Past IMPACT Participants have said:

• "IMPACT was presented in such a way that not only did I learn the content, but I learned it in such a manner that is conducive to my teaching these lessons to my students."
• "Great ideas, curriculum and staff.  The feedback and connections that one makes with fellow participants is priceless!"
• "This program made me reflect on what I do in my classroom and then ask what I can do better. We all need to do this in our work. Too often, we are so busy we do not take the time to do this reflection."
• " IMPACT is an excellent program. It should be developed as a staff development program for all math and science teachers in Iowa."
• " The IMPACT program was very helpful. I feel I have challenged myself to improve my teaching."
• " It has not only impacted my students, but me as well."
• "After this unit was over, I noticed a considerable decline in attendance in the class and in performance.  It has been a tough transition back to my traditional style of teaching.  Every day was new and exciting with the IMPACT unit."
• "The activities were very valuable. I have never taken a class before in which I was able to implement so many of the activities in my own classroom. It seems there is almost always expensive equipment needed or certain conditions that must be met that simply can’t be done in a middle school setting. The IMPACT activities were very basic and required minimal equipment, yet were very powerful ways to demonstrate certain concepts for students."
  

• "GREAT instructor!"
• "I can easily add this to my classroom lessons."
• "I think the program will be a great improvement to our overall science curriculum."
• "A great way to encourage collaboration and inquiry amongst students!"
• "My students now understand the complexities of their local weather."

– More on STORM –
 

• "ABSOLUTELY Excellent Program!"
• "This is exactly what we should do to involve kids in real life science!"
• "The GLOBE workshop was very beneficial!  I can't wait to implement these activities."
• "My students have become experts in taking scientific measurements and analyzing data."
• "My students are now interested in pursuing a career in science because of GLOBE."
   

– More on GLOBE –

Past Educational Technology Workshop Participants have said:

• "Best kind of instruction - HANDS-ON; interactive (I can ask all the questions I want); student-centered."
• "I learned lots today - I can go back to my office and use what I learned immediately."
• "Instructors are high-quality, professional, with lots of technology expertise."
• "Instructors gave us technology integration ideas - not just taught us how to use the software."
• "A lot was covered today in this workshop.  I have several ideas about how to use it in my work."
   

– More on Educational Technology –
 

Since August 2000, the Science Center for Teaching, Outreach, and Research on Meteorology (The STORM Project) has been actively engaged in

• Curriculum Development
  • 20 classroom activities that engage student interest by using current weather information
  • Real time weather imagery available online
  • Field tested by over 170 teachers in 20 states
  • Designed to meet National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks for Science Literacy

• Teacher Training
  • STORM has been active in teacher professional development since 2000, including content intensive summer workshops on air quality as well as weather analysis and forecasting.

For more information about the STORM Project, visit http://www.uni.edu/storm/

GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. GLOBE provides grade level-appropriate, interdisciplinary activities and investigations about the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and soil/pedosphere, which have been developed by the scientific community and validated by teachers.  GLOBE connects students, teachers, scientists, and citizens from different parts of the world to conduct real, hands-on science about their local environment and put in a global perspective. The GLOBE program has been active at UNI since 1999.

 GLOBE is a World Wide Network:

• 114 countries;

• Over 28,000 schools;

• Students work with research scientists;

• Students and scientists work together to study the global environment.

 GLOBE Integrates Science, Math and Technology:

• Students learn about the environment by participating in a scientific endeavor;

• Students learn to use technology in meaningful and appropriate ways;

• Students practice science and math skills to answer questions about their world.

For STUDENTS, GLOBE provides the opportunity to learn by:

• Taking scientifically valid measurements in the fields of atmosphere, hydrology, soils, and land cover/phenology - depending upon their local curricula

• Reporting their data through the Internet

• Publishing their research projects based on GLOBE data and protocols

• Creating maps and graphs on the free interactive Web site to analyze data sets

• Collaborating with scientists and other GLOBE students around the world

For TEACHERS, GLOBE provides assistance through:

• Training at professional development workshops

• Teacher's Guide http://www.globe.gov/do-globe/globe-teachers-guide,
  learning activities, "how-to" videos, and other educational materials and resources

• Continuing support from a Help Desk, scientists, and partners

• Contact with other teachers, students, and scientists worldwide

During the IMPACT Institute we will concentrate on activities related to weather, seasons, and science as inquiry.

For more information about the GLOBE Program, visit http://www.globe.gov.

