Message-Id: <v03102801b14984ecc9b5@[206.170.3.66]>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 14:07:07 -0700
To: "Pinhole Listserv" <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
From: Dave Nickles <dan7@psu.edu>
Subject: Program Opportunity Announcement
<bold><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVOLVE
YOUR STUDENTS IN CONDUCTING REAL SCIENCE, COLLECTING DATA AND SHARING
IT WITH OTHER BAY AREA STUDENTS? IF YOU WOULD, READ ON!
</fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>This announcement
is about an opportunity for upper SF peninsula schools, K-12, to become
involved with a program at San Francisco State that offers some great
science equipment to measure aspects of weather, air and water quality,
and seismology. In addition, a PC with software to "collect and track"
data gathered from the equipment is provided, as are training on the
use of the equipment and workshops on the integration or development of
curriculum based on the data gathered from the equipment. O yes, the
equipment is FREE and is provided through a 5-year NSF grant made to
the San Jose State/San Francisco State MASTEP collaborative for K-12
schools who will utilize their existing science and math clubs and
classes to do project-based learning and wish to become partners with
others doing similar projects. MASTEP provides additional support for
K-12 participating schools through its partnerships with many Bay area
informal science education providers, including UCSF Science Education
Program, NASA-Ames, The Exploratorium, Cal Academy, Lawrence Hall and
others.
If you're interested in finding out more about joining the MASTEP
collaborative, please read about our program below. <smaller>(Fine
print: Of course, there are some school/teacher "commitments" required
to participate.)
</smaller>Status of the <bold>MASTEP</bold> program
<bold>MASTEP</bold> (Math And Science Teacher Education Program) has
been "up and running" now for almost a year in the San Jose area (lower
peninsula) with 15 schools participating. After this positive response
in the San Jose area, MASTEP is expanding to the upper peninsula. We
are looking to recruit elementary, middle, and high schools in the San
Francisco and San Mateo County areas (upper peninsula) to join the
collaborative for next school year(Fall 1998 and Spring 1999). MASTEP
will fund up to 20 upper peninsula schools as participants in our
program, so we would like to encourage you to consider how joining
MASTEP might benefit your students and teachers.
<bold>WHAT IS MASTEP?
</bold>* A multifaceted, collaborative project to improve mathematics
and science teacher preparation in the greater San Francisco Bay Area
by providing professional development "sites" for SFSU students and
UCSF researchers to observe children and teachers in real learning
environments.
* A partnership of SFSU and SJSU, four community colleges-CCSF, CSM,
SJCC, and EVCC, selected K-12 schools, informal Bay area science/math
institutions, and local industries.
* Faculty development, curricular improvements (math, science, teacher
prep), future teacher clubs, new teacher support, and outreach to K-12
schools.
* A National Science Foundation CETP funded at $1 million for up to
five years.
<bold>WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR SCHOOL?
</bold>* State of the art science equipment, such as a computerized
weather monitoring station; your site's weather automatically becomes
part of a database accessible via your on-line computer and the
Internet. Your students will have access to data from your weather
station as well as the 39 others which will be collecting weather
statistics from around the Bay.
* Technology training in the use of this equipment and multimedia
workshops at SFSU's new SEGA Multimedia Computer Laboratory.
* Assistance in forming (or enriching) a science/math club and support
for the club's activities.
* Opportunities for developing math and science projects and curricula
based on "real" data.
* Partnership in a professional network of K-16 educators promoting
curriculum reform and professional development.
* Recognition as a model of math and science innovation and as a
professional development site for the preparation of future teachers.
<bold>WHAT ARE THE COMMITMENTS?
Schools agree to:
</bold>* Serve as a professional development sites for early field
experiences of qualified SFSU undergraduates and UCSF research
scientists interested in becoming teachers.
* Create or utilize an existing "club" which will accommodate students'
project-based activities and highlight careers in math, science,
technology, and teaching.
* Promote project-based inquiry using scientific equipment,
informational databases, and multi-media presentation tools.
<bold>Teachers agree to:
</bold>* Form a team of no fewer than two teachers (elementary schools)
and three to six teachers (middle and high schools) to be moderators
for the club activities and, in some cases, to act as supervisors for
prospective teachers and mentors for new teachers.
* Hold regular meetings of the club and provide inquiry-oriented,
long-term projects.
* Attend the summer or Fall technology training provided by MASTEP.
<bold>Administrators agree to:
</bold>* Support MASTEP goals and the participation of their science
and math faculty and students in MASTEP activities.
* Promote the goals and activities within the school and in the
community.
* Seek financial assistance to support the activities beyond the limits
of MASTEP's funding.
<bold>Informational Meetings
</bold>To find out how to become part of the MASTEP collaborative in
Fall 1998 or Spring 1999, call the MASTEP Office for details about
attending the next after school informational meeting on May 20 at San
Francisco State University. The number for the MASTEP office
is:415-338-6459 or send an email to Stephanie at: <<mastep1@sfsu.edu>.
<bold>Timeline:
</bold>* Informational meeting for upper peninsula schools - next
scheduled for May 20, 1998, SFSU campus.
* Application process for acceptance of schools during Spring 1999
begins June 1, 1998. [Opportunities to begin in the Fall, 1998,
contingent upon early acceptance and attending the Summer 1998
training.]
* Equipment training (and other multimedia training opportunities),
late Fall, 1998.
* Equipment installation following training, January, 1999.
</fontfamily>
<color><param>FFFF,0000,0000</param>*****************************</color>
Dave Nickles
San Francisco State University
Instructor & Student Teaching Supervisor, Dept. of Elementary
Education
K-12 Outreach Coordinator,
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>M</color></underline>ath
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>A</color></underline>nd
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>S</color></underline>cience
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>T</color></underline>eacher
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>E</color></underline>ducation
<underline><color><param>6666,3333,0000</param>P</color></underline>rogram
(MASTEP Collaborative)
415-338-6961 or 338-6459 (office)
510-547-5584 (home)
electronic mail: dnickles@sfsu.edu, nickles@pacbell.net, dan7@psu.edu
Thoughts for the Ages
"We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/
Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first
time." T.S. Eliot
<color><param>FFFF,0000,0000</param>*****************************</color>