The 2004 Symposium, sponsored by SciMaTEC, COSMOS, GTCTM and PRISM was a major success with over 350 people present to partake in over 35 sessions. There were a wide-range of participants including professors, teachers, graduate students and undergraduate students. Based upon the returned evaluations, teachers constituted a majority of the participants with undergraduate students following closely behind. This is an exciting trend for it reveals the enthusiasm from in service and pre-service teachers to improve their teaching methods and their hunger for new information and ways of disseminating that information. The sessions, which ranged from extracting fruit DNA to creating science lesson plans to connecting mathematics to literature and to conducting radiation experiments provided useful tools for teachers from the kindergarten to university level. The more than 40 presenters represented universities (both in and out of state), secondary education schools, local organizations, and local institutions. The diversity created by these experts have helped make this symposium the premiere educational opportunity for science, mathematics, and technology teachers in the area.New to the symposium this year was the inclusion of vendors. Technology vendors (such as Apple Computer), publishers (such as Pearson Prentice Hall) and sellers of classroom wares (such as William Sheridan and Associates) provided valuable tools and information to the teachers as well. Participants were allowed to examine new textbooks, pick up equipment to use in the classroom and learn about the new classroom technologies that are available. The addition of these vendors was a major success and they, as well as many others, will be invited for years to come. Given the high attendance rate and much feedback for more and longer sessions, the Northwest Ohio Symposium on Science, Mathematics and Technology Teaching planning committee has decided to expand next year's conference to span two days. SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 4 & NOVEMBER 5, 2005!!!! Check the SciMaTEC website and future newsletters for more information as the date approaches. If you are a participant who forgot to pick up your certificate of completion for professional development hours, you can contact Melanie Rubenstein (melanie.rubenstein@utoledo.edu; 419-530-8456) and arrange to get it.

 

Visit the conference web site for program details.

The 2004 Northwest Ohio Symposium on Science, Mathematics, and Technology Teaching was held at the Clarion Hotel in Toledo on December 4, 2004. Over 350 participants, 35 presenters, and a dozen vendors attended the event from all over Northwest Ohio and beyond.

A conference participant receives her certificate of Professional Development Hours. The symposium qualified for four Professional Development Hours for those teachers who required them.

A conference participant receives her certificate of Professional Development Hours. The symposium qualified for four Professional Development Hours for those teachers who required them.

A volunteer showcases the beautiful briefcases that all symposium participants received. The briefcases contained portfolios with writing pads, sticky notes, a pen and important information regarding opportunities for teachers.

Dr. Emilio Duran, Director of SciMaTEC thanks conference participants at a luncheon for faculty members.

Steve Van Hook, faculty member from Bowling Green State University delivers a key-note address to symposium participants.

SciMaTEC co-sponsored the 2004 Northwest Ohio Symposium on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education. Over 35 presenters and 350 participants attended more than 35 sessions.

A symposium participant reads over the program for the Symposium.

Many vendors and science, math and technology associations provided information to symposium participants.

Former Univerity of Toledo faculty member, Janet Emerine, explores the fun students can have with fractions.

Participants simulate investigations similar to those of interplanetary geologists with help from Challenger Learning Center representatives.

Nickie Myerholtz shows the various ways of connecting picture books to math activities.

A participant measures a peanut to illustrate the concept of standard deviation and exponential decay.

Presenter Scott Franklin demonstrates inquiry-based learning to faculty members.

A participant measures the radioactivity of a smoke detector with their free Geiger Counter.

A representative from the American Nuclear Society demonstrates the evolution of Geiger Counters in one of the symposium’s most popular sessions.

Participants make and fly paper airplanes in order to teach their students team work, creative problem solving and decision making skills using space as a theme.

Participants work on making hydrometers in order to measure the density of salt solutions. This exercise can be used in conjunction with the Maple Sugar Festival sponsored by the Stranahan Arboretum.

scimatec@utoledo.edu