Teams of teachers from ten different school districts in southwest Arkansas attended Technology for Inquiry-Based Learning II at the Southwest Education Service Cooperative in August. The focus of the workshop was to provide equipment and training to prepare middle school science teachers for more advanced and relevant student activities. The teachers were given a ProScope HR digital microscope and camera kit containing software and three different lenses in addition to a pH sensor. In an earlier workshop, these same teachers had received several other probes and the appropriate software.
The ProScope allows the student or teacher to capture images, display them on a computer or projector, and to create time lapse videos. Once the teachers were familiar with the ProScope, they completed inquiry-based hands on activities using model lessons provided by the instructor, Nona Talley, who also serves as the Cooperative’s Science Specialist. In the “Solving the Liquid Trail” lesson, stains on fabric were investigated to determine which of three drinks were spilled. The ProScope was used to find pollen on plants and to complete pollination using bees. The pH sensor measured the strength of an acid or base as a digital readout. Each participant learned at least eight specific activities that include Arkansas Department of Education science standards and that will provide students with experience in advanced science techniques.
The teams were encouraged to form a buddy system in their school to support each other as well as to share new concepts with other teachers in their school. Each participant will receive follow-up classroom mentoring during the school year from Nona Talley.
The workshop was funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation through the STEM Professional Development program at the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority.