On Friday, January 19^th UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from DMD Assistant Professor in Residence, Ken Thompson met with a group of six UConn ECE certified DMD Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. Instructors learned about creativity in the classroom and examined current pedagogical methods and evaluation tools for creativity. Group discussion and tip-sharing were invaluable to the Instructors as they continue to enable students to think creatively in their classrooms. Instructors also used their creativity skills as they workshopped a card game of their own. This workshop was an abridged version of an industry-standard game design practice, and then they critiqued their games using Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics.

The Digital Media field  requires consistent technological funding for computers, cameras, and other materials. The Instructors  ended the day focusing on technology, STEAM, and opportunities to showcase student video games, films, and artwork in statewide festivals and competitions.

UConn Digital Media & Design courses offered through ECE.

On Thursday, February 22nd UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from NRE Dr. Morty Ortega met with a group of 32 UConn ECE certified NRE 1000E Instructors for a professional development workshop. Instructors went on “A journey through Ecotoxicology” with Anika Agrawal, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, UConn.

Anika Agrawal (she/they) is a third year PhD Candidate in Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut. Prior to this she received a B.S. in Environmental Toxicology from UC Davis, and an M.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M at Galveston. Anika is currently studying mercury in oysters in the Long Island Sound. They are passionate about contaminants in coastal ecosystems and finding ways to make science more inclusive and fun in the classroom. 

UConn NRE courses offered through ECE.

On Thursday, October 26^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for European History (HIST 1400), Prof. Tom Maulucci met with certified HIST 1400 Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. Prof. Elizabeth Della Zazzera (UConn History Department), shared her talk “How to be Modern in Post-Napoleonic France,” followed by questions and comments from the Instructors. Later, the Instructors shared their insights from the assigned readings and videos on the 1848 Revolutions by Christopher Clark and Jonathan Sperber with Prof. Maulucci. Zach Claybaugh (UConn Library) also joined the group to share resources for the 1848 Revolution available through the UConn Libraries. To end the day everyone participated in a conversation about AI and it’s implications in the history classroom.

UConn History courses offered through ECE.

On Thursday, October 26^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for Human Rights and Genocide Studies, Sandra Sirota, EdD met with certified HRTS Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. The ECE meeting was held in conjunction with UConn’s Human Rights Summit. Details about the summit can be referenced at: https://summit.humanrights.uconn.edu/2023-summit/. Instructors listened to the Keynote Address by Oleksandra Matviichuk a Ukrainian human rights and civil society leader based in Kyiv. They also heard from a panel of speakers as they discussed “Legacies of Babyn Yar: Preserving Memory and Identity in Ukraine” among other sessions

UConn Human Rights courses offered through ECE.

On Wednesday, November 8^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Liaison from the Babbidge Library, Zach Claybaugh met with participating ECE library media specialists for a professional development training. The group met virtually and heard from content specialists from the library.

• Literature Resources and Tools for Research: Collections & Humanities Librarian, Richard Bleiler, will walk participants through a variety of UConn Library resources that support literature-focused research. The session will highlight resources available for locating primary texts and secondary (critical) materials, starting with the databases and concluding the LibGuide(s).
• Information Literacy Tools: An Introduction: This session, led by UConn Health Science Library’s Associate Systems and Technology Administrator Jason Nicosia, will provide an overview of the many guides, tutorials, modules, and other learning objects the UConn Library offers. These objects have been developed to support the information literacy and critical thinking skills of your students. A select group of these tools will be demonstrated live during the session. Helpful tips for integrating these valuable resources into your instructional sessions will also be shared.
• Intro to STEM Resources and Databases at UConn Library: In this workshop, STEM Librarian Renee Walsh will focus on literacies needed for the successful searching of science topical databases. For example, what is the difference between searching for information in Google versus a database with a controlled vocabulary? Finally, I will introduce the most important topical databases at UConn Library for research in science, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.
• Intro to History Resources: In this workshop, history liaison David Avery will familiarize participants with the range of resources available from UConn Library to support historical research and inquiry.

The training has been recorded and will be available to for reference at: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/ECE.

