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STEM Options: Lead by Learning Half-day program for middle school and high school STEM teachers highlighting women in STEM and hands-on learning of STEM content

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Snow date will be March 28, 2020

9 AM to 1:30 PM at Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA

There is no cost to attend the workshop

Schedule for the day and directions to campus can be found on our STEM Options website.

This page provides descriptions of the discipline-based workshops for middle school and high school teachers, all led by Penn State Brandywine STEM faculty. Each session includes instruction and an activity, a discussion of a woman in the STEM discipline and how to highlight that woman to students, then a working session to implement the content/activity into your classroom.

Due to laboratory safety requirements, each discipline session can only accommodate 20 teachers maximum. Enrollment is first come, first served, and will be confirmed via email.

Questions about the program should be directed to Rhonda Delviscio at rls160@psu.edu or (610) 892-1296

BIOLOGY: Mitochondria in motion: beyond the powerhouse

Workshop leader: Dr. Megan Povelones, Assistant Professor of Biology

Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles involved in many metabolic pathways. This workshop uses recent research on the dynamic nature of mitochondria as a way to teach students fundamental concepts of life science. Teachers will learn about ways in which mitochondrial structure is linked to function, particularly how the mitochondrion of single-celled parasites helps them to adapt to life in different hosts. We will also explore the contributions of Lynn Margulis, who provided evidence that mitochondria are descended from bacteria. Teachers will be introduced to a hands-on activity that they can implement in their classrooms to engage students in authentic research.

CHEMISTRY: Putting fun in functional polymers

Workshop leader: Dr. Steve Shuey, Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry

We all see polymers everyday as packaging and construction materials, but there is a whole world of functional polymers that do fascinating things. We will look at a few of these, including the work of Stephanie Kwolek, a famous scientist from our area who invented a polymer thread that can be woven into a fabric that stops bullets! We will also learn about hydrogels, polymers that can absorb water at hundreds of times their own weight. We will perform experiments with materials that all can be bought at a grocery store, that could be used to reinforce lessons on acid base chemistry or studies of ions.

COMPUTER SCIENCE: Introduction to Cybersecurity

Workshop leader: Dr. Andy Landmesser, Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Science & Technology

Regardless of profession, digital security risk has become prevalent in everyday life. This workshop discusses how to manage growing threats to individuals, organizational enterprises, and national security utilizing Cybersecurity and Risk Management frameworks. The workshop identifies threats and vulnerabilities to systems related to the Internet usage and organizational assets by summarize typical types of attacks and their dangers. Next critical terms related to security and risk analysis issues relating to computing systems and organizations are defined using basic terminology and concepts related to cybersecurity. The workshop then describes cyber tools and strategies to control key risks through judicious application of three control “tools” with the cybersecurity triad of confidentiality, integrity, and availability through security programs providing education, training, and awareness; policies covering laws, information management, and acceptable use; and key technologies including firewalls, cryptography, virtual private networks (VPN), intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS). Laptops are optional - a reference list with sources and tools that can be used later will be provided.

ENGINEERING: Everyday tools for engineering design

Workshop leader: Dr. Maria Evans, Assistant Teaching Professor of Engineering

Have you ever wondered how engineers develop creative new product ideas? We all have creative talents that can be harnessed using engineering design strategies. In this workshop, you will learn about some commonly used engineering design processes and how to adapt them to your daily life and classrooms. We will highlight the engineering design process as it relates to the work of prominent chemical engineer, Dr. Wiratni Budhijanto, who has invented a new way to treat waste water that is ten-times more efficient than traditional methods, requires far less land than retention-pond systems, and releases no greenhouse gases. Teachers will learn the Engineering Design Cycle through hands-on design and prototyping activities using low-cost, easy to find materials. These activities will be designed to translate into activities that teachers can easily employ in their classrooms. (*Image to the left from NASEM)

MATHEMATICS: Maria Chudnovsky: A Career in Coloring

Workshop leaders: Dr. Michael Yatauro, Associate Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Samantha Pezzimenti, Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics

Have you ever wondered what the smallest number of colors is so that when coloring states on a map, no two adjacent states are the same color? Perhaps, you are planning a dinner party and certain individuals do not wish to be seated at the same table. How do we determine the minimum number of tables required? In this workshop, we show how these and similar questions can be addressed through the process of “graph coloring”. Along the way, we will profile Maria Chudnovsky of Princeton University, who is a current expert on this subject. Participants will acquire an understanding of a topic in research mathematics that can easily be translated to the classroom, due to the accessibility of its foundational material.

WEATHER AND CLIMATE: Air quality in the context of weather and climate

Workshop leader: Dr. Laura Guertin, Professor of Earth Science

The workshop will begin with some of the fundamentals on the differences between weather and climate and examples to share with students. Then, the workshop will focus on the EPA's Air Quality Now program and the AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. We will discuss how to access air quality data and activities, ranging from quantitative to artistic, you can complete with students. Each teacher at this workshop will receive a complete Air Quality Flag Program kit to take back to their schools. Some of the top female climate scientists will be highlighted, including Dr. Katharine Hayhoe (Texas Tech), Dr. Katharine Wilkinson (Project Drawdown), and Dr. Kate Marvel (NASA/Columbia Univ.)

STEM Options: Explore, Engage, and Discover

Credits:

Created with images by Eric Muhr - "untitled image" • Drew Hays - "untitled image" • jarmoluk - "laboratory analysis chemistry" • BiljaST - "cyber security smartphone cell phone" • Agence Olloweb - "untitled image" • Holger Link - "untitled image"