the network for middle school math and science teachers

Tom Jenkins Male Enon, OH United States: Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Research to Practice

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Math

87 members

Integrating Technology

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Science

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Tom Jenkins's Discussions

NMSA Session: Ioannis Miaoulis (STEM, Engineering, Changing Education)
4 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Mary LeFever Nov 20, 2010.

Create, Connect, Collaborate with MSP2. Session 2562, 3:45-5:00. Friday, November 5, 2010, Baltimore, Maryland

Started Nov 5, 2010

Summer Opportunities for Students
5 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Kim Lightle Mar 23, 2010.

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Latest Activity

Tom Jenkins commented on Sarita Pillai's event 'Introduction to Vernier Probes and LabQuest 101'

Hi Sarita. Would love to attend, but will probably still be at basketball practice. Will this be recorded and archived?

Dec 12, 2011

Tom Jenkins replied to Davilla Riddle's discussion 'Tips for New Teachers'

Hello Cheska-My first 8th grade lab was always over "lab safety." I would take the students over to lab and lay out expectations as well what to do if there was an issue (acid spill, hair on fire, chemicals in eyes, etc). I…

Nov 15, 2011

Tom Jenkins commented on Middle School Portal's group 'Math'

Here's a link to the www.nonamesite.com that was sent to me by a STEM colleague. Very appropriate for upper middle school math. My favorite is "Brando the Egghunter." Funded by a DARPA grant and even offers the…

Nov 11, 2011

Tom Jenkins commented on Middle School Portal's group 'Science'

Was working with some folks from the Concord Consortium last week and they turned me on to these great interactive science simulations (they are also open source!). http://www.concord.org/activities I'm always on the lookout for similar…

Nov 8, 2011

Tom Jenkins commented on Sarita Pillai's blog post 'Social Media Tools in School'

Good ideas in the article. Even though we are a Moodle middle school, I also use Edmodo. The students really like the Facebook "feel" of the site. I like the fact that polls and grading are very clean and user…

Oct 27, 2011

Sarita Pillai commented on Tom Jenkins's blog post 'Video Games: Helping to fight AIDS'

Great article, Tom. There is so much talk these days about the "gamefication" of education and the pros and cons, this is definitely one of the pros.

Sep 28, 2011

Tom Jenkins commented on Tom Jenkins's blog post 'Video Games: Helping to fight AIDS'

I think that this helps serve notice that educators need be proactive when it comes to adapting to how today's students learn. Granted many video games have their pitfalls (literally and figuratively), but they offer several positives as…

Sep 27, 2011

Video Games: Helping to fight AIDS

In just three weeks, gamers deciphered the structure of a key protein in the development of AIDS that has stumped scientists for years. According to a study published Sunday in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the findings could present a significant breakthrough for AIDS and HIV research.Gamers Unlock Protein Mystery That Baffled AIDS Researchers For Years (Complete Article)See More

Blog post by Tom Jenkins Sep 27, 2011

2 Comments

Tom Jenkins commented on Middle School Portal's group 'Math'

Great site that I use with my STEM class to help with computation as well as generating answers in many forms. http://www.wolframalpha.com/ ; What are some good sites that you use?

Sep 23, 2011

NASA Grail MoonKam

A great resource from NASA involving one of their newest missions. The link below provides access to a wide array of information and resources about our country's efforts to learn more about the moon. Looks like there is very cool stuff that is going to be available to educators. I don't even teach "Space," yet I'm brainstorming ways to try to use this in my class. Please feel free to share any of your ideas......... Grail MoonKam See More

Blog post by Tom Jenkins Sep 7, 2011

0 Comments

Tom Jenkins replied to Mary Henton's discussion 'Teacher and Student Opportunities'

Since we are quickly approaching a new school year, I thought that I would bump this towards the top. Again, there are some great links for opportunities for both teachers and students as well as funding for new or existing projects. As…

Aug 14, 2011

Tom Jenkins commented on Kim Lightle's blog post 'Technology Reviewers Wanted'

It sounds like a great way to get new equipment for my class. Do you know if they are still accepting new teachers?

