to excite students about science and health science careers!

This workshop will highlight the HEADS UP Immune System & Infectious Diseases module that examines the structure and function of the body’s natural defense system in response to pathogens. Topics include Staphylococcus aureus/MRSA, Lassa fever, an overview of biological safety level laboratories and the importance of biodefense research. Designed by researchers and teachers for middle and high school students, materials consist of videos with student and scientist role models that introduce basic content, classroom activities that expand upon video topics, enrichment activities, attention-grabbing graphics, and more. A variety of science careers are highlighted with brief video biographies of researchers and other science professionals. Workshop participants will be given a sneak peek at the videos and be guided through materials

and classroom activities featured in the module.

Module titles include:

Genes, Health & You provides introduction to basic genetics concepts

Advanced Genetics explores gene and stem cell therapies, animal models, ethics and policy

Diabetes/Cardiovascular Disease provides overview of the diseases and illustrates how body systems work together

Nutrition/Physical Activity provides overview of the digestive system and introduces concepts such as Go-Slow-Whoa foods, Nutrition Facts Labels, target heart rate, BMI

The Nervous System highlights the structure and function of one body system

The Immune System & Infectious Diseases (see workshop description below)

Research Evaluation Results

In a quasi-experimental matched comparison study involving a three-year prospective cohort of primarily Hispanic inner-city middle school students, HEADS UP demonstrated significant increases in Stanford 10 Achievement scores in science and interest in science.

Nathalie Sessions

HEADS UP Project Director │ Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living │

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston │ School of Public Health │

1200 Herman Pressler, RAS W910 │ Houston, Texas 77030 │ PHONE 713.500.9350 │ FAX 713.500.9329 │

sph.uth.tmc.edu/headsup/

Technology in the Classroom

Technology in the Classroom includes six online presentations starting with the very basics and building to fully integrating technology into science curricula.

• Computer Basics

• Web Basics

• Presentations in the Classroom

• Using Technology in the Classroom

• Integrating Technology into Your Curriculum

• Project-Based Learning

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

is a K-5th grade online science curriculum designed to help science teachers.

Each learning concept is identified as a SCOPE focusing on a specific TEKS student expectation. online learning experiences use the 5E method of teaching science. Teachers ENGAGE students in the topic, then students EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, and ELABORATE while teachers EVALUATE student learning through diverse forms of assessment.

online learning experiences provide many activities within every SCOPE as follows. Lesson Outline, Lesson Presentation, Teacher Background, Materials List, Internet Resources, Intervention. Each E of the SCOPE provides activities closely aligned to the elementary science TEKS as follows: Engage: hands-on activity, presentation; Explore: teacher guide, observation rubric, student guide, student journal, set, set up video; Explain: question prompts, picture vocabulary, concept cards, flash animation; Elaborate: inquiry activity, reading passages, extension activities, books on topic, concept builder; and Evaluate: TAKS assessment, writing prompts, and interactive reviews.

Teachers now have the ability to access TEKS specific hands-on activities and view “how to” implementation videos on those activities. How-To (HT) Videos show teachers step-by-step setups of each EXPLORE hands-on activity as well as how to create student projects. Professional Development (PD) Videos allow teachers to learn about best practices and strategies for effective science instruction in important domains such as inquiry-bases questioning, assessment, and literacy. Teachers learn how components can be used to accomplish the goal of increasing science achievement for all students.

Mary Jo Parker

Rice University – School Science & Technology

6100 Main St. MS 147, Houston, TX 77005

(713) 482-7305

mparker@rice.edu

Environmental Educator’s Exchange

EEE’s purpose is to provide a network and forum for anyone interested or with expertise in the environment, natural history, ecology, local environmental issues and especially environmental education in order to facilitate discussion, exchange of ideas, methods, information and events related to environmental education in the Greater Houston Area.

EEE accomplishes these goals through:

Publications: Member e-mail network pertaining to environmental education.

Speakers Bureau: EEE is a network of environmental educators. If you are in need of a speaker we may be able to help you locate one.

Regular Meetings: EEE members meet at different venues throughout the year to share information and enjoy what each member institution and organization has to offer.

