 GEMS Author Kevin Beals, a frequent presenter at GEMS professional development sessions.
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GEMS Professional Development
The following Professional Development sessions are open for registration or will be scheduled in the near future. You can also contact us as indicated below if you are interested in custom workshops.
Events at the National Science Teachers Association national conference in Indianapolis:
- Friday, March 30
GEMS Network Reception–Please come meet and greet!
3:00 – 4:30 PMMarriott Ballroom 5 – Mingle with GEMS educators from around the country. Learn from each other about the various GEMS activities taking place in classrooms and communities near you. Explore our newest curriculum! All are welcome!
- Please also come visit us at our booth at NSTA, number 1157.
Summer Workshops in Berkeley:
- GEMS Associates professional development, July 25-27, 2012: Your colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, invite you to join us for a three day workshop at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Do you actively provide professional development to teachers? Do you have ongoing opportunities to support teachers in mathematics and science education? This workshop conveys various strategies to increase your capacity and become an ever more effective resource for teachers–by becoming a GEMS Associate. (Note that the workshop is held the same week as the two-day session on the new Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5 described below, and special pricing is offered to attendees of both, which provides for a 20% discount.) Topics and activities covered at the GEMS Assciates workshop include:
- An in-depth review of the GEMS philosophy and approach.
- A review of how GEMS addresses national, state, and local frameworks, benchmarks, and standards.
- How the GEMS units can be used to create or augment a larger curriculum.
- Effective strategies for introducing teachers to GEMS curricula and supporting their use of GEMS materials.
- Firsthand experience with a number of GEMS units.
As an Associates Workhsop participant, you will receive a certificate of completion, and you will be provided with two GEMS Handbooks and ten GEMS Teacher's Guides of your choice. In addition, you will receive a 15% discount on all future purchases. We will also talk about the parameters for establishing a GEMS Network Site or Center, and whether that is something for you to consider. And you will have the opportunity to work with us on future initiatives and collaborations, such as field testing of new units, etc. Register here.
- GEMS Curriculum Sequences professional development July 23-24, 2012: The GEMS Curriculum Sequences are developed by GEMS and published and distributed by Carolina Curriculum. This growing line provides in depth coverage of specific, standards-based topics and includes integrated assessments and complete materials kits. We currently offer the GEMS Space Science Sequence for Grades 3–5, a GEMS Space Science Sequence for Grades 6–8, a GEMS Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5, and we will soon release the GEMS Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 6–8. This workshop will focus on the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5, with a brief overview and review of the content in the other units in the series. (Note that the workshop is held the same week as the three-day GEMS Associate session described above, and special pricing is offered to attendees of both, which provides for a 20% discount.) Topics and activities covered at the workshop include:
- An in-depth review of the sequences concept, and how the the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5 and all of the units provide both in-depth coverage of the subject matter, and great flexibility of implementation.
- How sequences are developed to address standards, and how the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5 specifically addresses benchmarks, National Science Educational standards, and the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles.
- Firsthand experiences with inquiry activities from the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5.
- How you can teach your students the language of “scientific argumentation” by stating claims and evidence throughout the investigation process.
- Review of the strong teacher support features of the curriculum and how to implement them.
- A discussion of the effectiveness studies done with the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 3–5 and how those validate the curriculum and inform your approach to teaching the units.
- A sneak peek at the Ocean Sciences Sequence for Grades 6-8, currently in development.
Workshop is July 23 and 24 at Lawrence Hall of Science. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion. Register here.
- AfterSchool KidzScience: AfterSchool KidzScience workshops introduce out-of-school leaders to the use of AfterSchool KidzScience: easy and fun activities designed for 3rd–5th graders. Learn how to engage, explore, and make sense with activities from a range of kits. Participants will be introduced to and participate in a number of the AfterSchool KidzScience 45-minute long sessions. Special attention will be paid to techniques for fostering an inventive, creative, and safe approach to science after school. We plan to schedule the next sessions in summer 2012. Please check back for dates and details.
If you have questions about any of our professional development offerings, or if you would like to be contacted as new sessions are scheduled, please contact Dana Greene at: Dana Greene or call at (510) 664-4578. GEMS can also provide customized professional development at your site; contact Brandon for details. You should also check the network of GEMS Sites and Centers for professional development opportunities offered by sites in your area.
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