Educational technology skills and concepts will be integrated as appropriate to specific STORM and/or GLOBE concepts throughout the IMPACT program. You’ll integrate those new skills into your STORM and GLOBE lessons. ITS-Educational Technology’s support staff and STORM & GLOBE leaders will join forces to work side by side with you on your projects. Work with a team of your colleagues or individually! By the end of IMPACT, you can have new skills for integrating technology to enhance the teaching and learning process.

What technology skills and concepts might be addressed during the IMPACT Program?*

• Presentation Development - Addresses how to communicate science using a variety of technology tools.
• Data Collection & Analysis - Addresses how to organize and record data in a spreadsheet as well as how to chart and graph the data to assist with data analysis and interpretation. (Tool used: MS Excel)
• Using Webquests to Maximize Student Time on the Web - Addresses basic components of a Webquest and resources for accessing Webquests already available on the Web.
• Evaluating Web Sites - Addresses strategies for evaluating web sites and key questions to ask to determine the credibility and quality of a web site.
• Emerging Technologies - Addresses newer technologies that might be useful in teaching and learning.
• Web 2.0 Tools - Addresses what Web 2.0 is and sharing of a number of Web 2.0 tools, most of which have no cost.
• Google Tools - Addresses a number of Google Tools available for no cost on the web and how they might be used in teaching and learning. Tools addressed might include Google Mail, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sites, and more.
• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) - Addresses both the pros and cons of the concept of allowing students to bring their own mobile technologies to use at school.
• Student Response System - Addresses a relatively inexpensive solution that allows teachers to poll students to actively engage students in a lesson.
• Teacher Productivity Tools - Addresses various tools & techniques to develop creative teaching materials such as bulletin boards.
• Today's Students - Addresses the unique needs of today's students and how this impacts teaching and learning.
• eLearning - The IMPACT program uses an eLearning online course environment for project leaders and participants to communicate, share resources, deliver surveys and submit documents.
• Video Conferencing/Webinar Technologies - The IMPACT program uses Zoom to conduct several interactive instructional webinars and for guest expert speakers to interact with participating teachers.

*The technology skills and concepts that will be addressed during IMPACT will depend on the workshop content and the grade levels of the participants.

For more information about ITS-Educational Technology, visit http://www.uni.edu/its/et

• Professional development held during the 2015-16 academic year; Click here for the drafted schedule.
• Program will conclude with a week-long workshop:
  • Week of June 19-24, 2016
  • Sunday evening, June 19; 6:00-9:00 pm
  • 8 am - 5 pm; Monday-Friday
  • Optional lab nights and social events some evenings
  • Held on the UNI campus

Program Expenses:

• Food and lodging may be provided, as needed
• Reimbursement for travel expenses, as needed
• Reimbursement for teacher substitute, as needed
• Workshop materials covered by grant funds

Participant Stipend:

• Professional development during the school year and summer workshop will result in a potential stipend of $1300.

Graduate/AEA credit:

• 3 graduate or 6 AEA recertification credits are available; PLEASE NOTE: Credits will be awarded after completing the year-long program.
• Final report due in April, 2016.
• Grades available in June, 2016.

To Apply:

• DEADLINE: August 10, 2015 - or until space is filled. Space is limited.
  

• Applications are now being accepted for participation in the 2015-'16 IMPACT program. If interested, please download and complete the application form (includes a brief questionnaire) and return to Doreen Hayek, director of the program (see contact information below).

While GLOBE and STORM are primarily science and math-based programs, the concepts presented thru the IMPACT program involve skills that can be applied across all disciplines. The IMPACT Program will focus on real-world applications that will include researching techniques, data analysis, reasoning processes, communications, applications of educational technology and much more! Program coordinators as well as fellow participants will assist you in applying IMPACT concepts to your discipline.

IMPACT participants will be guided by the scientific inquiry method - a method that may be used in every area of living. The steps in that process include:

• making observations
• asking questions
• developing hypotheses
• collecting and organizing data
• analyzing data
• developing conclusions
• communicating the results
• asking more questions and continuing the cycle

Examples of topics, skills and disciplines other than math and science where this process has been applied include:

• financial planning
• preventative medicine
• social impacts
• environmental issues
• reading comprehension
• problem solving
• writing across the discipline
• So you see, you're only limited by your imagination!

 Join us for IMPACT and experience the excitement and relevance that develops when participating in real life science!