Jul 21, 2011

Tom Jenkins replied to Mary L. Bigleow's discussion 'Data collection tools'

Mary, We use Vernier Labquests in our building. The flexibility that they offered sold us. That being said...They were more expensive as compared to some of the others, so we had to buy fewer units. Had them for 3…

Jun 12, 2011

Tom Jenkins replied to Mary Henton's discussion 'Teacher and Student Opportunities'

Thanks for taking the time to update these pages. There really is some awesome stuff on there!

May 11, 2011

Mary Henton commented on Tom Jenkins's blog post 'Learn How To Animate Your Class: Scratch Video Tutorials'

Question for anyone using Scratch: What learning outcomes guide your decision to use Scratch? Where in the curriculum do you employ it?

Apr 14, 2011

Mary Henton commented on Tom Jenkins's blog post 'Learn How To Animate Your Class: Scratch Video Tutorials'

Thanks, Tom! I'm cuing up the videos now!

Apr 14, 2011

Profile Information

Which best describes your position?: Classroom Teacher (preK-12)

What discipline(s) do you teach?: Technology, Other

I need help with: Instructional strategies, Integrating technology

I can help with: Assessment/Testing, Classroom management, Content knowledge, Gifted and talented, Instructional strategies, Integrating technology, Managing labs (including safety), Being a new teacher, Involving parents/caregivers, Science fairs/competitions, Special needs students, Standards, Student misconceptions

Tom Jenkins's Blog

Video Games: Helping to fight AIDS

Gamers Unlock Protein Mystery That…

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Posted on September 27, 2011 at 2:45pm — 2 Comments

NASA Grail MoonKam

Looks like there is very cool stuff that is going to be available to educators. I don't even teach "Space," yet I'm brainstorming ways to try to use this in my class. Please feel free to share any of your ideas.........

…

Continue

Posted on September 7, 2011 at 2:49pm

Learn How To Animate Your Class: Scratch Video Tutorials

This time out instead doing a webinar on Scratch, we've decided to break it off into roughly 5 minute chunks to allow you greater flexibilty. The following links will take you to content that I have created using Jing and shared on www.teachertube.com. Scratch was a program that I…

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Posted on April 13, 2011 at 8:30am — 2 Comments

Service Learning- Why not in Math, Science, and STEM?

I recently attended a conference aptly named Forging New Links in Columbus, Ohio. While going through several sessions, I started to notice a trend........Almost everyone that presented or shared taught History, Language Arts, or was involved with a school service group such as student council. I remember in the middle of the second session, thinking to myself- "Where are the Math and Science people!?"

At a certain point, we broke… Continue

Posted on April 13, 2010 at 10:30pm — 3 Comments

Use MSP To Network Your Classroom

Okay......Let's say person "A" is in Dayton, Ohio and person "B" in Bakersfield, California. Person "A" is teaching their class about the San Andreas Fault. Person "B" about the invention of flight. Assuming that both of these people are on MSP2- Why not have the classes work together and share their area of expertise/local interests? Contact folks in our on-line community and make the world a smaller, more interesting place. I've done this several times and its something that is fun for the…

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Posted on March 11, 2010 at 1:32pm — 9 Comments

Comment Wall (22 comments)

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At 10:44pm on January 11, 2011, Kim Lightle said…: Hope you join us online this Thursday, 1/13 at 4pm EST as we explore how reader's theater can be used to improve comprehension of informational text and help students learn science concepts. We'll focus on science-themed text, but the same principles can apply to other content areas as well. You can find the link to participate, the descriptions, and archived recordings of all the webinars at http://wiki.nsdl.org/index.php/BeyondPenguins/Seminars

At 10:56pm on March 18, 2010, Rebecca Lawson said…: OH ... what happened to the opportunity to Edit our comments? Today it doesn't seem like I have seen that prompt.

At 10:55pm on March 18, 2010, Rebecca Lawson said…: Hi Tom,

Thanks for the shout out. Things are going well .. just busy, as usual.

I have an idea ... which I don't think I sent you tonight.

Davilla has been asking new members questions using the info they have posted. Ex. She asked some of the new NASA members for suggestions about tech integration.