On Monday, February 26^th UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator from Earth Science Prof. Thorson met with a group of three UConn ECE certified Earth Science Instructors for a professional development workshop. Instructors discussed Using Stone Walls for Teaching Earth Science ECE Courses.

Historic fieldstone walls are usually within easy reach of most schools and can be used for field trips or local visits enhancing ERTH 1051: Earth’s Dynamic Environment and 1000E: The Human Epoch courses. The workshop provided instructors with a summary of the history of the general phenomenon and a description of the commonalities and differences of stone walls. The days discussion provided teachers with ways to enhance their teaching of ERTH 1051 and ERTH 1000E.

For more about stone walls and Thor’s research please see “New England Stone Walls Deserve a Science of Their Own” from a recent UConn Today post and his work with theUConn’s Stone Wall Initiative.

UConn ERTH courses offered through ECE.

On Tuesday, November 14^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinators for Animal Science, Drs. Amy Safran and Jen Nadeau met with certified ECE Animal Science Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. After introductions, Dr. Safran went over guidelines for all ECE Instructors including sample syllabi with course descriptions, philosophy, required texts, and grading policies. Later the group participated in a discussion about their courses and ideas for future professional development meetings. After lunch, they were able to get hands on experience in a Horse Science lab on equine myofascial release therapy with Cathleen Peabody, a professional equine therapist.

UConn Animal Science courses offered through ECE.

On Thursday, November 16^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for Music, Shannon McAlister met with certified ECE Music Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. After introductions, where the group shared their teaching history, the UConn music courses they teach, and their favorite part of being a teacher they discussed their goals for the day. Next the group engaged  in conversation with Assistant Professor of Music Theory, Dr. Stefanie Acevedo on popular music. After a short break, the group reconvened and Shannon shared updates and new resources with the Instructors and highlighted the UConn ECE HuskyCT site for Music Instructors.

UConn Music courses offered through ECE.

On Friday, October 13^th, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for Marine Science, Prof. Claudia Koerting met with certified MARN Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. The purpose of the day’s workshop was to familiarize teachers with both old and new equipment used to sample and analyze water quality and to make connections among faculty new to the ECE program and veteran Instructors.

The group of 13 ECE Instructors set out on a boat and enjoyed the scenery while becoming acquainted. They gathered at the Sabino dock to board the “Mystic Seaport Express” captained by Liz Sistare (UConn ’13), Waterfront Operations Supervisor. Participating instructors represented 5 of Connecticut’s counties.

The breezy but sunny day began with a trip through the Mystic Drawbridge. After passing the railroad bridge they found a site by channel marker 30 in the Mystic River to make their first set of measurements using instruments that measure salinity, oxygen, and temperature. They deployed a water sampler to retrieve water samples near the bottom and used a simple bucket for surface water samples. They performed two plankton tows and brought those samples back for microscopic evaluation. Two more sites were chosen: one nearer to the mouth of the river and the other closer to the outflow for the treatment plant. Water samples were returned with the group to the seaport sailing center where they tested for chlorophyll content using a fluorometer and performed a light/dark experiment with water from two sites. Conversations were held about how these samples could inform scientists and regulators about policy guiding water use in the river. Comparisons were drawn with boat trips teachers have made all along the Connecticut shoreline.

After lunch at the sailing center the group ran their analysis, looked at the plankton tow and compared oxygen uptake in the light/dark bottle experiment. The day ended with Instructors learning a new method, learning a new instrument, or walking away with new connections and ideas.

UConn MARN courses offered through ECE.

On Monday, October 23^rd, UConn Early College Experience, and the UConn ECE Faculty Coordinator for Physics, Dave Perry met with certified PHYS Instructors for their annual professional development workshop. Dr. Perry shared a program overview and discussed labs and exams with the Instructors. Later the group heard from ECE Instructor Alina Britchi (Daniel Hand High School) about her CERN experience this summer and from Keynote  speaker Heather Osborne, Lab Technician/Curator from Wesleyan University regarding “Playing Science”.

UConn PHYS courses offered through ECE.