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INFORMATION FOR

K-12 Teachers and Educators

K-12 Students and
Parents


K-16 Partners

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

 

K-12 Teachers and Educators

Teacher education has a vital role at UMBC. The Department of Education and many other departments, such as mathematics and foreign languages, collaborate in providing university students a strong background in both subject matter and in how best to teach that subject matter. Our teacher education program is nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). We educate both beginning teachers and teachers already working in schools, who want both to become more knowledgeable and take on leadership roles in their districts.

We invite you to explore our programs, whether you are a parent, a teacher or a community member wondering about UMBC’s role in K-12 education.


Computer Mania Day for middle-school students, parents and teachers
Introduction to Engineering for high school teachers and counselors
Maryland Geographic Alliance for K-12 teachers in Maryland
Sherman STEM Teacher Education Program for aspiring teachers, current teachers and higher educators
Teacher Quality in Biology (TQB) for high school teachers
Teacher Quality in Chemistry (TQC) for high school teachers
Visual Art Educational Outreach Programming at CADVC for K-16 teachers

 


Computer Mania Day
http://www.umbc.edu/cwit/computer_mania.html
http://www.computer-mania.info/

About Target Audience
Middle school students (focus on girls), their parents and teachers

About the Program
Computer Mania Day is a day designed to encourage 6th to 8th grade girls' interest in information technology (IT). It provides a half day of technology-related activities for middle school students, their parents and teachers. Girls are the focus, but boys are welcome. The program is designed to provide a broad based introduction to the ways in which different careers make use of information technology. An adult/parent program complements the day by providing information about causes for girls’ low enrollment in technology courses and what parents can do to better prepare their children to enter careers.

The Program Will:

  1. Teach students about the application of technology to the world of work through fun and interactive activities.
  2. Increase students’ awareness of technology related fields available to them in high school and college.
  3. Provide an adult component where information about causes for girls’ low enrollment in technology courses will be provided as well as what adults can do to encourage girls to embrace technology.
  4. Provide educators with the skills students need in order to be successful in an advancing technology sector.
Program Duration
Computer Mania Day is held each spring

Program Funding
Corporate Sponsors provide funding for the day. Visit our Web site for a detailed list of sponsors.

UMBC Contact Person
Alisha Sparks
Director of K-12 Programs
Center for Women and Information Technology (CWIT)
410-455-8433 voice
410-455-8931 fax

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Introduction to Engineering for High School Teachers and Counselors


About the Program
This program is a three-day workshop developed and presented to introduce engineering to high school teachers and counselors.

The Program Will:
1. Explore the spectrum and reach of engineering in our society.
2. Teach participants what a college engineering curriculum entails and what makes students successful in engineering.
3. Provide training in implementing hands-on projects that can be integrated in high school math and science classes to demonstrate what engineering encompasses.
4. Give out information tools the participants need to help their students make informed choices when considering engineering as a career path.

Program Duration

Program Funding
Program is funded by a grant from the University System of Maryland through their K-16 Disciplinary Alliance and matching funds from UMBC's College of Engineering.

UMBC Contact Person
Taryn M. Bayles
Chemical Engineering Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-3428
tbayles@gl.umbc.edu

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Maryland Geographic Alliance

Target Audience
K-12 teachers in Maryland

About the Program
The Maryland Geographic Alliance (MGA) is a partnership of professional geographers and educators working to promote and enhance geographic education in grades K-12 in Maryland.

The Program Will:
1. Provide professional development programs in geography for K-12 teachers, including presentations, workshops, summer institutes and mini-courses.
2. Design, produce and provide geography classroom resources aligned with Maryland’s Voluntary State Curriculum for use by K-12 teachers. These resources include maps, hands-on activities, and lesson plans.

Program Duration

Program Funding
MGA receives funding from the state of Maryland and the National Geographic Society.

UMBC Contact Person
Sari Bennett
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Geography and Environmental Systems
410-455-3148
sbennett@umbc.edu

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Sherman STEM Teacher Education Program

Target Audience
Aspiring teachers: Sherman Scholars are incoming freshman, transfer students, current STEM students with an interest in teaching and career changers.
Current teachers: Scholar referrals or current teachers with an interest in mentoring new teachers.
Higher education faculty: Interest in the research about or instruction of science, mathematics or engineering education for either the K-12 students or teacher candidates.
Youth and families in Baltimore: Improving teacher retention, student outcomes and total school performance in elementary and middle schools in the Greater Baltimore area.