Lawrence Spence, President

2112 Crockett Street

Houston, TX 77007

(281) 684-0288

Lawrence_spence@

HUNWiki

HUN Wiki is an interactive lesson development tool. We have listed lesson plans for each age level of 13 TEKS strands. I've placed templates in each strand along with the lessons. You can edit an existing lesson or start from scratch. You can edit the template page to create a new lesson, and save it by putting a link to it here. You can also add a lesson you've already developed and get feedback. We keep adding more lessons we develop here at UHD, and others sent to us from all over. The list will keep growing, so check back often.

Links for High School lessons are listed after the 13 strands for K-8. Here are the strands for Elementary Grades and Middle School:

• Science Inquiry

• Properties and Patterns

• Systems

• Types of Change

• Living Organisms and Nonliving Objects

• Living Organisms and Basic Needs

• The Natural World

• Physical Properties of Matter

• Adaptations of Organisms

• Energy and the Environment

•

Here are the lessons by topic for High School:

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Environmental Science

• Earth Science

•

To save a new lesson, put a link on the template. Remember to include the Group name along with your new title. Help with using the wiki can be found by clicking edit and scrolling to the bottom of the page for Basic Editing and Text Formatting Rules. Clicking on Basic Editing will open a new window with guidelines for editing and adding new pages, so you can work on your entry and still refer to the guidelines.

If we work together, we can create a dynamic resource for effective STEM lessons. Let's Wiki!

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

HUNSTEM Lesson Database

We've put together some of our favorite sites for multimedia resources and lessons on the web. All of our links to lesson plans are listed by subject: Click on these links to go directly to the subject you're looking for:

[pic]Life Science

[pic]Earth Science

[pic]Environmental Science

[pic]Math

[pic]Physical Science

[pic]Environmental Science

[pic]Technology

Our multimedia resources are listed on the right, or organized by type in our HUNSTEM MultiMedia Bank.

We've scoured the web and worked with our partners to bring together a lot of great videos, too. You can find links to great videos from many sources at our HUNSTEM Video Bank.

We also want to provide access to other types of resources, such as videos and podcasts. Check out the sidebar to find the ones we've picked so far.

We'll keep looking for great lessons, and we'll keep adding ones that we develop or find from local teachers.

Send us your lessons, and we'll add them to the list!

We'll even come to your school and do a hands-on lesson! We can do hands-on lessons for any subject and any age level. Just send us an e-mail to schedule a visit.

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

HUNSTEM Workshop – Cartoon Laws of Physics

Cartoons are funny because they defy common sense. This is especially funny when we are young because we are struggling to verify our understanding of our experiences in the natural world, so when we see the violation of the “real” laws of physics as we experience them, that’s funny. Learning more about physics, should only increase our appreciation of cartoons and allow us to experience them all over again. In this exercise, we will see many examples of “cartoon laws of physics”, those violations of “real” physics that can only exist in animation. Each “cartoon law of physics” represents a violation of a “real” law of physics. Your challenge is to spot the “cartoon” law and relate it to the “real” law. Thhhhaaaaaat’s all folks! So let’s begin!

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

HUNSTEM Workshop – Kitchen Chemistry

Hands on lessons to take with you:

• Alka-Seltzer Rocket

• Balloon on a Bottle

• Cloud Chamber

• Egg Suck

• Salt Lava Lamp

• Oobleck

• Gak

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

HUNSTEM Workshop – Rube Goldberg Machines

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) brings the ideas of Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rube Goldberg's "invention" cartoons to life. This Olympics of Complexity is designed to pull students away from conventional problem-solving and push them into the endless chaos of imagination and intuitive thought. To be specific, groups are given an elementary challenge: something as simple as peeling an apple, sharpening a pencil, or putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. But instead of just "solving" the problem, students have to make the solution as complicated and as convoluted as possible. In fact, the more steps the better the Rube Goldberg Machine. And what a machine! An assemblage of ordinary objects, mechanical gadgets, and the oddest odds and ends are linked together and somehow get to the desired goal.

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

HUNSTEM Workshop – Hopscotch through Geologic Time

Assign each of the following time periods to groups of 3 (you may need to assign more than on time period to a group):

Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary

Have each group research their time period/s and produce squares for a hopscotch game. They can draw, cut and paste, or write information into their squares. Each group should try to find the information and illustrations that best describe that time period.

