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Learning Programs and Professional Development in Wisconsin
Professional Development for Teachers
Do you teach genetics, DNA, and gene cloning? Are you looking for ways to integrate high quality digital media into your lessons?
Check out the new Biotechnology collection on Teachers' Domain. Funded by the Amgen Foundation, these unique video and interactive resources bring to life the emerging field of biotechnology for middle and high students, going beyond scientific theory to show the tools and techniques used to develop new biotechnology applications and products. The collection incorporates aspects of chemistry, genetics, and cell biology, easily mapping on to existing curriculum standards.
WI Academy Staff Development Initiative
The Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative (WASDI) provides state-of-the-art professional development for teachers throughout Wisconsin, primarily in the areas of mathematics and science. This initiative has developed teacher leaders and school based mentors who work to improve mathematics and science learning in their own classrooms, schools, districts, and the wider profession.
The Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative (WASDI) provides state-of-the-art professional development for teachers throughout Wisconsin, primarily in the areas of mathematics and science. This initiative has developed teacher leaders and school based mentors who work to improve mathematics and science learning in their own classrooms, schools, districts, and the wider profession. 1. Sally Ride Academy (Grafton, Messmer, Waukesha and West Allis)
The Sally Ride Academy offers quality professional development based on national teaching standards. Teachers are introduced to new research on how children learn and the application of best practice. The Sally Ride Academy provides students with the opportunity to become teaching leaders. 2. Christa McAuliffe Academy (Appleton)
The Christa McAuliffe Academy was founded to provide an exceptional learning experience for teachers and administrators that would excite, stimulate and refresh them. A well-rounded steering committee including educators and business people shaped a curriculum that has since expanded to cover new trends and topics at the forefront of education.
3. Chiwaukee Academy (Kenosha)
Chiwaukee Academy was founded in 1997 and is a week-long professional development opportunity for educator in Wiconsin. Careful attention is given to standards and benchmarks, equity, diversity, and assess-ment in all courses. The newest theories will be discussed and ideas about how to move them into practice will be shared by experienced teaching presenters.
4. Gitche Gumee Academy (Ashland)
The Gitche Gumee Academy was created to provide educators witha week of in-depth training in Wisconsin Academic Standards, performance assessment, and content area knowledge.
5. John Muir Academy (Verona)
The John Muir Academy is a standard, assessment, and research based professional development opportunity for teachers. Students of the John Muir Academy take part in an in-service training that promotes problem solving and the development of higher level and creative thinking skills. This professional development training also gives students the opportunity to experiment with innovative teaching techniques in math, science, technology, and other areas.
6. Cray Academy (Eau Claire)
Cray Academy Summer Institute offers high-quality, cost-effective professional development opportunities for educators. This institute offers a variety of workshops on new trends and topics at the forefront of education.
7. Northwoods Academy (Rhinelander)
The goal of the Northwoods Academy is to provide educators with a high quality, standards-based professional development opportunity designed to improve teaching and learning. One of the main goals of this academy is to assist educators in meeting Wisconsin recertification standards.
8. STAR Academy (River Falls)
The STAR Academy was created to provide educators with a professional development opportunity for in—depth training in Wisconsin Academic Standards, performance assessment, and content area knowledge.
9. Washburn Academy (Holmen & Onalaska)
The goal of the Washburn Academy is to provide educators with a high quality, standards-based professional development opportunity designed to improve teaching and learning. One of the main goals of this academy is to assist educators in meeting Wisconsin recertification standards.
Student Learning Programs
Inspiring a new generation of Inventors
Introducing Students to the World of Invention The InvenTeam initiative, created by the Lemelson-MIT Program, offers an unparalleled opportunity for high school students to cultivate their creativity and experience invention.
InvenTeams are teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors that receive grants up to $10,000 each to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. Each InvenTeam chooses its own problem to solve.
Discovery World's S.T.E.M +PLUS Program Discovery World's S.T.E.M +PLUS program amplifies the existing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education model by connecting it to concepts that motivate students beyond the classroom by including new media, design, creativity and innovation.
Young Inventors ProgramSponsored by Sears and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards Program challenges students to use creativity and imagination along with science, technology, and mechanical ability to invent or modify a tool that performs a practical function. Held each year, the program is open to all students in grades 2-8 in the United States and the U.S. territories, and winners receive savings bonds; teachers and schools also receive prizes.
ExploraVision AwardsSponsored by Toshiba and NSTA, ExploraVision is a competition for students of all interest, skill, and ability levels in grades K-12. Entrants must be United States or Canadian citizens or legal residents, living within the United States, U.S. Territories, or Canada. The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to combine their imaginations with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology.
Future City Competition The National Engineers Week Future City Competition is a fun and exciting educational engineering program for 7th and 8th grade students that combines a stimulating engineering challenge with a "hands-on" application to present their vision of a city of the future. Groups of students use team work, problem-solving approaches, and skills in mathematics and science, computers, and research and presentations to design cities using SimCity software.
Odyssey of the Mind Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem—solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Kids apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
Intel Science Talent SearchThe Intel Science Talent Search is America's oldest and most highly regarded pre-college science competition. For more than 60 years, this competition—often referred to as the "junior Nobel Prize"—has provided an incentive and an arena for U.S. high school seniors to complete an original research project and have it recognized by a national jury of highly regarded professional scientists.
eCYBER-MISSIONeCYBERMISSION is a Web-based science, mathematics, and technology competition for 6th through 9th grade teams. Students compete for regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their communities.
Siemens Westing-house Competition The Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. The competition, which is administered by The College Board and administered by the Siemens Foundation, awards tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to finalists and winners.
Science Olympiad Science Olympiad is an interscholastic competition designed to increase student interest and enthusiasm in science and improve the quality of science education. The Science Olympiad tournaments consist of 20-25 individual and team events which students prepare for during the school year. These challenging/fun events motivate and confront students from all ability levels with both theoretical and practical science problems.
Intel International Science and Engineering FairThe Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)—world's largest pre-college science competition, provides an opportunity for the best young scientists from around the globe to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science projects, and compete for over $4 million in awards and scholarships.
American Jr. Academy of ScienceThe American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) is American's only honor research society for high school scientists! Membership is by invitation only. Each state academy of science chooses premier high school scientists from their state to nominate as AJAS delegates. Usually, the senior scientists in each state academy organize junior academy of science. Under the direction of the junior academy of science, a state—wide scientific research competition is held. The winners of these state-wide competitions are nominated to represent their state at the national AJAS convention.
USA Biology OlympiadAs the premiere biology competition for high school students in the United States, the USA Biology Olympiad enriches the life sciences education of nearly 10,000 talented students annually. It provides the motivation, curricular resources, and skills training to take them beyond their classroom experience to the level of international competitiveness.
International Physics OlympiadThe International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) is an annual physics competition for high school students. The purpose of this competition is to promote and demonstrate academic excellence through preparation for and participation in an international competition. At the international competition, students compete as individuals and must sit for intensive theoretical and laboratory examinations. For their efforts the students can be awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals or an honorable mention.
SkillsUSASkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.
Discovery World
Discovery World connects innovation, science, technology and the environment with exploration and learning through interactive exhibits and experiential learning programs. Discovery World is dedicated to help-ing people positively impact their communities by dev-eloping a better understanding of technology and the env-ironment while fostering both innovation and creativity.