The lberta Science eacher Volume 34, Number 2 September 2015 Swimming Gummy Bear Contents Editor’s Message ....................................................................... 1 President’s Message .................................................................. 2 Geeks Unite: Joint Mathematics Council and Science Council Conference ................................................................... 3 Executive Contributions If You Are Not Blueprinting Your Assessments, Read This ........ 5 EdCampYYC 2015 .....................................................................11 Member Contributions Bringing the Universe into My Classroom ...............................12 Proposed Constitution Changes ..................................................16 Editor’s Message elcome to another exciting school year The presenters were surprised by and excited Wfilled with possibilities! This issue of The about his presence and his engaging questions. Alberta Science Teacher highlights the tremendous Jeremy is and always will be a learner. His stories efforts of dedicated science teachers in Alberta about astronaut training on Earth illustrate the who are making a difference for their colleagues statement (often attributed to Albert Einstein) and students. Specifically, the process of blue- that “we still do not know one thousandth of one printing assessments and the importance of set- percent of what nature has revealed to us.” ting goals are emphasized. Do you have some great stories or resources to Are you thinking about attending the upcom- share? Have you attended a fantastic PD activity? ing joint science and math conference? Well, let Or have you been doing something creative, inno- me tell you about a conference experience I will vative or inspiring with your students? If you never forget. At the 2013 Science Council confer- answered yes, then please share your experience ence, I had the opportunity to meet Canadian with others by submitting an article for the next Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. I was issue of The Alberta Science Teacher. Please send amazed by the many training stories he shared your contributions to [email protected] or trinity during his keynote presentation, but even more [email protected]. amazing was how he casually attended the daily Looking forward to the next issue! conference sessions just like any other delegate. Trinity Ayres September 2015 1 The Alberta Science Teacher President’s Message n behalf of the Science Council, I would like GeeksUniteMathScience/0/welcome/ or use the Oto congratulate you on the successful com- QR code below. pletion of another school year. It is through the The Science Council executive is proposing dedication and commitment of teachers like you some changes to our constitution. You should that Alberta continues to have one of the best have already received a copy of the proposed education systems in the world. changes in the mail. A copy has also been included I would also like to let you know about upcom- with this issue of The Alberta Science Teacher. ing Science Council events and activities. Please remember that the Science Council is This year our annual conference will be jointly run by teachers for teachers. There are many hosted with the Mathematics Council, October opportunities to get involved, and we can always 23–24 at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton. We benefit from the increased participation of enthu- are pleased to bring you two world-class keynote siastic, science-loving volunteers. We anticipate speakers: retired Canadian astronaut Chris several open executive positions this year. I hope Hadfield and mathematician and author Steven you will consider joining our dynamic team. Strogatz. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Space is filling up quickly (as I’m writing this, conference and throughout the school year! registration is already 40 per cent full), so register soon at https://event-wizard.com/ Ian Doktor The Alberta Science Teacher 2 September 2015 Geeks Unite: Joint Mathematics Council and Science Council Conference “GEEKS UNITE” MCATA ATASC WORLDS WILL COLLIDE JOINT CONFERENCE FEATURING FANTASYLAND FEATURING STEVEN STROGATZ HOTEL, CHRIS HADFIELD AUTHOR OF THE JOY OF X EDMONTON AND THE CALCULUS OF ASTRONAUT, AUTHOR, AND OCTOBER 23–24, TWITTER SENSATION FRIENDSHIP 2015 www.mathteachers.ab.ca sc.teachers.ab.ca FINE PRINT: WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL SELL OUT. REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. REGISTRATION LINKS ARE ON BOTH COUNCILS’ WEBSITES. oin the ATA’s Mathematics Council and Science Council Jin celebrating their first joint conference, Geeks Unite, What: 2015 Science Council at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton. Conference You can pick up your conference registration package When: October 23–24, 2015 at the registration desk from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Where: Fantasyland Hotel, Edmonton Thursday, October 22, and