About the Program
The Sherman STEM Teacher Education Program is leveraging UMBC’s strengths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with our capabilities in teacher preparation, experiential education and leadership development to increase the number of outstanding STEM students in the teacher-education pipeline. We will couple significant financial assistance with academic, professional and social support to graduate highly qualified mathematics and science teachers who will teach in high-needs schools in the Baltimore region, especially Baltimore City.

The Program Will:
In recruiting our Sherman Scholars, we will seek high-achieving students with a demonstrated aptitude in STEM disciplines, a desire to teach and a commitment to quality education for all children. Building on this foundation, we will use a cohort model as a vehicle for multi-tiered peer support, while building an interdependent culture among all Sherman Scholars.

We will enhance the higher education experience of these future teachers with the following:

Academic support: Students will be asked to participate in an education-focused First Year Seminar (FYS) course and in workshops on academic success. In addition to campus advising services, Sherman Scholars will be advised by program staff, who will ensure access to services. Lastly, we will implement a summer bridge component to introduce our Sherman Scholars to UMBC and to the Sherman Program culture, to begin their academic coursework and to initiate conversations about and understanding of the profession and high-needs schools.
Professional support: In addition to their coursework, students will participate in service-learning and education-focused internships, both of which will be supplemented with substantial reflection. The Sherman Program will host guest speakers from various fields, such as education and youth advocacy. Scholars will attend at least one professional conference and will be paired with a mentor (tenured teacher) while in the early years of their career.
Social support: By interacting early and often with teachers who work in high-needs schools, Sherman Scholars will begin to be socialized into their intended profession. Additionally, understanding that a fulfilled life is a balanced life, the Sherman Program will host recreational activities, such as retreats, cookouts and sports outings.

Program Funding
Through a generous endowment from the Sherman Family Foundation and gifts from the Rouse Company and Charles Mead Foundations, we have begun to build capacity and support Scholars. We are actively seeking additional funding to further support and expand the program.

UMBC Contact Person
Rehana Shafi
Assistant Director
410-455-1736
rshafi@umbc.edu

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Teacher Quality in Biology (TQB)
http://www.umbc.edu/TQB

Target Audience
Secondary school biology teachers Teachers who currently do not meet criteria for "highly qualified" and/or teachers who teach in high need districts or schools are particularly encouraged to apply. The program has a targeted enrollment of 18 Teacher Scholars and offers each participant attendance-based stipends of up to $1,920, three graduate credits in biology, and free course books and laboratory notebooks/manuals. Each participant's share of graduate credit costs will be paid by grant support and supplemented by traditional LEA tuition remission benefits, as needed. On-campus housing is available at no cost during Phase 2 of the training to a limited number of participants living beond commuting distance of our campus

About the Program
In its fifth year, the Teacher Quality in Biology (TQB) is a comprehensive professional development program in molecular and cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, evolutionary theory, and laboratory skill development. The program consists of four steps, which includes the hands-on summer course where participants will have the opportunity to sequence their own DNA and receive instruction focused on the following laboratory procedures: DNA protein fingerprinting, Forensic DNA Analysis, Protein Purification and Bacterial Transformation. Beginning with the current TQB training program, four synchronized, distance-learning positions were made available to enable participation by teachers living beyond commuting distance.

The Program Is:
Designed to enhance the skills of Maryland secondary school science teachers with cutting-edge biological laboratory procedures that can be used in their classrooms. Through face-to-face and online instruction with UMBC faculty, secondary school teachers gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become highly qualified in modern biology.

Program Duration and Recruitment
Teachers with a background in biology and the ability to pass the TQB Preparation Course Exam may be eligible to waive Phase 1 of the training course and apply directly to the second phase portion of the program beginning with the 2008 Summer Laboratory Course. Please contact Cynthia Hollis for more information at chollis1@umbc.edu.
Recruitment for the sixth and final 2009 TQB Program will begin during Fall 2008. Please check the website at http://www.umbc.edu/TQB/ for updated application information.

Time Line for the 2008-2009 TQB Year 5 Program
1)Preparation Phase: Eleven Tuesday sessions held 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on February 19, 26, March 4, 11, 25, April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6 and 13, 2008

2)"Hands-On" Current Biology Summer Laboratory Course offered during a nine-day session held 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., weekends excluded, June 23 to July 3, 2008.

3)Mandatory Fall 2008 Scientific Communication Tuesday Afternoon Seminar and Sign Up for Classroom Observations held 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. October 14, 2008

4)Mandatory Spring 2009 Gala Share Our Success Conference will held with the TQB Program at UMBC and hosted by the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009.


