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Macro to Micro: Professional Development for Teachers


Macro to Micro teacher training course will be held in the Boston area at Bridgewater State University July 10-12, 2017. It is offered by Lichen Labs and Biomimicry New England, in collaboration with the Center for the Advancement of STEM Education, for seventh grade life science teachers and informal educators. It will introduce teachers to biomimicry and microscopy and take them through the process of collecting samples in the field, microscope observation and doing a biomimicry design project. Teachers will then teach the Macro to Micro course in their classes during the next school year. They will receive lesson plans and course materials and be able to send samples for remote light microscope and scanning electron micro- scope viewing from their classroom.

Macro to Micro: Innovation Inspired by Nature is a STEAM educational experience that is based in biomimicry and microscopy. The program has been designed for 7th grade life science classes and supports common core standards. It teaches emulation of nature’s designs with a focus on structures and mechanisms at the micro and nano scale, not visible to the human eye. The educational experience is both student centered and nature centered.

In addition to attending the workshop, participants are required to complete a 3-4 hour online Biomimicry 3.8 Foundational Course. This workshop will provide 20 professional development points upon successful completion.

Program faculty:

Sue Okerstrom, Owner and Chief Technologist, Lichen Labs LLC, a biomimicry and microscopy lab and consulting business; Certified Biomimicry Professional; MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University; MS Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Minnesota

Kris Grymonpre, McCormack Middle School Dorchester; Science Teacher, Boston Public Schools; M. Ed Harvard Graduate School of Education; BS Chemical Engineering, MIT

Funded Prerequisite: Biomimicry 3.8 Foundational Course~3-4 Hours online self-study

Lesson Materials & Future Scanning Electron Microscope Remote Sessions:

The course will include lesson plans, associated materials and support for teaching 1 – 4 classes in Macro to Micro in 2017-2018. Course will also include SEM class sessions with individual course participants and their classes.

Cost to Teachers: $55
Credit: 20 Professional Development points

For more information and to register: http://microsites.bridgew.edu/case/prek-12-teachers