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TEC WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS: A WEEK
June 29 – July 4, 2008

08A01 AP BIOLOGY (INTRODUCTORY) (Two Weeks)

Designed for new and relatively inexperienced teachers of AP Biology, this two-week workshop will look at all aspects of the course, paying special attention to the current emphasis on concepts that span the curriculum, and ways of organizing this vast syllabus in support of the AP Audit requirements. Participants will get hands-on experience with the twelve core laboratories of the AP Biology curriculum, including several alternate labs. We will review the AP exam, including its construction and essay grading, giving special attention to the recent trends in question type. Each participant will develop a syllabus appropriate to their school´s calendar (if not already accomplished), in addition to our focus on laboratory data analysis and report-writing appropriate to AP Biology. Participants will need to bring their 2008/09 school calendar, a text, calculator, ruler, graph paper, and one Biology lab experience (paper version) to share with other participants.(This workshop is also offered in D Week.)

Instructor: Myra Morgan, Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, Hartford, CT

08A02 AP CALCULUS BC

Designed for both beginning and experienced BC Calculus teachers, this workshop will focus on two basic questions: Which topics distinguish BC from AB? What are some proven methods to teach these topics? Only topics particular to the BC program--extensions of AB and Sequences and Series--will be considered. Both theory and practice of these topics will be discussed by using selected problems from recent BC exams. Appropriate application of graphing calculators will be examined. Finally, the method and procedures used in grading the AP exam will be discussed, with sample problems from recent exams and a simulated reading of this year´s exam. (This workshop will be repeated in B week.)

Instructor: Joseph Cron, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

08A03 AP CHEMISTRY (INTRODUCTORY) (Two Weeks)

This two-week workshop, designed for new AP Chemistry teachers or those that have taught AP Chemistry for 1-3 years, will review the basic concepts in a general college chemistry course with the intent of exploring the proper manner to present and to evaluate them. Special emphasis will be placed on classroom management and laboratory planning to fill the needs of the AP curriculum. Participants will perform and evaluate labs of various styles such as micro-scale, calculator-based or direct interfacing, and standard macro scale that can be used in their own teaching. Significant time will be spent on developing an understanding of the actual test and methods for ensuring students´ success. (This workshop is also offered in D Week.)

Instructors: Martin Fossett, PhD, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ; Albert Leger, PhD,Phillips Exeter Academy, NH

08A04 AP CHINESE LANGUAGE

In an overview of the AP Chinese Language and Culture course, participants will become familiar with its content, objectives and exam. They will review actual exam questions, and will learn how to plan and implement a course that integrates cultural content knowledge, language skills and critical thinking skills. They will also discuss ideas on how to best develop students´ language proficiency across the three modes of communication − interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. The course will examine sample AP course syllabi and conclude with presentations by participants followed by a question and answer session, final reflection and APSI evaluation.

Instructor: TBD

08A05 AP ECONOMICS

This workshop is designed for participants who have recently started an Advanced Placement economics course or who are interested in developing one. The workshop will present the AP program and College Board economics guides, the structure and content of AP microeconomics and AP macroeconomics courses, and the AP economics exams and other student evaluation techniques. The latest materials, films, and teaching strategies will be demonstrated and discussed. Some sessions will be devoted to curriculum development for AP courses. In addition to reviewing previous AP examinations, participants will design teaching and testing materials useful for Advanced Placement economics. The use of laptop computers will be advantageous.

Instructor: Robert Larkin, St. George´s School, Newport, RI

08A06 AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE (INTRODUCTORY)

This workshop will examine various approaches to organizing and teaching an AP English Language and Composition course. Of particular significance will be a focus on skills--the AP English Language and Composition course is not a content-based course. Therefore, developing a course that is predicated on reading, writing, analytical, and synthesis skills is central to the focus of the workshop. Additionally, the course will emphasize the development and continued growth of critical reading and writing skills which facilitate students´ recognition of the inherent link between rhetoric and style as markers of meaning and import. Participants will develop course syllabi and individual assignments that include research strategies appropriate to their individual school´s programs, texts and other resources. There will also be a focus on the structure and philosophy of the AP English Language Examination as well as exercises in holistic scoring of recent examination essays. Each participant should bring a favorite collection of non-fiction (such as a collection of essays), and the text, if available, that his or her school has adopted for the AP English Language course.