Once all groups have completed their squares, lay them out on the floor in this pattern:

Quaternary

Tertiary

Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous

Permian

Carboniferous

Silurian Devonian

Ordovician

Cambrian

Have each member of the class toss a rock onto the squares, hop to that spot and describe the time period. Each member of the class should play at least twice.

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

Work Solutions – Looking to the Future

Houston’s underserved communities will provide the workforce of the future. Our ability to educate them and inform them of the career opportunities ahead of them is crucial to our future as well as theirs.

Did You Know:

HOUSTON FACTS

Number 1 Rankings

• Best Hospitals for Cancer Care: M. D. Anderson (U.S. News and World Report - July 2007)

• Largest Immigrant Communities in the United States (Center for an Urban Future: A World of Opportunity - April 2007)

• Number of Overall Building Permits (Demographia - March 2007)

• Number of Single Unit Building Permits (Demographia - March 2007

Top 10 Rankings

• 2007 Aerospace Award for Excellence (Expansion Solutions Magazine- December 2007)

• Top 10 Cities for Hispanics (Hispanic Magazine - November 2007)

• Global WiFi Usage (Houston Business Journal - September 2007)

• “One of America’s Best Hospitals” – Methodist Hospital (U.S. News & World Report – July 2007)

• Total Land Devoted to Parks (Trust for Public Land - July 2007)

• Green Space (Trust for Public Land - July 2007)

• Top Ten Cities for African Americans (Black Enterprise - May 2007)

• Top 50 Big Cities for Family Relocation (Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocations LLC - April 2007)

• Top Ten Underrated U.S. Cities ( - April, 2007)

• Most Hispanic-Owned Businesses in the United States (Center for an Urban Future: A World of Opportunity - April 10, 2007)

• Most Asian-Owned Businesses in the United States (Center for an Urban Future: A World of Opportunity - April, 2007)

• Total County Population (U.S. Bureau of the Census - March, 2007)

• Total Metropolitan Area Population (U.S. Bureau of the Census - March 2007

• 2006 Top 10 Metros for New and Expanded Facilities (Site Selection - March 2007)

• Top Ten Cities for Green Technology Innovation (by: SustainLane - March 2007)

• Job Growth (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - March 2007)

• 2007 list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” – Methodist Hospital System (FORTUNE, 2007)

Let’s Work Together!

Kristina Hardwick

Science Education and Training Consultant

tngeducation@

Learning About Water

Why should we learn about water?

Why is water education important for the Houston – Galveston area?

Why is water education important for America?

Why is water education important for your students?

How can we teach about water?

Water education includes:

o Why learn about water

o Water basics

o Water processes

o Water issues

o Water careers

o Water education

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

Learning About Energy

Why should we learn about energy?

Why is energy education important for Houston?

Why is energy education important for America?

Why is energy education important for your students?

How can we teach about energy?

Energy education includes:

o Why learn about energy

o Oil and gas

o Chemistry

o Power

o Process technology

o Alternative energy

o Energy education

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

Preparing for the Science TAKS

How to find resources to help your students prepare for the TAKS. This presentation is organized into the following TAKS topics:

The Nature of Science

o Safety

o Asking good questions

o Planning and implementing an investigation

o Collecting and analyzing data

o Making valid conclusions

o Apply critical thinking skills

The Organization of Living Things

o Cellular processes and function

o Structure of DNA

o Genetics

o Protein synthesis

o Variation in plants and animals

o Classification and taxonomy

o Human systems

Organisms and the Environment

o Bacteria

o Viruses

o Theory of Evolution by Natural Selectino

o Ecology

Structures and Properties of Matter

o Properties of matter

o Law of conservation of mass

o Physical and chemical changes

o Rules of solubility

o Structure of water and water’s special properties

Motion, Forces, and Energy

o Newton’s laws

o Energy

o Heat

o Waves and the electromagnetic spectrum

o Circuits

Dr. Brad Hoge

University of Houston-Downtown

One Main St., Ste N725, Houston, TX 77002-1001

(713) 221-8289

hogeb@uhd.edu

Moderator Bios:

Dr. Brad Hoge

Dr. Brad Hoge is an Assistant Professor of Science Education at the University of Houston-Downtown. He has a Ph.D. in biogeochemistry and paleoecology from Rice University, and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction Texas A&M. He teaches science education, physical science, geology, and biology at the University of Houston Downtown. He’s taught at every age level at one point in his life or another, including preK, elementary, middle and high school. He also worked at The Children’s Museum of Houston where he was curator for the Magic School Bus Inside the Earth exhibit. He was a full-time parent for nine years, and he’s a poet, by hobby. This eclectic background gives him a unique perspective on science education, and he’s not shy, so you never know what you'll hear from him.

