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Virginia Association of Science Teachers

Conference (PDI)

2008 Virginia Association of Science Teachers Annual Professional Development Institute
Hampton Roads Convention Center

Weaving a Tapestry for Science Learning

November 13 - 15, 2008

REGISTRATION

Click here to register online.

Note: Early Bird Registration ends October 11
Email registrar@vast.org if you have any problems with registration.

FIELD TRIPS

We have set up an engaging set of field trips for your professional development this year:

SHORT COURSES

Pre-registration is HIGHLY recommended

Short Course 1 (SC-1)
Thursday, November 13, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Limit 80:  first come, first seated
Cost:  Free
FOSS MS Chemical Interactions Institute - Dr. Bill Metz  and Mr. Kip Bisignano
FOSS is a research based science curriculum for grades K-8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley.  FOSS is also an ongoing research project dedicated to improving the learning and teaching of science.

Short Course 2 (SC-2)
Thursday, November 13, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Cost:  $10 - pre-registration required; Limit 15 participants
On-Water Application of Integrated Watershed Education-CBF Style - Cindy Duncan and Bill Portlock
Bring your binoculars, enthusiasm, and interest in learning how to investigate a watershed during an afternoon of ecosystem exploration aboard a Chesapeake Bay Foundation's vessel.  Note:  Transportation is not provided to or from the Hampton Roads Convention Center for this course.  Driving directions will be provided to all pre-registrants, or on site at the HRCC.  Please meet at HRCC Main entrance.

Short Course 3 (SC-3)
Friday, November 14, 9:30 AM - 3:50 PM
Cost:  $25 - includes transportation, lunch, and publications; Limit 20 participants
Explore a Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem at Grandview Preserve - Sally Lewis and Ann Marchant-Jones
Visit an undeveloped Chesapeake Bay estuarine ecosystem, and explore it through classroom and field activities in flora and fauna identification, specimen collection, and human impacts on the Bay.  Dress to get wet, and be prepared to hike 2.5 miles over uneven terrain. Please meet in room 209 at 9:30 AM.

Short Course 4 (SC-4)
Saturday, November 15, 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost:  $25; Limit 25 participants
Chesapeake Bay Discoveries at the Virginia Living Museum - Betsy Wolin
Experience the diversity of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem at the Virginia Living Museum.  Enjoy a special hands-on learning experience featuring salinity testing and identification of Bay critters.   Then glimpse the underwater treasures of the Bay and tour a coastal wetland as you visit our Coastal Plains Gallery and other exhibits. Please meet at Registration Desk at 9:15.

Short Course 5 (SC-5)
Friday, November 14, 9:30 AM - 3:50 PM
Cost:  $20
Framing Fractals:  It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World - or Is It? - Mr. Frank Cardella, Ms. Carolene Lewis, Ms. Peggy Whitlock, and Ms. Katherine Kelley
This workshop presents an overview of fractal geometry and some of its applications to scientific problem solving.  Participants will be fully engaged throughout the session to preview the activities that they will be taking home with them.  Dress comfortably, lunch will be on your own.

Short Course 6 (SC-6)
Friday, November 14, 9:30 AM - 12:40 PM
Cost:  $10
Project WILD Science and Civics Workshop 
Project WILD's high school curriculum, Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife, is designed to serve as a guide for involving students in environmental action projects aimed at benefiting the local wildlife found in a community. Teachers attending this workshop will receive the 351 page activity guide and supplemental information.

SPECIAL EVENT

Our special event for this year's PDI will be a night at the Virginia Air & Space Center, Virginia's premier museum dedicated to flight, both in the air and in space.  Transportation will be provided to VASC, where participants will enjoy catered hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and access to the museum's exhibits.  Our invited speaker for the evening is Astronaut Melvin Leland, co-sponsored by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.  Don't miss this opportunity to surround yourself in aero- and astronomical artifacts and ideas.

GENERAL SESSION  SPEAKERS

Thursday Evening:  Trip Barber is the President (Elect) of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), the first and largest sport rocketry organization in the world.  He will talk about the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), a phenomenally successful national rocketry contest for kindling interest among 7th through 12th grade students in aerospace studies and careers that he and the NAR have run for the last 6 years.