from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Who: You, a famous astronaut and a Friday, October 23. few of your mutual friends In your registration package, you will find your name Why: Outstanding math and science tag. Please wear it at all times, as it ensures your entrance education PD in the Capital to your chosen sessions and to Chris Hadfield’s keynote Region address. No reprinting of your name tag will be possible. How: Go to https://event-wizard.com/ Your registration also includes a ticket for Friday’s buffet GeeksUniteMathScience/0/ breakfast, lunch, and wine and cheese and for Saturday’s welcome/ buffet breakfast and lunch. September 2015 3 The Alberta Science Teacher Conference Schedule Thursday, October 22 6:00 PM–9:00 PM—Registration Only Friday, October 23 9:00 AM–7:00 PM—Displays 7:00 AM–11:00 AM—Registration 7:45 AM–8:30 AM—Breakfast 8:30 AM–9:00 AM—Opening Remarks/Mathematics Awards 9:00 AM–10:15 AM—Keynote Speaker: Steven Strogatz 10:30 AM–11:45 AM—Session 1 11:45 AM–1:00 PM—Lunch 1:15 PM–2:15 PM—Session 2 2:30 PM–3:30 PM—Session 3 3:45 PM–4:45 PM—Mathematics AGM/Science AGM (Separate Rooms) 5:00 PM–7:00 PM—Wine and Cheese Social, Games Night to Follow Saturday, October 24 9:00 AM–1:00 PM—Displays 7:45 AM–8:30 AM—Breakfast 8:30 AM–9:00 AM—Opening Remarks/Science Awards 9:15 AM–10:15 AM—Session 4 10:30 AM–11:30 AM—Session 5 11:30 AM—1:00 PM—Lunch 1:00 PM–2:00 PM—Keynote Speaker: Chris Hadfield For more information and updates, visit www.mathteachers.ab.ca or www.sc.teachers.ab.ca. The Alberta Science Teacher 4 September 2015 Executive Contributions If You Are Not Blueprinting Your Assessments, Read This hat began as a workshop to help teachers The blueprinting process is cumbersome at Wconstruct well-made tests has evolved to first; therefore, many teachers prefer to omit it become a strategy that stimulates a profound from their practice. Instead, they use approved mental shift in assessment practice. Many issues resources (such as textbooks) to plan lessons and in education can be addressed with greater clarity assessment. Unfortunately, external resources once the blueprinting process has been learned. (such as tests provided by textbook publishers) do There is a simple rule when it comes to report- not always assess outcomes appropriately. The ing student achievement: teachers must report blueprinting workshops shed light on the degree student achievement solely based on the out- to which these resources fit with the program of comes in Alberta’s program of studies. For exam- studies, and teachers are often surprised to learn ple, a teacher cannot evaluate a student’s that they have been teaching and assessing mate- proficiency at memorizing the genetic code in rial absent from the program of studies or, con- Science 9, because no such outcome exists in the versely, that they have been missing content from program of studies. To ensure that all students are the program of studies. being taught and assessed on the same knowl- My workshops are full-day sessions in which I edge, skills and attitudes, teachers must refer to promise that at least one blueprinted assessment the program of studies to confirm that the pro- tool will be constructed by the end. Teachers typi- gramming and assessment practice meets the cally find the task eye-opening, and many have criteria. When teachers analyze the outcomes in remarked that it is the most relevant professional the program of studies and design assessments in learning they have ever done. such a purposeful manner, there is a surprising The first step of blueprinting is to learn how to shift in thinking that encompasses many aspects identify cognitive level (CL) in both outcomes and of teaching and learning. assessment tools. When teachers analyze the out- The task of blueprinting is simply a matter of comes in the program of studies with CL in mind, looking at the learner outcomes in the program of it becomes apparent that the assessment must studies and constructing an assessment tool, or a match the outcomes in CL, not just in topic. In the series of assessment tools, to measure student workshops, we focus on three cognitive levels: proficiency based on those outcomes. Good blue- knowledge (K), comprehension/application (C/A) printing practice considers the verbs in the out- and high mental activities (HMA). comes and the cognitive level implied by the K-level outcomes ask students to identify, list, outcomes, and strives to use appropriate weight- describe, classify and so on. These outcomes can ings to assess all outcomes with equity in mind. be met by looking for information in a book or on September 2015 5 The Alberta Science Teacher the Internet. These outcomes test student mem- and built structures (e.g., potential failure of a tree ory of basic facts. under snow load, potential failure of an over- C/A-level outcomes require students to com- loaded bridge)” has a CL of K. It would be inappro- prehend concepts and apply their knowledge to priate to assess this outcome for marks using a new situations.