Teacher Professional Development Workshops

Join us for two days of enriching professional development workshops designed for K-12 teachers, featuring sessions that will enhance your environmental education techniques and instructional strategies. Gain OPI credits and learn from Jennifer Robinson from the Montana Natural History Center and Nicole Ballard from Teller Wildlife Refuge. Sign up now to reserve your spot for these transformative professional development sessions. Gain practical skills and strategies to bring environmental education to life in your classroom.

Workshop Schedule

Dates: October 17-18, 2024
Location: Corvallis High School Library

 
 

Session 1: Making Observations

Session 1: Making Observations
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:35 AM (2 hours, 35 minutes)
Featured Student Activity: I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of

Summary: This session helps participants engage students with the natural world through scientific observation. Learn basic skills and tools to spark student curiosity and improve observation skills, leading to deeper engagement and emotional connections with nature.

Goals:

  • Understand the importance of making accurate, detailed observations.

  • Model activities that improve student observation skills.

  • Learn to make better scientific observations.

 

SESSION 2: TEACHING AND LEARNING

Time: 12:30 AM - 4:30 PM (4 hours)
Featured Student Activity: Lichen Exploration

Summary: Learning is active and social. This session explores how people learn and how to prepare lessons and activities that sequence effectively to engage learners and build understanding. Participants will learn about the "learning cycle" model, which includes invitation, exploration, concept invention, application, and reflection phases. Also, learn about the amazing world of lichen!

Goals:

  • Discuss the benefits of sequencing activity stages for engagement and in-depth learning.

  • Understand and apply the learning cycle to instructional decisions.

  • Implement the learning cycle in planning short field experiences for students.

 

SESSION 3: qUESTIONING sTRATEGIES

Time: 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM (2 hours, 45 minutes)
Featured Student Activity: Walk and Talk

Summary: Explore the impact of broad and narrow questions on student thinking and behavior. Learn to use questioning strategies effectively to encourage student exploration, discussion, and higher-level thinking.

Goals:

  • Experience and reflect on the effects of different types of questions.

  • Understand the role of the instructor in facilitating student exploration.

  • Apply questioning strategies to enhance current teaching practices.

 

Session 4: Field Journaling with Students

Time: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM (3.5 hours)
Featured Student Activity: To Each Its Own & Plant Timeline

Summary: Learn to use field journals effectively in natural history and science education. Participate in model journaling activities, explore naturalists' journal pages, and discuss strategies for scaffolding successful student journaling experiences.

Goals:

  • Experience journaling activities for students.

  • Understand the purposes and strategies of field journaling.

  • Scaffold engaging journaling experiences for students.

  • Provide useful feedback on student journal entries.

  • Incorporate more journaling into outdoor science instruction.