Meeting+9+-+Aug+'12

Science Department Meeting August 23, 2012

I. **Welcome Back**

Handout Sir Ken Robinson- Teach Your Children Well- Keynote speaker for CUE conference. Same hosting scheme for Biohaz- refreshments assigned in Google calendar. Stock it and be aware of buying too much...

II. **Summer PD Share (Gerry, Craig, Paul, Karalyn, Brian (Modified))**

**Kwan-**tutoring is available and if you have not printed out your syllabus, embed a quick note about tutoring program. **Gerry-**AP Institute in S.D. Excited about the fact that OUR 9th graders are seeing AP concepts in their 1st year of science. Significant discussions on what's happening with AP in the future...mixed set of participants...some are new, some are 15 year vets. Takeaways really helped, got to see a plasma field generator on campus. Following curriculum by Gende, Dolores. Looked at Vernier Labs and probeware. Worked on PhEt Simulations. Write lessons, but perusing previous lessons and improving. Using PhEt simulations for aiding in lessons and as homework, not for hands-on. Freshmen Physics labs- some were too confusing for freshmen, spent time to modify labs...ex. the slinky lab. Handout in 1/2 page format...graphic organizer to help them. Making instructions more straightforward. Start with 3 and hoping to expand... **Craig-** Urban Ecology Institute- tracked feral cats and crows in Boston, game camps, using video, gps collars. Rejuvinated views on Life Science **Karalyn-** Developing AP Biology Course. Paul and Karalyn 1/2 sabbatical, AP Institute in Florida and local. Karalyn won a human skeleton in an institute for our use. 1st AP Conference...disappointed in AP Bio, teachers are not moving forward....still having the same conversations, there was a panic on how to implement the revised course. 65 members on the site...1000 hits. Karalyn will send the link.

III. **Looking Ahead – Important Dates to Note** a. CSTA- / NSTA / CUE / ISTE

October for CSTA NSTA Phoenix- December 8th Cue in March with Keynote

b. Birthdays and Biohazard Collaboration

Make sure they are correct...

c. Monthly Best Practices (MBP) Each-Teach

Heads up for this in the coming months... something you would like to share.

IV. **Department Logistics** a. Budgets (BioHaz)

We need to watch what we spend in BioHaz

b. Phone Numbers

Make sure it's up to date.

c. Technology

Macbook carts...brand new! 2 carts with 30 each in each floor...work out how you want to utilize on a floor by floor basis.

V. **iPad Update (Andrew & Fawzia)**


 * See handout...**

VI. **Physics First Update (Craig)**

6th year of the program...2 years of physics benefits the students. Physics year of science does better in their Loyola career as far as science. This year is the largest class size for freshmen physics. FCI graph by Craig. Our freshmen physics have higher gains than traditional physics schools.

VII. **Senior Science Course Overviews** a. Environmental Engineering Overview (Robb) b. Honors Astronomy Overview (Andrey)

Environmental Engineering- 8 mini challenges, final four weeks they are in development teams...they have to come up with a project of their own interest using the engineering design process. 90 minute final will be paired with someone they don't know and they come up with a design to a problem.

Honors Astronomy- Inquiry based lab 18 labs prepared activities. Received $50,000 in grants to start the class...

VIII. **3D Printer Usage** a. How can it best be utilized? Coursework? Produce “Give-Aways”?

Come up with something...email Rob

IX. **Professional Development Plans (Due Friday, September 14, 2012)**

Include conferences, Gorr will send out along with a template.

X. **Last Minute Reminders** a. Nature of Science Lessons (one per semester) b. Include the Science Department Mission Statement in Syllabi and CubView c. Use CubView!!!

XI. **Department Goals for 2012-13** a. Continue Pushing for Senior Level Project-Based Course Offerings b. Assess and Report iPad Findings (should we request more iPads?) c. Utilize and Revise (if necessary) the Department Observation Form d. Survive WASC e. Long Term: 100% Participation as Presenters at NSTA Long Beach (Dec, 2014) i. Sub-goals (may be out of our hands) 1. Update technology (GLX’s, MacBooks, etc) 2. Hire one more science faculty (or hybrid science/math)

XII. **Reflection Regarding Vertical Bridging – How did each course end last year?** a. Freshmen (Phy) → Sophomore (Chem): _AstroPhysics b. Sophomore (Chem) → Junior (Life Science): _Organic Chemistry c. Junior (Life Science) → Senior (Elective): _Interdisciplinary Project__

XIII. **Meeting continues at Robin Hood British Pub……. 5:00pm.**