Michigan Mathematics and Science Center ... - Oakland Schools
Michigan Mathematics and Science Center ... - Oakland Schools
Michigan Mathematics and Science Center ... - Oakland Schools
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<strong>Michigan</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Leadership Academy (MSLA)<br />
The <strong>Michigan</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Leadership Academy (MSLA) is a<br />
<strong>Michigan</strong> <strong>Mathematics</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Center</strong> Network initiative<br />
focused on providing statewide professional development <strong>and</strong><br />
other services to support <strong>and</strong> improve the teaching <strong>and</strong><br />
learning of science. MSLA coordinates statewide science<br />
materials development projects, teacher workshops, <strong>and</strong><br />
dissemination efforts of the Network.<br />
STATEWIDE PROJECT<br />
In the 2007-08 school year, MSLA focused its efforts on two major projects:<br />
• Development of COMPANION DOCUMENTS for the <strong>Michigan</strong> K-7 Grade Level<br />
Content Expectations for <strong>Science</strong><br />
Beginning in January 2008, a committee representing the <strong>Mathematics</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Science</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong> Network, <strong>Michigan</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Teachers Association (MSTA), <strong>and</strong> the <strong>Michigan</strong><br />
Department of Education (MDE) met monthly to design <strong>and</strong> develop Companion<br />
Documents for grades K-4 <strong>and</strong> 5-7. A writing team made up of individuals nominated<br />
by the <strong>Center</strong>s worked throughout the summer to write the “clarifications” for grade<br />
level expectations. These materials provide classroom teachers with “boundaries to the<br />
content expectations” around eight categories: Clarifications; Vocabulary; Instruments,<br />
Measurements, <strong>and</strong> Representations; Inquiry Instructional Examples; Assessment<br />
Examples; Enrichment <strong>and</strong> Intervention; Examples, Observations, Phenomena; <strong>and</strong><br />
Curricular Connections <strong>and</strong> Integrations. The Companion Documents are intended to<br />
“help teachers <strong>and</strong> curriculum developers design their own lesson plans, select useful<br />
portions of text, <strong>and</strong> create assessments that are aligned with the <strong>Michigan</strong> grade level<br />
science curriculum.”<br />
Dissemination of the Companion Documents. Efforts are underway by the<br />
<strong>Mathematics</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Center</strong>s Network to “roll out” the Companion Documents to<br />
teachers, schools, <strong>and</strong> districts across the state. Because funds are not available from<br />
MDE, the Network, through the MSLA committee, has “stepped-up-to-the-plate” to take<br />
responsibility for disseminating the materials through a series of workshops across the<br />
state, assuring a broad dissemination to teachers, schools <strong>and</strong> districts.<br />
• Development of Inquiry in Instruction (I 3 ) Materials for the Network’s<br />
Statewide HSMASS Initiative<br />
Drawing on the expertise of staff from <strong>Center</strong>s across the Network, a set of workshop<br />
materials for Phase III of the statewide professional development program, High School<br />
<strong>Mathematics</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Success (HSMASS), were developed. This committee also<br />
organized <strong>and</strong> facilitated a two-day workshop to train <strong>Center</strong>-level facilitators on how to<br />
use the materials to conduct workshops for high school science teachers. The goal of I 3<br />
is to improve the teaching <strong>and</strong> learning of science using research-based inquiry-focused<br />
strategies. Workshops began in Fall 2008 <strong>and</strong> will continue through Spring 2009.<br />
For more information about MSLA, contact<br />
Dr. LaMoine Motz at the Oakl<strong>and</strong> <strong>Schools</strong> <strong>Science</strong>/Math/Technology <strong>Center</strong><br />
(248-209-2378 or LaMoine.Motz@oakl<strong>and</strong>.k12.mi.us)<br />
For more information about the Companion Documents <strong>and</strong> content expectations,<br />
go to <strong>Michigan</strong>.gov/mde<br />
or contact Kevin Richard at the <strong>Michigan</strong> Department of Education<br />
(517-540-6805 or RichardK1@michigan.gov)