CNAS GOALS 2000 PROGRAM

As in any get-together of this sort, we had information delivered to us in many different forms. I think all our presenters were great, and clearly presented information to us in the manner that made the most sense to what they were trying to do.

The Summer, 1998 Goals 2000 – Science Retreat at MSU -West Plains was conducted for 18 dedicated teachers of science. They came from Lebanon, Strafford, Springfield, Seymour, West Plains and MSU . Representatives from elementary, middle, secondary, and higher education were included in those attending.

Tuesday began with welcomes from Fred Marty, Chancellor of the West Plains campus, and Roger Bennett, Dean of the College of Education. Self-introductions were made by the participants, and a joke-card-mixer was conducted. The first activity that morning involved small group discussions on the topics of Inquiry, K-18 Connections, Instructional Technology, Student-Centered Teaching, and Integration. Due to time constraints, only 3 of these 5 topics were discussed by the entire group (a typical conundrum of inquiry-based activities?).

The second activity that morning actually continued through lunch. Jim Jolliff, a Supervisor of Educational Field Experiences, presented MSU ’s implementation of the state-mandated Beginning Teacher Mentoring program, and then fielded questions about MSU ’s Practice Teaching component. Just prior to break that afternoon, Becky Baker quickly reviewed the beta-version of a revised secondary program for preservice science teachers.

That evening a cookout was conducted at Mammoth Springs, AR. Jim Lubbers, an Educational Consultant from the Department of Natural Resources, led the group in two environmental awareness activities on river use.

Wednesday began with an activity led by Frank Lojko, Secondary Science Supervisor for the Springfield Schools, on reasons/ways/means of conducting a Heat Transfer laboratory. Jim Lubbers then concluded his activities with the mining of chocolate chip cookies. The next activity was a presentation by Michael Flynn from SuccessLink, who told the group all about their philosophy of collecting best practices from around the state and the TEAMS program.

Next, Russell Rhodes, Director of the Center for Scientific Research and Education, led an activity that introduced the group to the Image Processing for Teaching Project. The final activity that day was conducted by Dean Zollman from Kansas State University. It involved the construction of electrical circuits. That evening a banquet was held for the participants and a number of special guests. The activity there was a presentation by Bill Northrip, a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at MSU , who told the group, among many other things, to produce Amateur Teachers of Science in the truest sense of the term "amateur."

Thursday began with an activity by Dean Zollman on the use of the internet for providing interactive educational experiences in science for students. A glitch in computer preparation kept him from showing his own creations along this line. The next activity was led by Kim Meyer, an IT Consultant. It consisted of a number of interactions with people via I-TV (Instructional (two-way) Television), ranging from educational developers, to educational users, to business applications.

Following this activity, Jill Black, a faculty member in Geography, Geology and Planning, gave a quick summary of the current status of the Goals 2000 Elementary/Middle program that is being developed. It was piloted in the Fall of 1998 with a cohort of entering freshmen students at MSU .