SIMA Project Presentation

TAAP Statewide Meeting

May 27, 1998

Kay Alderson
kjalder@aol.com
John Healy
jphealy@aol.com
Diane Johnson
Culver City Middle School

Culver City Middle School
Culver City, CA 90230
http://members.aol.com/CCMSSIMA
http://members.aol.com/Room423
(310) 842-4200

Pictures

• Professional development
• Teaching

Outline

• Overview
  • Rationale
  • Plan
• Accomplishments
  • Professional development
    • Training
    • Trips
    • Computer Technology
  • Teaching
    • Content
    • Field trips
    • Computer Technology
  • Publicity
• Risk Management
• Lessons Learned
• Next Steps

Accomplishments: Professional Development

Training

• Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Program April 1 - 2 (Kay, Diane)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Private Tour April 2 (Kay, Diane)
• Moss Landing Elkhorn Slough Safari April 3 (Kay, Diane)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Open House April 3 (Kay, Diane)
• Santa Cruz Long island Marine Lab Self-Guided Tour April 3 (Kay, Diane)
• Cosumnes River Preserve Kayaking (Kay, Diane)
• Jean Dillingham in-service on wetlands water measurements (Diane)
• District Tech Training (Melony Wade) classes: email, HyperStudio, using Internet for research, followup lessons on Web pages (Kay, Diane)
• Web page authoring & server setup (Rick Garcia) hands on and LCD projector use (Kay, Diane)
• Spreadsheet & graphing tutorial (Healy) hands on (Diane)

• Materials available
  • Marine Biology Course
  • Student Web pages

Trips

• NSTA National Convention, Las Vegas April 16 - 19
  • including Valley of Fire fieldtrip, exhibits, workshops
  • Vernier
  • TI
• Yucaipa High School: water analysis & technology
• Blackstock Middle School: technology & wetlab
• Paul Revere Middle School, Brentwood: teaming & scheduling
• Malibu Middle School: teaming & scheduling

  
  

• Materials available
  • Digital photos
  • Video

Computer Technology

• Web site setup & operation: interim AOL hosting
• Multimedia content development tools
  • Software
    • Netscape Communicator/Composer
    • ClarisWorks
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • FileMaker Pro
    • OmniPage Pro
    • Other
  • Hardware
    • PowerPC
    • Scanner
    • Modem
    • Ethernet
    • AOL Server
    • Other
• Communications: email, Fax modem
• Spreadsheet & graphing

• Digital materials available
  • http://members.aol.com/CCMSSIMA
  • http://members.aol.com/Room423

Accomplishments: Teaching

Content

• Home-grown digital files
  • Web sites
• Web-based lessons
  • Exploration & information gathering
• Internet-linked resources
• Core curriculum materials
  • Bird counts
  • Bird Book
  • Field Guides
  • Video "Endangered Birds"
  • CD-ROM Audubon
• Special speakers
  • Bird identification
  • Specimens
• Hands-on measurements
  • Chemical reactions & Ph
  • Surface tension
  • Solubility
  • Pressure

Field Trips

• La Ballona Wetlands
  • Ice plant pull & biology lecture by biologist (Nov. '97)
  • Christmas bird count (Jan. '98)
• La Ballona Marine Preserve scholars
  • Observation, birding
  • Lagoon animals & specimens
• San Pedro Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center
  • Hands-on lab & observation of seals
• San Pedro Royal palms Beach Intertidal Study
• Floating Lab

• Materials available
  • Booklet
  • Video

Computer Technology

• Web navigation & exploration
• Web "scavenger hunts"
• Web page authoring
• On-line wetlands field work files
  • CCMS Web site
  • LMU Web site (Ballona Wetlands): exploration & content assessment, use of materials
  • "Tree of Life", Arizona: investigation of material on birds
  • Neptune Middle School site, Osecola, Florida: exchanging ideas on research projects & bird counts
• ClarisWorks: graphing results of bird counts & other investigations
• Compilation of Web birding resources
• Other media
  • Videos, slideshows, Audubon CD-ROM

Accomplishments: Publicity

Outreach

• Culver City News 10-23-97
  • "Middle School Receives $9,000 Eisenhower Grant"
• Culver City Education Foundation Newsletter
• Large check at Board meeting (copies posted at school)
• Community resources
• Web site

Risk Management

Training ... Technology ... Purchases

• Adaptation to Middle School vs. High School environment
• Training tracks & technology phase-in
  • E.g., simpler low-tech field kits first
• TI-73 product delay
• Other new product introductions
• Any pond construction contingent on School Renovation Plan schedule
  • Other sites will be examined for ideas

Highs, Lows, Lessons Learned

Effort ... Context ... Planning

• Scheduling computer lab: future independence?
• Kindred projects: adapt to middle school context
• Departmental alignment: "math wars": sustainability
• "Little Red Hen" posture: "share the wealth"
• Time on grant: "when is there time?": sub $$$ vital
• State of math-science interdisciplinary content
  • Driven from science side
  • Token incorporation by publishers
• Lead time for training: flexible plan: kids' evolving timeline
  • On-site training -- just enough (JET) & just-in-time (JITT)
• Block scheduling and teaming: sustainability
• BLMP training of teachers & parents & equipment loan
  • Building community
• Informal exchanges: shared vision surprises
• Students learn technology faster than adults and best from each other: teacher as facilitator (not necessarily expert)

Next Steps

Purchases ... Training ... Content Development

• TI-73 CBL kits
• CBL training
• Unit integration
• Video
• Field trips (bird count, Ballona Lagoon Marine Preserve)
• Conceptual model of pond environment
  • Exploratory arts department
  • Video "Gathering Place," Minneapolis
• Search for product evaluation arrangements with vendors
  • Middle School adaptation & viability

See the original TAAP proposal for more information.