Instructor: Mary Jo Potts, The Webb School of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN

08A07 AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (INTRODUCTORY)

This workshop is designed for teachers new to AP Environmental Science (APES). Because this multi-disciplinary course incorporates elements from various sciences, the laboratory component of the workshop will focus on how to complement the classroom through appropriate laboratory and field investigations. These diverse field investigations will stress scientific principles and analysis through first-hand studies of and visits to local ecosystems, forestry management areas, air pollution monitoring, water quality analysis, sewage treatment, bioassays, and soil discussion, capped landfill methane reclamation/electricity generation and a freshwater stream study. Recent APES exams and their scoring will also be discussed, with focus on this year's essays, as well as the development of an appropriate APES syllabus to satisfy the College Board audit process. Participants are encouraged to bring their APES text and lab manual, a calculator, ruler, field shoes and raingear, and one environmental field/lab experience (soft copy) to share with other participants. Questions or requests for specific activities can be directed to the instructor at lehnerj@taftschool.org. (This workshop is also offered in E Week.)

Instructor: Jim Lehner, The Taft School, Watertown, CT

08A08 AP FRENCH LANGUAGE

This workshop will provide an in-depth look at the curriculum of an AP French Language program. It will also address methodologies, assignments and tests, grading criteria, and troubleshooting for AP classes. New directions in AP curriculum and new testing procedures will be explained and discussed. Much of the classroom discussion will relate to how to set up an AP course or how to expand an existing one. Through simulated grading, participants will learn how AP essays and tapes are graded according to newly established criteria. Participants are asked to bring texts, techniques and teaching aids they are presently using in advanced French courses. Classroom participation and an individual project will be required. (This workshop will be repeated in C Week.)

Instructor: Roger Theroux, Educational Consultant, Hopedale, MA

08A09 AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

This workshop will cover the key topics of AP Human Geography. During the workshop, participants will be expected to evaluate teaching materials and engage in discussions and activities related to the key topics. Participants will also be required to submit a final project, which will entail putting together an outline for their course syllabus. This syllabus will be related to the new College Board course audit that AP teachers are required to submit. Some teaching materials from a variety of publishers will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring texts and other materials they use to teach human geography to share with their fellow participants. Those attending this workshop will also participate in a local cultural landscape field study as part of their training. There will also be a pre-workshop reading assignment that participants will be asked to complete.

Instructor: : Ken Keller, Danbury High School, Danbury, CT

08A10 AP LATIN: DEATH AMONG THE RUINS: AP AUTHORS IN ROME

This workshop for Latin teachers, held in Rome from June 26 - July 7, 2008, provides an opportunity for AP Latin teachers (new and experienced) to read syllabus-based passages from all AP Authors (Vergil, Catullus, Cicero, Horace and Ovid) as well as funerary inscriptions and excerpts from other authors, such as Livy, Lucretius, Propertius, and Martial. All reading selections and site visits will pertain to the topic of death, funerals, and the afterlife in antiquity. Classes will be held near the Campo de´ Fiori, a comfortable ten-minute walk from the hotel. Most weekdays will include both classroom time and an excursion to a classical site in or around Rome. A break at midday will allow participants to have time for lunch and personal errands. Registration by the end of March is advisable. Please contact TEC for details and fees.

By housing participants in the same hotel for the duration of the course, this workshop encourages and promotes collaboration and professional camaraderie beyond the classroom. Thus, TEC will not waive the accommodations component of the workshop fee for participants who choose to live apart from the group. Additionally, it is not possible for TEC to make reservations for companions or family members who may accompany participants to Italy.

Instructors: Barbara Weiden Boyd, PhD, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME; Margaret Brucia, PhD, Temple University, Rome, Italy

2008 AP LATIN: DEATH AMONG THE RUINS: AP AUTHORS in PDF format

08A11 AP PSYCHOLOGY (ADVANCED)

This workshop will include an in-depth analysis of all released multiple-choice and essay questions on the AP Psychology examinations from 1992-2006. All content areas will be examined and discussed in detail, especially research methods and statistics. Participants will be expected to bring their favorite lesson plans to share with class members. The 200 most important terms and 100 most influential psychologists (both based on survey results) will be discussed. The book Teaching Introductory Psychology: Survival Tips (edited by Robert Sternberg) will be discussed in detail. Each participant will be responsible for reading and presenting one chapter from this book to the class (except for the chapter by Robert Sternberg, which I will present). A variety of useful web sites and multi-media resources will also be shown and evaluated. Participants (in groups) will write sample multiple choice and essay questions, with rubrics that can be used by students. Teaching resources and demonstrations will be shown and discussed.

