Science Modeling Talks

Mark talks with Janelle Hollingshead about her introduction to modeling instruction, including learning about "for every" statements, which help students to understand the concepts they discuss, as opposed to just getting the correct answer to a question. They talk about using proportional reasoning with students rather than giving them steps to solve problems as a means of developing their thinking. They talk about how teachers might incorporate modeling methods into their classes even when they do not have control over their curriculum. Janelle talks about how she listens to the words students use to describe phenomena to really get an idea of what they're thinking. Guest Janelle Hollingshead Janelle Hollingshead majored in chemistry and music, and lives in Wisconsin, where she teaches chemistry and physics. She leads a monthly coffee talk with AMTA for teachers to talk about modeling in their classrooms and schools. She is working with Larry Dukerich and Brenda Royce to update chemistry teacher materials with solutions using proportional reasoning, along with traditional solutions.   Highlights [21:59] Janelle Hollingshead "I think it's important to be a part of a community where you can bounce things off." [24:46] Janelle Hollingshead "talk to the kids about the fact that your job as a science teacher is not just to impart information, but it's also to create scientists." Resources Download Transcript Ep 79 Transcript

Mark talks with Ine Williams, Associate Executive Officer for AMTA. They talk about her background, global travel, and the various corporate and nonprofit roles she has had. They talk about Ine's new role as Associate Executive Director of AMTA, and her collaboration with Caroline Savio-Ramos, AMTA's new Executive Officer. They talk about some of the changes coming to AMTA and their efforts to make it easier to connect with other educators. They talk about equity in education, highlighting diverse voices. They discuss Ine's intentions for the first few months in her role, as well as longer-term plans. Guest Ine Williams Inemesit “Ine” Williams serves as the Associate Executive Officer for the American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA), where she oversees Membership & Engagement efforts, coordinates programs and events, and partners with the Executive Officer to drive strategic growth and foster community for STEM educators. Her career is defined by a unique intersection of science, international education, and climate justice. Beginning in biotechnology at Chiron Corporation, Ine transitioned into a 20-year career in higher education, managing global mobility programs and diversifying STEM initiatives. A dedicated advocate for systemic change, she is a Climate Reality Leader, Certified Carbon Literacy Facilitator, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the RISE Travel Institute. Whether managing global programs & teams, or scaling nonprofit operations, Ine is committed to translating complex global challenges into inclusive, sustainable strategies. Instagram  |  LinkedIn Highlights [21:02] Ine Williams "I think those are really good words to use: develop, and improve, because I see that there's a lot of change coming about right now in AMTA, some of it that people have seen already, some of it that we have not even shared yet. ... all about trying to make this organization be a really good space for ...educators...also for community, for resources, ...And to make that experience more seamless and just something that people really enjoy." [27:24] Ine Williams "Caroline and I are considering, take a step back, learn the process, and then be strategic about how we move forward and what we prioritize. And part of that strategy is going to be really listening to the folks who are the body of AMTA, the members, ...And figuring out what their needs are." [28:41] Ine Williams "this idea of modeling instruction, this pedagogy, is really set up to give every student a voice. Right in the classroom." Resources Download Transcript Ep 78 Transcript

In this episode, Mark talks with Lee Trampleasure, starting with how he found modeling instruction 20 years ago. They talk about the various courses he teaches and how we may sometimes need a reminder that just as we feel like brand new teachers again when we first start modeling, our students aren't used to developing the science themselves and sometimes it takes a whole semester before things "click." Lee shares some ideas for how to adjust our modeling workshops for our post-COVID, Zoom world. They also talk about ways for modelers to connect in community, even if they are the only modeler in their school. Guest Lee Trampleasure Lee has spent 30+ years teaching science, mostly physics, from physics first (9th grade) to AP physics C: Mechanics. He has also taught chemistry and yearbook. He took a break from teaching about ten years in, to work with the SEPUP curriculum group. Lee also leads geology-focused hikes in the San Francisco area. Website | Facebook | Bluesky | X | Meetup     Highlights [14:14] Lee Trampleasure "I love teaching physics first because kids are building their math skills at the same time that they're building their physics skills. And I think we help the math classes with physics first." Resources Download Transcript Ep 77 Transcript

In this episode, Mark talks with Caroline Savio-Ramos, the new executive officer of the AMTA. They discuss her professional journey and introduction to modeling instruction. They talk about current projects she has been working on in her first month as executive officer and about direction for AMTA. Guest Caroline Savio-Ramos She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology from Arizona State University, where she conducted research on technology-enhanced physics learning, published peer-reviewed work, and taught courses in Human–Computer Interaction and Educational Technology. She also earned an M.S. in Educational Technology from Ramapo College, an M.A. in Education (Teaching Physics) from New York University, a B.S. in Computer Science from Western Governors, and a B.A. in Physics and Spanish from Rutgers University. In addition to her academic background, she brings industry experience from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intel, where she led UX research and designed digital learning solutions. A fluent speaker of Spanish and Portuguese, she is committed to fostering curiosity, problem solving, and lifelong engagement with STEM. BluSky Profile Highlights [23:28] Caroline Savio-Ramos "I encourage people to come to the town halls, come to webinars because the way I wanted to approach this is have an open conversation with folks. Like, what do you want to see? What can we do for you? What are some things that you would like AMTA to offer that we possibly don't?" Resources Download Transcript Ep 76 Transcript

In this episode, Mark talks with Cynthia Passmore, who is a professor of science education at the University of California, Davis. They talk about the differences between the approach to modeling developed at ASU and UC Davis, which seem to be more and more similar as time goes by. They talk about how all of our understanding in scientific study is based on models, even if we do not specifically hold those up as "models" per se. We use mental models to explain the world around us and to better understand how and why certain interactions happen the way they do. They talk about modeling instruction and the Next Generation Science Standards and how modeling really gets students to do the thinking as scientists and make the connections between what we see and the explanations for what we see. They talk about Cynthia's new book, even get to talk about some of Cynthia's recent research on effective teaching using modeling methods in the high school biology classroom. Guest Cynthia Passmore Cynthia Passmore is currently a Professor specializing in science education in the University of California, Davis School of Education. She did her doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and prior to that she was a high school science teacher. Her research focuses on the role of models and modeling in student learning, curriculum design and teacher professional development. She investigates model-based reasoning in a range of contexts and is particularly interested in understanding how the design of learning environments interacts with students’ reasoning practices. She has been the principal investigator of several large grants and is the lead on a collaborative curriculum design project that has created a full-year high school biology course. A key practitioner publication is the edited volume: Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices from NSTA Press. Highlights [2:44] Cynthia "I think the inclusion of modeling as a practice in the next generation Science standards has also brought a lot more people to the work of modeling than used to be the case." [3:25] Cynthia "Models are the functional unit of scientific thought." [7:51] Cynthia "The depiction is important. I'm not trying to say it's not, but if all we're doing is asking kids to reproduce representations and depictions of things, then we're losing the modeling practice, in my view." Resources Download Transcript Ep 75 Transcript Links Modeling  Based Biology - Living Earth