January 31, 2018 Update from Kathy

A couple of things this week:

• Lisa Dunkelburg is offering to facilitate a Collegial Circle (AKA: Book Study) please let her know if you are interested by Feb 11th so we can get the books ordered - see below

Good afternoon,

At our monthly Canton cohort meeting, it was suggested to conduct a book study on Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

About the book: Researchers took her cells without her knowledge or consent in the 1950s. The development of current day medical ethics plays a part in this story. Most of us have all been touched by her through the development of drugs thanks to her cells. Her family found out about her cells many years after her death. That family is very poor, lack health insurance and have never received any monetary benefit from the sale of her cells by big companies. Her cells are still alive today.

This is a short video about the book.

http://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life/

The book study will be conducted remotely via Canvas for Instructure. The Master Teacher Program will purchase a copy of the book for those who choose to participate. If you are interested in participating, please email me by Sunday, February 11th so that the appropriate number of books may be ordered. Books will be distributed at a future cohort meeting.

Semester one is complete. The year is going by fast. :)

Sincerely,

Lisa Dunkelberg

From Josephine:

• Please share the following one item in your next communication to MTs in region. Thank you! The image is separate from the text when you copy-and-paste.
  • A. Annual Conference, 2018: The word is spreading and MTs are adding to the discussion the Google community. Thank you, Regional Directors, for sharing
  • Ensuring a nutritious, reliable, and sustainably produced food supply in an era of climate change…
  • Many of last week’s posts get at aspects of this societal problem that can best be addressed through collaboration across STEM and other disciplines. A 2014 NAS report illustrates the concept of Convergence research* using this graphic.
  • ⇒ How might you create opportunities for students to consider solutions to this challenge, within and beyond the disciplines you teach?
  • * Source: Convergence: Facilitating Transdisciplinary Integration of Life Science, Physical Sciences, Engineering and Beyond. National Academy of Sciences. The National Academies Press. 2014. http://nap.edu/18722
  • What did your colleague Master Teachers post last week’s post about creating opportunities for students to think about the grand challenges of today—and tomorrow—within and beyond the discipline you teach?
  • · In Central NY, Astrid writes: How about in class activities for Earth science students that would enable them to test for the greenhouse effect of co2 and ch4? Another thought is calorimetry testing of food items so that chemistry students can assess nutrient content of either processed and/or whole foods within the classroom.
  • · And Benjamin, also in CNY, wrote: What about ES students researching the atmosphere and conditions on Mars with LE students working on what species' niches you may be able to recreate in various settings, such that they could create a self-sustaining ecosystem in an enclosed structure?
  • · Steve, also in CNY, worked with a team that includes English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Technology Education colleagues to develop: a 6-week unit (based on the book/movie The Martian*) where students study Martian conditions, living in a hostile environment and isolation, research skills, literature elements, robotics, programming, historical missions, and much more….This was our second year with this particular PBL activity, and it was great!

30 City Series in Plattsburgh - Monday evenings - see attached weekly topics.

• If you have not done so and are planning to present a breakout session for either the Next Generation Math and Science Conference or the Technology Day in March please complete the Google Doc. We are planning to review the offerings on Saturday following the Grant Writing workshop - Thank you.

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekTdsKfSme8vBik4G4pc0WBfQ5ZVQGTtCVsaEJLJLpD1DL0Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

• IGNITE Workshop in Saranac Lake - See attached flyer

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday.

Kathy

Kathleen Fessette, Regional Director

NYS Master Teacher Program - North Country Region

Room 546B Sibley Hall

SUNY Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: 518-578-0064 (office)

Fax: 518-564-5001