Summer Collaborations - Get out there, there is still time.

There are many opportunities for teachers in the summer. Some are free, some are not.

Mailers start coming in Feb/Mar for summer workshops. Some of the opportunities I was aware of just couldn't fit into my already booked summer. At the SECO conference I attended a session that promoted a FREE one week beginner chemistry (with simple labs using cheap materials) workshop. The lessons continued throughout the fall with 6 credit hours to be earned at the end of the program. I would have LOVED to attend, but I was already committed to 2 weeks in Australia with Earth Expeditions the same month.

Some collaborations can be offered by your state's Dept of Education. I have been on a science range-finder committee (committee of teachers that help re-write the rubric for the Ohio Graduation Test in Science) for the past 3 years. This committee met during the school year at the beginning, but now meets in the summer. Hotel rooms are provided for those outside of the commuting area. It was from a fellow teacher from this committee that I learned about the Teacher At Sea Program.

It is still not too late. Get on the web, contact your school or university and see what is out there. Go to TEDed to get some inspiration if you can't attend anything.

I will be heading to Athens, Ohio August 11, 2011 to meet with a group of teachers and facilitators for a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) project. This will be our third year running - and this year we are incorporating video for a professional media presentation by a professional producer. This project is funding by NEA.