Friday Morning:  Dr. Leila Hatch, JASON Project/Operation Resilient Planet (invited, confirming)- Dr. Leila Hatch is the Regional Marine Bioacoustic Coordinator at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary just off the coast of Boston, Massachusetts. As a bioacoustic specialist ("bio" meaning living, "acoustics" meaning sound), she combines her knowledge of science with environmental laws and policies to help protect the habitat of the animals who live and visit the sanctuary.

Friday Evening:  Leland Melvin (invited), NASA astronaut.  Mr. Melvin has served the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch, the Education Department at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C, and the Robotics Branch of the Astronaut Office. As co-manager of NASA's Educator Astronaut Program, he engaged thousands of students and teachers in the excitement of space exploration and inspiring them to pursue STEM careers. A Virginia native, Mr. Melvin completed his first space flight on STS-122 in 2008 and has logged over 306 hours in space.

Saturday Morning:  Quinn Robinson, Virginia Wildlife Center - returning from last year's well-received presentations, the Virginia Wildlife Center will provide a compelling presentation with a little help from a few friends.  The Center is an internationally acclaimed teaching and research hospital for wildlife medicine and conservation.  The problems of their wild patients, whether furred, feathered, and scaled offer valuable insights for measuring and improving the environmental health of our own communities including problems associated with litter, loss of habitat, pesticides, domestic-animal predation, and disease.

Saturday Afternoon: As Assistant Superintendent for the Division of Student Assessment and School Improvement at the Virginia Department of Education, Shelley Loving-Ryder is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments including test development and test administration in both online and paper/pencil modes. In her 25 years of experience, she has witnessed many changes in education and has been involved in every aspect of Virginia's assessments since the implementation of the Standards of Learning. Having taught in the Virginia schools, Shelley understands the importance of teacher involvement in developing SOL assessments and has been a guiding force for teacher-based committees.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Click here to download the latest list of sessions.  Note - sessions, times, and locations may change, so check your program for up-to-date information when you check-in at the conference.

HOTELS 

Here is a list of possible hotels in the Hampton area, near the Convention Center.  Each of them has been visited by VAST PDI committee members. 

Two hotels have a negotiated rate with VAST and are:
**Comfort Inn Coliseum & Convention Center
1916 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666.  The Comfort Inn Coliseum & Convention Center is located in Hampton, VA, and is one mile from the Hampton Roads Convention Center.  VAST Rate:  $72.00 single.  Mention "Group Name: Virginia Association of Science Teachers."  Make reservations by 10/12/08.  TOLL FREE 1-800-835-7629, (757)827-5052.

** Clarion Hotel and Conference Center
1809 W. Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23666.  The Clarion Hotel is conveniently located off Interstate 64 in Hampton, VA. The hotel sits between Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Williamsburg and Norfolk Airports are 10 miles away.  VAST Rate:  $99 double, $89 king.   Mention "Group Name: Virginia Association of Science Teachers"  Make reservations by 10/27/08  Phone: (757) 838-5011.

These hotels have rates that have NOT negotiated with VAST, but were found to be suitable:
Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Coliseum Central
1999 Power Plant Parkway, Hampton, VA, USA 23666.  The Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Coliseum Central is located in Hampton, VA. The Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Coliseum Central Virginia hotel is 0.5 miles from the Hampton Roads Convention Center  Phone:  757-310-6323.

Courtyard by Marriott Hampton
1917 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666.  Located near NASA, Langley AFB, Norfolk Naval Bases and other military installations, Courtyard surrounds travelers with the conveniences that make business and pleasure travel easy.     USA.  Phone: 
1-757-838-3300.

Quality Inn Convention Center
1813 W. Mercury Blvd , Hampton, VA, US, 23666.  Conveniently located just one mile from the Hampton Coliseum and the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Phone: (757) 838-8484.

Embassy Suites Hampton
1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA, United States 23666.  The newly-constructed Embassy Suites Hampton Roads VA hotel at the Hampton Roads Convention Center is conveniently located at the intersection of I-64 and I-664 in Hampton, VA.  Phone: 757-827-8200

Virginia Association of Science Teachers