Spring 2014 Meeting Program

Directions (see bottom of page)

Morning:

8:30 Registration and coffee

Talks (9:00 am- 12:00 pm)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Laura Trouille, Northwestern University

Title: Engaging Non-Scientists in the Scientific Research Process

In order to handle the onslaught of data spilling from telescopes, medical imaging, animal webcams, and more, scientists across the disciplines have partnered with over a million citizen scientists (non-professionals) around the world. Until recently, however, the role of citizen scientists was limited to the first stage of the research process -- classifying/tagging the data.

"Galaxy Zoo Quench" has provided citizen scientists the opportunity to experience the entire process of science, from classification to analysis to discussion to publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal. While the science goal was to understand what caused post-quenched galaxies to abruptly stop forming stars, the lessons learned are applicable across the disciplines. In this talk I will focus on how to leverage online tools to authentically engage non-scientists in the entire process of scientific research.

I will also briefly present recent results from Northwestern University's Computational Thinking in STEM (CT-STEM) project, supporting high school math, chemistry, physics, and biology teachers in embedding computational thinking and modeling into their curricula.

Contributed talks include:

Cost Effective Student Laboratory Experiments for the Study of Optics

Using Sensors Sensibly in the Physics Lab

How Will the New AP Exam Be Different?

Physics of the Voice

Teaching Physics Using Patterns

Sensemaking TIPERs

There will also be a 30-minute morning break and concurrent poster session.

Lunch/Business Meeting 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Workshop (1:00- 3:00 pm)

Computational Thinking in STEM - How we can help you address the Next Generation Science Standards

Presented by Dr. Laura Trouille, Northwestern University

Abstract:

The Next Generation Science Standards outline eight distinct practices. While some of these practices are familiar, such as “planning and carrying out investigations”, others are less familiar, specifically the practice of “using mathematics and computational thinking”. In this workshop we will present the computational thinking curricular materials we have developed and pilot tested in physics, biology, chemistry, and math high school classrooms over the past two years, and provide in-depth training in one (or two) of our CT-Physics lessons. The CT-STEM Project team consists of Chicago-area high school physics, math, chemistry, and biology teachers working in collaboration with Northwestern University computer science, science education, learning sciences, and STEM faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. For more information, visit our project website: http://ct-stem.northwestern.edu/

DIRECTIONS:

We will be meeting in the Johnson Science Center at Lake Forest College. For directions, click here. For a campus map, click here. The Science Center is Building 7 in the campus map. Use the "Middle Campus" entrance on Sheridan Road.