This month, Mark talks with the executive officer of the AMTA, Ray Howanski. They talk about the importance of getting at student thinking and effective student-led discussions, and the transformation that happens when students start being the scientists rather than just looking to the authority figure for the "right answers." They talk about the difference between modeling workshops and distance learning courses and the value of time spent face-to-face, especially for a teacher's first or first in-depth experience with modeling instruction. They discuss what the AMTA has been working on and what's coming soon as well as ways to get involved in the work that the AMTA is doing to improve curricular materials and set the standards for some new technology.

Guests

Ray Howanski worked for Ridley School District teaching Chemistry and Biology for 22 years and then as a Curriculum Director for the next 13 years. He worked with their science department to grow modeling instructional practices during which time they inverted the science sequence to offer a Physics - Chemistry - Biology progression. Ray is currently serving as the executive officer for AMTA.

 

Highlights

[4:34] Ray Howanski "The one thing I'd say that I'd really emphasize and where I think is really impactful about modeling instruction is the listening. Is the learning where the student thinking is."

[7:24] Ray Howanski "So when the students are all figuring out whatever it is they're looking at whatever event they're investigating, it's the evidence that speaks. It's the data that speaks."

[23:22] Ray Howanski "That's why it has to be really centered around sensemaking and having the students gather information in the lab, and then work together with each other to kind of make sense of it, present it, and that's the -ing in modeling"

Resources

Ep 61 Transcript

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