SEPUP Academy: Using SEPUP

Silverthorne, Colorado (July 27-31)

This meeting is primarily intended for teachers who want to increase their effective use of the SEPUP program.

The Berkeley and Silverthorne Academies are designed to help classroom teachers get the most out of the SEPUP program, and are provided using a workshop and interactive presentation format. After a two-day foundation of required courses, you can select a one-day professional development program of electives to meet your own interests and needs.

Required Courses

Using Issues to Teach Science
This session will use existing and planned SEPUP materials to explore the uses of societal and environmental issues in middle level and high school science teaching. The session will cover the goals for teaching with issues, how to adapt curriculum to become more issue-oriented, and the evolution of SEPUP instructional design.

Assessing Student Performance in SEPUP
This session will offer an in-depth look at SEPUP’s nationally acclaimed assessment system, a system that is both practical and research-proven. Topics include an in-depth look at the elements of SEPUP assessment, including tasks, variables, rubrics, blueprints, and student work exemplars. Participants will moderate several samples of student work.

Support for Literacy in SEPUP
This session will explore SEPUP’s strategies for supporting reading comprehension, written and oral language, and media literacy.

Inquiry in SEPUP
What’s the difference between open and guided inquiry? What are the essential elements of inquiry? How does SEPUP support inquiry? What support can we find in the National Science Education Standards? These and related topics will be investigated in this hands-on session.

Electives

Using Technology in SEPUP
Hands-on workshops will introduce technology tools used in SEPUP, including the SEPUP simulations and website.

Research in SEPUP
Participants will review research in SEPUP, with a focus on ongoing efforts to examine what students know and are able to do as a result of SEPUP use. Interested participants may also select an overview of using action research strategies in the SEPUP classroom.

Writing to Learn in SEPUP
This section will explore effective techniques for writing in the SEPUP classroom, including the use of science notebooks, pre-and post-writing strategies, and reflective writing prompts.

Taking Leadership for SEPUP
Topics include working with LAB-AIDS as a certified trainer, writing for national science teacher journals, or presenting at local or national workshops in a non commercial role.