Program Funding

TQB is funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) through an Improving Teacher Quality State Grant with Dr. Lasse Lindahl as the P.I.

UMBC Contact Person
Cynthia Hollis, MBA
TQB Program Coordinator
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-8071
chollis1@umbc.edu

Julie Wolf, M.S.
TQB Lead Instructor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-2146
jwolf@umbc.edu



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Teacher Quality in Chemistry (TQC)
http://www.umbc.edu/TQC

Target Audience
Secondary school chemistry teachers. Teachers who currently do not meet criteria for "highly qualified" and/or teachers who teach in high need districts or schools are particularly encouraged to apply. The program has a targeted enrollment of 20 Teacher Scholars and offers attendance-based stipends of up to $1,740, three graduate credits in chemistry, and free course books and laboratory notebooks/manuals. Each participant's share of graduate credit costs will be paid by grant support and supplemented by traditional LEA tuition remission benefits, as needed.

About the Program
The Teacher Quality in Chemistry (TQC) is a comprehensive professional development program that will fortify and expand the learning base of its participants in the core learning goals for chemistry. The program consists of four steps, including the hands-on summer course, which will give participants the opportunity to apply the concepts of general chemistry to the resolution of realistic forensic chemistry questions with an emphasis on laboratory techniques, which include UV/visible spectroscopy, Potentiometric titration, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).

The Program Will:
Designed to help secondary school teachers become more highly qualified in chemistry through face-to-face and online instruction with UMBC faculty

Program Duration
Teachers with a background in chemistry and the ability to pass the TQC Preparation Course Exam may be eligible to waive the Phase 1 Preparation Course and apply directly to the second phase beginning with the 2008 Summer Laboratory Course. Please contact Kathy Sutphin for more information at sutphin@umbc.edu. Recruitment for the third and final 2009 TQC Program will begin during Fall 2008. Please check the website at http://www.umbc.edu/TQC for updated application information.

Timeline for the 2008-2009 TQC Year 2 Program:
1) Preparation Phase: Eight Tuesday sessions held 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on March 11, April 1, 8, 15, 22, May 6 and 13, 2008. Course instruction demonstrates the Process-Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) methodology.

2) "Hands-On" Summer Forensic Chemistry Laboratory Course offered during a nine-day session held 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., weekends excluded, June 23 to July 3, 2008.

3) Mandatory Fall 2008 Scientific Communication Tuesday Afternoon Seminar and Sign Up for Classroom Observations held 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. October 14, 2008

4) Mandatory Spring 2009 Gala Share Our Success Conference will held with the TQB Program at UMBC and hosted by the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009.


Program Funding
TQC is funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) through an Improving Teacher Quality State Grant with Dr. Ralph M. Pollack as the P.I.


UMBC Contact Person
Kathy Lee Sutphin, MBA
TQC Program Coordinator
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-2271
sutphin@umbc.edu

Tiffany Gierasch, Ph.D.
TQC Co-instructor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-5781
gierasch@umbc.edu

Tara Carpenter, Ph.D.
TQC Co-instructor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
410-455-3085
carpent@umbc.edu

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Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, UMBC
Visual Art Educational Outreach Programming

Including K-16 Students and Teachers

Target Audience
Public and private students throughout the state of Maryland

About the Program
Our programs are for teachers, and educators, as well as students and parents.

Teachers can call or write CADVC to request curriculum packets related to exhibitions and to book tours of CADVC visual art exhibitions. Free bus fares for tours are available on a limited basis.

Education Outreach with K-12 schools is vital to the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture’s programs. The outreach program places UMBC visual art undergraduate and graduate students with professional teachers in city schools to produce original art inspired by guided tours through exhibitions. Interns at CADVC assist in leading gallery tours and discussions, direct students in making art work in the schools, and hang the art work produced in an Outreach Exhibition on the campus of UMBC.

In recent years, CADVC has worked with City College Senior High, Catonsville High, McDonogh School, Loch Raven High, Landsdowne High, Patapsco High, Towson High, Lombard Middle School, West Baltimore Middle School, Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary and Federal Hill Preparatory School. CADVC has reached at least four hundred K-12 students in the last three years.

The Program Will:
1. Provide a minimum of six tours of an exhibition to high school students.
2. Provide one or more UMBC interns to work with high school instructors on design projects related to tour and exhibition for the design fair.

Program Duration

Program Funding
CADVC, Maryland State Arts Council and Department of Education at UMBC.

Program Contact Information
Renee van der Stelt, Project Coordinator, CADVC, UMBC
1000 Hilltop Circle, FA Rm. 105, Baltimore, MD 21250

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