Dr. Jon Aoki

In science education my research interests include the application of inquiry into the classroom and the pedagogical training of faculty. Inquiry is at the forefront of the science education reform movement. I am currently teaching the NS 3312 course (Life Science Studies). This is a biology content course aimed at junior and senior level elementary school pre-service teachers. With respect to biology, I have an interest in small mammal ecology with particular emphasis on the foraging ecology of rodents. Population dynamics, food habits, and GIS modeling often make up this type of research.

Ms. Kristina Hardwick

Kristina has worked offshore and at the bottom of the ocean. Her extensive portfolio of work includes the conceptual design for MOLU: Mobile Offshore Learning Units traveling exhibits and the master plan for the Louisiana State Oil and Gas Museum. She is the author of "Project Energy: Expanding Energy Education" and "Earth’s Energy: The Science of Offshore Drilling". Her environmental education program designs have been featured in Newsweek ("Getting an Early Start: Eco-education Doesn't Have to be Expensive") and in Science and Children ("Environmental Education Saves the Day"). She has been a speaker/presenter at a wide variety of events including the first ever International Association of Drilling Contractors Environmental Conference in Stavanger, Norway and the Women's Global Leadership Conference in Energy and Technology in Houston, Texas.Her awards and recognition include the Educational Excellence Award from the Engineering Council of Houston, World Oil Award as part of the Greater Houston Energy Education Collaborative, Louisiana Environmental Interagency Commission founding membership and six Army Commendation Medals.

Ms. Alexia Bieniek

Alexia is a multi-talented and dynamic educator with vast experience in Texas education. She is the past president of the Texas Earth Science Teachers Association and past president of the Houston Gem & Mineral Society. She is the author of “Status of Earth Science Education in Texas” and is very involved in recent discussions concerning earth science education in Texas.

Ms. Nancy Easterly

Nancy Easterly is an adjunct professor at Lone Star College-North Harris who teaches a conceptual physics class for non-majors. She taught high school physics at Cypress Creek HS in Cy-Fair ISD for 26 years. During this time she brought technology into the physics laboratory program across the district. She also partnered with pre-calculus teachers to device cross-curriculum physics and math technology-based lessons. After retiring from public high school teaching she taught at University of Houston-Downtown as an adjunct professor in the Department of Natural Sciences. Her physical science class was specially designed to meet the needs of elementary science teachers. She was also part of the group of teachers that designed some of the toys in space experiments for space shuttle missions.

As part the American Association of Physics Teachers, Nancy is a select member of the national group of Physics Teaching Resource Agents (PTRAs). She is available for conducting workshops for high school physics and physical science teachers. Her love for physics and education spans over 30 years. Nancy has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Masters of Education from Texas A&M University. She has received several teaching awards locally, statewide and nationally.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Brad Hoge

Dr. Brad Hoge is an Assistant Professor of Science Education at the University of Houston-Downtown. He has a Ph.D. in biogeochemistry and paleoecology from Rice University, and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction Texas A&M. He teaches science education, physical science, geology, and biology at the University of Houston Downtown. He’s taught at every age level at one point in his life or another, including preK, elementary, middle and high school. He also worked at The Children’s Museum of Houston where he was curator for the Magic School Bus Inside the Earth exhibit. He was a full-time parent for nine years, and he’s a poet, by hobby. This eclectic background gives him a unique perspective on science education, and he’s not shy, so you never know what you'll hear from him.

TBA

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HUNCon: Conference Agenda

2009 HUNCon, University of Houston-Downtown

|Theme 1 |The Gathering Storm: |

|Theme 2 |Building STEM Communities: |

|Theme 3 |STEM In the Classroom: |

|Theme 4 |STEM Pedagogy |

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