Please Join the Museum Institute for Teaching Science for our January 24th

Professional Development Seminar

Biomimicry:Natural Inspirations for Engineering Solutions

Anamarija Frankic,Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Bostonand Fellow, Biomimicry Institute

 What do termite mounds, kingfisher bills, and gecko feet have in common? Participate with Professor Anamarija Frankic as she unfolds the cutting edgefield of biomimicry.  Biomimicry inquires of natural processes, and structures to develop innovative and sustainable engineering solutions leadingto the creation of new structures, materials and products.   Natural systems and organisms provide stunning examples of effective communication,resource production and storage, and energy efficient design. Animals, plants and microbes are consummate engineers, they have found what works and can direct us to solutions for human scale problems.  Discover how to bring novel ideas about nature and engineering together and present them to your students and audiences.

Inquiry, Science and You:  How to Successfully Implement Science Practices intoYour Teaching

Charlene Tuttle, 4th grade Teachers, Melrose Avenue School, Jamestown, RI and Instructor, University of Rhode Island  Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and the Amgen Award for Excellence in Science Teaching

Sharpen your inquiry skills with Charlene Tuttle as she facilitates an active and engaging workshop on inquiry design and implementation.  During the session, you will experience inquiry as a learner, using a 3 phase model. We will then deconstruct your experience and analyze the different components of inquiry. Discussions will include how you could use this model in your own instructionand apply these ideas to your own teaching situation. Please bring a lesson or idea that you would like to implement using inquiry methods. We will work together to mold elements of inquiry into your lesson or idea to cap off the workshop.

The seminar willbe held at Higgins University Centerat Clark University in Worcester MA.   9:30am – 3:30pm---$25 (includes lunch). 

Register on-line at www.mits.org or contact the MITS office at mits@mits.orgor (617) 328-1515 for more information. PDP's available.