Using Computational Science In Your Classroom:
Helping Students to "See" the Invisible

Questions should be directed to:
chapter@sigmaxi.org or 800-243-6534

TO APPLY

We just completed our Sigma-Xi/NCSI workshop and I wanted to write you and tell you what a great success it was. I think that the participants really got something out of this and they all left wanting more.
-- Bill Wischusen, LSU Chapter

Explore the tools of computational science - learn how they can be used to help your students "see" the invisible - phenomena that are too small (atoms and molecules), too large (galaxies and the universe), too fast (photosynthesis), too slow (geological processes), too complex (automobile engines), or too dangerous (toxic materials) for the classroom.

Sigma Xi, in partnership with the Shodor Education Foundation, will provide instruction and logistical support for chapters that are interested in hosting a computational science workshop series at their institutions. (Jan.-Feb. 2003 Sigma Xi Today article about workshops)

The purpose of these workshops is to encourage the use of computational tools in undergraduate science and engineering education and to develop an active and supportive community of faculty using and sharing computational tools in the classroom and laboratory.

The Workshops

Just wanted to let you know the workshop with the Shodor folks went extremely well. About 25 participants from our tri-co community (Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore mainly) worked on teaching and research projects. Some pre-service students and H.S. teachers also joined us in the late afternoon.
--- Elizabeth McCormack, Bryn Mawr Chapter

Chapters interested in applying to host a workshop should assemble an organizing team to develop a proposal based on the guidelines that follow. The teams should plan on hosting 2-3 short workshops over the course of the academic year. Usually, the same core participants will attend the entire series of workshops. Instructional material and guided hands-on session in the workshops will lead to increasing confidence and skill over the course of the workshop series.

The workshop series can be tailored to the interests of those planning to attend or the workshop format and topics can be selected from among a group of "tried and true" workshops. Your chapter's workshops could be designed to focus on the use of mathematical modeling for:

• Existing science courses
• The creation of new courses
• The promotion of new tools for undergraduate research
• The development of outreach programs

Target Audience
The main target audiences are faculty members and graduate students who are assigned to teach at least one course that might reasonable include modeling activities. The home institution must have the appropriate technological capabilities to allow for implementation of modeling in the classroom, including Internet access and computer classroom or lab facilities. The number of participants in the workshop is limited by the availability of internet-connected computers. There should be no more than two participants per computer.

Content
These workshops are designed to introduce educators to modeling principles and practices and the basics of computational science. Participants will leave the workshop with a variety of models and supporting materials to directly incorporate into new learning experiences for students. Emphasis will be placed on:

• The modeling process,
• The use of interactive simulations, and
• The use of specialized software that assist programmers in the process of model building.

Participants will learn how to:

• Locate resources
• Assess the value of those resources, and
• Adapt those resources to their classes
• Move existing materials supporting models and simulations to the web.

Workshop Length Workshops can be from 1/2 day in length to several days. No workshop should be longer than 4 days.

Responsibilities
The Shodor Education Foundation will provide (at no cost to the chapter):

• A team to run a hands-on workshop, customized to the chapter's requests
• Content, instructional materials and outreach assistance

The Sigma Xi Chapter will provide:

• The participants in the workshop
• The location - for example, a computer lab that can accommodate the workshop participants with no more than 2 people per computer.
• Refreshments
• Outreach activity (see Selection Criteria below for examples of outreach activities.)
• Follow-up assessment of the workshop and outreach activity

Selection Criteria:
Chapters are encouraged to:

• Seek matching or supporting funds on campus to cover the cost of food, rental of appropriate space and refreshments and,
• Include The Shodor Education Foundation workshop leaders in outreach activities such as multi-disciplinary departmental lectures, panel discussions, high school teacher workshops, local museum collaborations etc. that can be offered in conjunction with the workshops planned in their proposals.

Preference will be given to chapter proposals satisfying one or more of the following additional criteria:

• Chapters that assemble workshop organizing teams with at least one member from a college of education
• Chapters that assemble workshop organizing teams that address modeling for
• pre-service and in-service K-12 teachers, including college of education faculty
• Chapters that assemble workshop organizing teams involving members from more than one discipline
• Chapter workshop organizing teams that are developing ways to include models and interactivity in the beginning (core) undergraduate curriculum, including community college faculty
• Proposals that demonstrate a strong plan to disseminate results on their own campuses or working with other schools in their region
• Proposal that include plans to work with underrepresented groups in the sciences and mathematics

To apply to host a NCSI workshop on your campus:
Send your proposal of approximately five pages in length as a Word document or text file to chapters@sigmaxi.org.

Be sure to address the following:

• Include the name, affiliation, address, phone numbers, e-mail address and involvement of the Workshop Organizer as well as all other individuals who will be involved in planning the workshop.
• Why do you believe your institution(s) is ready to host a workshop that focuses the application of computer modeling and visualization tools to undergraduate science and engineering courses?
• What length of workshop you are planning?
• Roughly when during the 2004-2005 academic year would you like your workshop to occur?
• What is your plan to promote the workshop?
• Describe your target audience in terms of disciplines that will be represented, the level of courses participants teach, and their expected background in computational science.
• Describe your plan to provide a location, refreshments and facilities for the workshop. Include a budget and any letters or statements of support that you might have secured.
• Estimate the maximum number of participants you will be able to accommodate. Use 2 people per computer as a guide.
• Describe outreach activities you are planning in connection with the workshop.
• Include a description of any of the selection criteria that your workshop and outreach activities will address
• Describe your plans for follow-up and assessment of the workshop and the outreach activities.

Questions should be directed to: chapters@sigmaxi.org or 800-243-6534