University News
22nd Annual WIU Pre-K-8 Science Ed Update Conference
April 18, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's Maurice G. Kellogg Science Education Center in Horrabin Hall on the WIU-Macomb campus will host the 22nd annual Pre-K-8 Science Education Update Conference, "Taking Science from the Classroom to the Real World," from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Friday, April 25.
According to Don Powers, director of the Kellogg Science Education Center and conference coordinator, the 2008 Science Update Conference, which is co-sponsored by the department of curriculum and instruction and the College of Education and Human Services, allows outstanding classroom teachers to share their expertise with other teachers in small group settings. During the morning there will be three 50-minute concurrent sessions with each session offering participants a choice of at least six sessions featuring a variety of methods to make science instruction more meaningful and exciting for students. At noon more than a dozen mini-sessions will held in the Horrabin Hall Gym followed by lunch, announcements, awards and door prizes.
More than 125 elementary and middle school teachers from west central Illinois and eastern Iowa have already registered for the conference; however, registrations are still being accepted. Information is available at www.wiu.edu/users/sced/update.html. CPDUs for participants will be awarded at the end of the conference.
In addition to the morning sessions the participants will have the opportunity to visit education-related displays. Exhibitors will include The New Copperfield's Book Service, Tri-County Resource and Waste Management Council, Illinois Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom, Flinn Scientific, MicroTech Microscope Sales and Service, The Scope Shoppe, Delta Science Education, Carolina Biological Supply, Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Division of Education, Peace of Earth Environmental Learning Center of Rushville, Illinois Science Teachers Association and the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.
The conference will include a presentation by Rachel Crandell, who is with the Monteverde Conservation League and is the 1994 Eco-Educator of the Year. She will share her experiences related to protecting and expanding the Children's Eternal Rainforest of Costa Rica.
Other presentations will focus on such topics as children's literature in science; mini-grant programs; podcasting; mixing old and new in science; agriculture in the classroom; pond critter collecting; creating a science club in an elementary setting; engaging chemistry lessons; optical illusions; and much more. In addition, the WIU's Children's Literature Examination Center Open House, which will be held Thursday, April 24 in Horrabin Hall, will continue during the PreK-8 Science Update Conference.
For more information, contact Powers at 309/298-1258 or DT-Powers@wiu.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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