|
|
Workshop Detail: Monday, July 20, 2009
(3-5): Effectively Differentiate and Enhance Inquiry-based Science Instruction for All Learning Styles with Edusmart Science
presented by
Franki Dockens, Goose Creek CISD, Todd Watne, Watnet Consulting
Curriculum Developed by Edumatics Corporation, Franki Dockens, and Todd Watne
Using effective teaching practices, inquiry-based “hands on” activities and a new cutting-edge, multimedia software program called Edusmart Science, we will discover how it is possible to differentiate instruction for all learning styles within the same lesson. This workshop will include “hands on” activities for teaching content and vocabulary development in life, physical and earth sciences with connections to environmental science.
For the past three years, Franki Dockens has served as the District Elementary Science Specialist in Goose Creek CISD in Baytown, TX and is responsible for facilitating science instruction K – 5 in Goose Creek’s fifteen elementary schools. Working with a group of highly competent, dedicated campus-based science facilitators, she guides the continuous improvement process of the district’s science program. This includes designing, developing, researching and acquiring curriculum materials based on “best practices”. She also presents staff development workshops throughout the year in-district and at state and local conferences. Prior to working with Goose Creek, she served as Science Instructional Coach in La Porte ISD and taught 6th and 7th grade science for fifteen years in La Porte and Pasadena ISD. In her “spare time”, she works as an Independent Science Consultant.
Todd Watne works with campuses in several TX districts to develop cutting edge and innovative teacher-driven resources designed to elevate teachers’ content knowledge in science specific to the TEKS. Todd has contracted with Edumatics Corporation on the ground-floor development of Edusmart Science: age appropriate teacher-led science software for grades 3-8. By interfacing with TEKS experts in elementary and middle school science, Todd helps identify ways to integrate tested instructional strategies and best-practices into emerging technology(s) in order to help strengthen teacher knowledge and increase student achievement.
Summer Institute, a component of the MIDAS Project, is supported by a