Teacher Brian Norton takes part in program aimed at helping students with math, science

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Nevada teacher Brian Norton is taking part in a program called Energizing Math, Engineering, Technology and Science for the Middle Grades at Central Methodist University in Fayette this week.

Norton, 46, is a 12-year veteran at Nevada and has been a teacher for 20 years. He teaches chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology at Nevada High School.

Fayette is the third location where the program has been presented. The first was Chillicothe, the second at Bonne Terre and a fourth will be held at Poplar Bluff the first week of August.

The week-long program is aimed at helping teachers prepare their students with the skills needed for jobs in the coming years. The program targets 6th to 8th grade teachers and is conducted by Dr. James Gordon, professor of chemistry and division of mathematics and science chair at CMU; Dr. Larry Peery, professor of physics at CMU; and J. B. Waggoner, managing partner of Inovatia Laboratories, a co-sponsor of the programs.

"We are thrilled to work in partnership with Inovatia Laboratories, continuing our mission of preparing excellent teachers of science for rural Missouri schools and other schools throughout the state," said CMU President Marianne E. Inman, who played a guiding role as a member of the original group that developed the program concept and mission. "Leadership, innovation and the advancement of scientific knowledge and skills have always been an essential part of our academic program in the education of future teachers, as well as with our long tradition of sponsoring programs aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of practicing teachers at the elementary, middle and secondary levels."

"American students have fallen further behind the rest of the world in math and physical sciences, so the need to improve in these areas cannot be understated" says Gordon. "Conceptually, this began 15-years ago when Larry and I saw a need to better equip teachers in the physical sciences. METS will attempt to equip teachers to bridge that gap."

"We are targeting grades 6-8 because the middle grades are incredibly important," says Peery. "Studies have shown elementary students score just as well as their counterparts overseas in the METS areas. Beginning in middle school and junior high, those scores drop off, making this the most critical area to focus our efforts on." In addition to issues inside the classroom, Peery would like to see a wholesale change in attitude toward math and science.

"It's not just the attitudes of kids we need to change; we need to change the attitude of parents as well," says Peery. "Parents get excited when their children score a touchdown or hit a home run. But, they should be even more excited when their children take first place in the science fair or win the math bowl. That is a critical attitude change that must take place."

Education is not the sole goal of this program. "I have attempted to make the argument that teachers are economic developers," says Waggoner. "The jobs of the future, without question, will be technology based. Currently, the U.S. is lagging behind many other countries, when it comes to producing graduates trained in the METS disciplines. We need to remedy this very disturbing trend."

During each workshop, participants will experience activities, problems and demonstrations designed to challenge students at varying levels of difficulty. In addition to curriculum topics, there will be special instruction on classroom use of Texas Instruments Calculator-Based Laboratory systems (a sensor-based technology) and Lego Mindstorm robotics. Each participant will receive the equipment for the calculator-based lab and a Mindstorm robot for their classroom, along with three hours of credit from CMU and a $750 stipend.

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