Forsyth educators learn to actively
engage students in math and science

	ROCKETS AWAY: Forsyth County teachers Ken Rockleim, Doris Dickerson and Corinne Melton, with Math & Science on Wheels instructors David Moore and Heather Marshall, watch as their rocket experiment soars through the sky.

DAHLONEGA (July 10, 2006) – Forsyth County teachers from across the public school system shortened their summer break for a hands-on educational experience at North Georgia College & State University for a week in June.

A group of 40 teachers, representing elementary through middle grades, were part of the Math & Science on Wheels program, an NGCSU School of Education initiative to show educators an approach to teaching that provides rich hands-on experiences for children.

North Georgia’s program was designed in collaboration with the Forsyth County School System to address the county’s initiative to enhance teaching strategies that incorporate performance tasks leading to increased student achievement.

“Teachers were trained in new and exciting laboratory experiences that match the Georgia Performance Standards,” said David Moore, a science specialist and instructor in the Math & Science on Wheels program. “The goal of this initiative is to develop a broader sense of real-world applications for math and science students,” said Moore, who has a doctorate in science education.

The activities included experiments in rocketry, motion studies, electricity, light, sound, chemistry, ecology and stream studies, all of which may be incorporated into classroom lesson plans.

“These activities remind me of why I became a teacher,” said Corrine Melton, a science teacher at Chestatee Elementary School. “I liked the way we adapted the activities for multiple grade levels. Science doesn’t seem to be pushed at the elementary levels, even though science is critical in the early years.”

MATH METHOD: Doris Dickerson, Ann Cannon and Tracey Hefflefinger test an activity used to teach students different math principles including prime and composite numbers and concepts linked to measurement.

Rockets streaked across the sky, qualities of ‘flubber’ were explored and salt grains provided a new view of the universe for the participants. The Forsyth County math and science educators, working with simple and low-cost equipment, were taught how to actively engage students.

One of the objectives of the NGCSU program is to help teachers learn to coordinate math and science skills between grade levels and integrate the subject matter content with other school subjects.

The school teachers used the outdoors as a classroom on the last day of instruction, spending the day at the NGCSU Pine Valley recreational area. Lessons included ecology studies of the Etowah River, food web games, food chains, macro-invertebrate identification and water quality testing. Teachers learned some new approaches in working with their students to foster an appreciation of the natural world, including habitats, natural selection, and bio-diversity.

“The program clearly kept in mind the cost, material, time and constraints of the classroom teacher,” said Tracey Heffelfinger, a teacher at Liberty Middle School.

The Math & Science on Wheels program is a model its instructors hope to duplicate with other school systems in the region.

“When learning experiences are made tangible and visible via innovative teaching strategies, learning for all students is at once deeper, engaging, and far more fun,” said Heather Marshall, the math specialist for the program.

Marshall, a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching, said that students will reap the benefits of their teachers’ training.

“Many of the Forsyth teachers we taught will implement these activities in the classroom this fall,” Marshall said. “Students will learn to investigate and analyze math and science questions, perform investigations and verbalize math and science concepts.”

The NGCSU team works closely with curriculum specialists at the local school level to provide teaching pathways for successful teaching and learning. Forsyth County is the first school system to engage in the new partnership with North Georgia. The program will be offered to other school systems and if they elect to offer this training, the partnership continues through the school year to provide continued support. More information about the NGCSU Math & Science on Wheels program is available at 706-864-3273.

This page last modified on: Monday, 02 October 2006 03:37:46 -0400 by University Relations    

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