Instructor: Alan Feldman, Glen Rock High School, Glen Rock, NJ

08A12 AP SPANISH LANGUAGE

This workshop will focus in the new AP Spanish Language Examination and its format and exercises. The presenter will draw on his experience training AP readers to grade the national exam. We will discuss the exam itself and review this year´s rubrics for grading compositions and speech samples. The workshop will be conducted in Spanish, and participants will focus on strategies to teach the basic skills of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Co-operative learning skills will be emphasized. Teachers participating in this workshop will role-play and share their own materials. Participants are asked to bring favorite oral and writing activities to develop into questions paralleling the new format. Participants are also encouraged to bring DVDs, videos, CDs or any other kind of successful presentations that they have used in class. (This workshop is also offered in C week.)

Instructor: Rafael Moyano, The Berkeley Carroll School, NY

08A13 AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

In a workshop that will address the scope and sequence of the AP US Government and Politics course, participants will see a variety of approaches and should be prepared for a strong interactive experience. The instructional approach includes some lecture, discussion of concepts, analysis of materials, and development of sample units of study. The structure will be based on the full cycle of an AP course−from selection of students (and discussion of Equity and Access policies and issues) to summer reading, from AP Audit and course syllabus to teaching units and Powerpoint presentations and projects, from the Constitutional foundations of government to the interactions which result in the formulation of political policies. There will be readings, curriculum unit development, practice tests, and computer laboratory time for project development as well as time to review thoroughly the most recent examination. (This workshop is also offered in D Week.)

Instructor: Leslie I. Rudnyanszky, Ph.D., The Pennington School, Pennington, NJ

08A14 CREATIVITY I

Have you ever felt panic when you are asked to come up with an original idea? Do you trust your intuition when you interact with your students? Would you like to further develop your creative skills, whether you are a teacher, artist, or just want to work through whatever you feel is hindering your ability to think and express yourself more freely? This workshop is designed to take up those questions, investigate the creative process, and examine what tools are available to work more skillfully with our own innate creativity. A wide range of art activities, mind-altering practices such as meditation, yoga, and visualization, and a study of the conceptual and historical methodologies pertaining to creativity will be investigated.

Instructor: Fran Patnaude, Rumsey Hall School, Washington, CT

08A15 DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION FOR ALL LEARNERS

This workshop is geared toward elementary, middle and high school teachers: special education, ESL, professional development coordinators and classroom teachers. Teachers in grades Pre-K -12 are encouraged to participate. Participants will learn a variety of strategies to differentiate learning for students in their classrooms. This workshop will involve training of formal and informal assessments, as well as the planning, managing, assessing, and teaching in the differentiated classroom. Participants will develop a unit based project differentiated to meet the diverse needs of today´s student population.

Instructor: Susie Da Silva, PhD, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Waterbury, CT

08A16 GEOMETRY WITH THE GRAPHING CALCULATOR

Interactive geometry software can dramatically enhance geometry instruction in grades 7 through 12. The primary focus of the workshop´s activities is exploration of geometric concepts and problems using the new TI-Nspire graphing calculator, and we will also learn features of the Cabri Junior App for the TI-83+/TI-84+ family of calculators. Participants will take part in hands-on explorations modeling effective classroom use of technology for teaching mathematics and will develop model lessons to integrate the teaching techniques learned. Beginners and Geometer´s Sketchpad users also welcome.

Instructor: Karen Campe, Yale University, New Haven, CT

08A17 VOLUNTEERING AND SERVICE LEARNING IN THE CURRICULUM

This workshop will focus on a new approach to service learning for high school students. In this model, community service and volunteering are brought into the mainstream curriculum, connecting student desire to "make a difference" to their intellectual capabilities. It combines a regular off-campus service component with both reflection and a challenging academic classroom curriculum. This approach allows students to gain a complex understanding of the workings of both governmental and non-governmental organizations. They learn about local, national and global institutions and funding bodies, and carry out critical analyses of their work. They also tackle issues such as poverty, global public health, and human rights. For teachers, service learning can pose challenges such as finding partners in the community and identifying the most useful activities for students to do. This workshop will address these issues, and introduce tools such as impact analysis and needs analysis. It will also provide guidance on how to avoid and troubleshoot some common logistical problems. In addition, it will provide a framework for building your own classroom curriculum, and will introduce a wide range of materials and sources that can be used to build a programme that is academically challenging and capable of delivering a wide range of both knowledge and skills.

Instructor: Annabel Smith, The Taft School, Watertown, CT