FINESSE

the Faculty Institutes in Earth and Space Science Education

for Community College and University Faculty instructing future teachers

Was held at the NACCTEP Conference on March 12-13, 2009

Agenda

FINESSE essential question 1: How can pre-service teachers be engaged in authentic inquiry activities using genuine Earth and space data?

What are the impediments in implementing inquiry-based science instruction?
What pedagogical advantages does inquiry-based instruction provide?
How can conceptual understanding, gained through inquiry instruction, be assessed?
What is necessary for me to implement inquiry instruction using Earth and space data?

Essential question 2: How do we know what we know about our Solar System?

Day 1, March 12, 2009

Day 2, March 13, 2009

8 am Breakfast, Opening, Essential Question
Overview, initiate collaborative processes

8:30 am Case Studies of Inquiry
Exploring the nature and different levels of inquiry

9 am Inquiry Unpacked
Reflect on inquiry and current participant practices, discover the challenges to inquiry, discuss models of open inquiry that can be used in participant classes

9:45 am Break

10 am Some NASA Resources
Examine selected resources that promote inquiry and reflect best practices

10:45 am Carousel of Prior Knowledge: Before and After Galileo
Determining prior knowledge, the first step in effective instruction

11:30 pm Lunch

12:30 pm Inquiry in Action, Using Galilean Moon Orbits
A series of activities from guided to open

2:15 pm Break

2:30 pm Locating Useable NASA Data
Discovering the challenges in locating appropriate data, and using data to address questions tied to science education standards

4:45 pm Review and Discussion; Begin Action Plans

8 am Breakfast, Discussion
Discuss “muddiest points” and reflect on how scientists approach inquiry

8:15 am Dr. Bill Waller shares his research in "At Home
among the Galaxies"

9:15 am Break

9:30 am Action Planning I
Participants design an inquiry-based experience using data to implement in their own instruction, which will support future teachers in serving classroom needs

11:30 am Sharing and Creating Assessment for Inquiry
Review of assessment strategies and creation of assessment tools for use in participants’ action plans

12 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Action Planning II
Finalize plans for future implementation and share plans and methods with other participants. Receive feedback and opportunities for support and collaboration

3:30 pm Network Planning
Identify desired follow-up and support for the new community, and best paths of communication to support participants’ goals

3:45 pm Workshop Evaluation

4 pm Close

FINESSE Team for NACCTEP, March 12-13, 2009

Rick Pomeroy, Lecturer/Supervisor, Science Teacher Education, School of Education, University of California, Davis
Stephanie Shipp, Manager, Education and Public Outreach, Lunar and Planetary Institute
Timothy F. Slater, Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Professor, Cognition in Astronomy, Physics, and Earth sciences Research (CAPER) Team, University of Wyoming
William Waller, Senior Lecturer of Astronomy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University

For more information, contact:
Christine Shupla
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX 77058
281-486-2135
shupla@lpi.usra.edu

To discuss evaluation or share your work , contact:
Janelle Bailey
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Box 453005
Las Vegas, NV 89154-3005
702-895-4756 office
janelle.bailey@unlv.edu