...was thinking it might be an idea to create forum topics around these questions ... thinking that perhaps we could ask people to make a comment on the forum .. and get more interaction going on the site. What do you think?

At 11:16pm on October 15, 2009, Rebecca Lawson said…: Tom, Evelyn Abaygar- Erum just joined MSP2. She mentions that she needs some help with science fairs. I thought you might like to welcome her and give her some pointers.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Rebecca

At 9:26pm on September 29, 2009, Bernita Zhang said…: Hi Tom,
Thanks for the welcome. Right now I am involved in a graduate program and do not have a whole lot of free time but I will take some time soon to look around at the groups. I am excited by what I see!
Bernita

At 7:05pm on September 24, 2009, Caroline Hall said…: Hi Tom,
May be a moot point. I don't think anybody has signed up. Do these usually get late registration traffic?

Anyway, I will be practicing the presentation within the MS Portal Elluminate staging area. Kim is showing me the ropes Monday. I would LOVE for you to join me sometime over the next week in the "practice" venue and be my guinea pig. I can work around your schedule.Thanks so much!
Caroline

At 2:20pm on September 21, 2009, Caroline Hall said…: Hi Tom,
I'd like to ask if you would be a panelist on the webinar. Kim and I both feel that your expertise in the classroom would add a great dimension to this event. The date has changed: it's set for Thursday, October 8, from 4:00-5:00 ET.

The plan is that I will spend about 10 minutes introducing ComPADRE and The Physics Front. ("Why would a middle school teacher use a web site called "Physics" Front? I don't teach physics." "What kind of stuff do you have on the web site?" "Is it free?" "Can I comment or contribute?", etc.) Then, I will show them the two model units for middle school: "The Nature of Light" and "Light, Vision, and Color". I'll briefly cover the new AAAS Benchmarks on light, some common student misconceptions on the topic,and the need to address light as a wave in the middle grades.

I would be honored if you would join in as a panelist. Thank you for everything!

Caroline

At 6:17am on September 14, 2009, Caroline Hall said…: Tom,
Thanks so much for the kind words! Could I ask you a few questions?
Do you teach a unit on light, and if so, at which grade level? What have you found to be typical misconceptions held by your students about the nature of light?

Did you feel adequately prepared in your degree program to teach this topic (I ask because I was not prepared......my two physics courses focused on force, motion, and electricity). I really had to beef up my own content knowledge.

If high school teachers include a unit on light/optics, they often cover only geometric optics, which doesn't account for phenomena like diffraction & polarization. The physics education research is indicating that even gifted kids are coming to college without a mental model of light as a wave. Consequently, it's really hard for them to transition into modern physics. Tom, do you think we should be introducing kids to these concepts as early as middle school to lay foundations? Thanks so much for the help!
Caroline

At 12:59pm on September 10, 2009, Caroline Hall said…: Hi Tom,
Here is a link to the unit elements for middle school science on the broad topic "Nature and Behavior of Light":
http://www.thephysicsfront.org/static/unit.cfm?sb=13&course=1

Here is a direct link to the model unit we compiled for grades 7-8 titled "Nature of Light":
http://www.thephysicsfront.org/filingcabinet/share.cfm?UID=3404&FID=16729&code=3B9D7499DA

I have not quite finished the standards alignment for the model unit, but all the resources are there. It is a multimedia approach that explores the essential nature of light, how it travels, and some of its special properties. It is intended to give middle-grade students a foundation for understanding the wave nature of light and the electromagnetic spectrum: essential to a later understanding of modern physics. Thank you so much,
Caroline

At 8:44am on September 9, 2009, Caroline Hall said…: Hi Tom,
Kim Lightle invited me to present a webinar October 6 to introduce middle school teachers to The Physics Front digital resource collection. I've followed your posts, and would really like to get your feedback as I plan this web seminar. Primarily, I'll be showcasing the features & tools of The Physics Front, and highlighting a model unit on the nature of light, specifically developed for grades 7-8. Would it be possible to talk about this sometime? I'm located in Centerville, Ohio, and the best number to reach me is (937) 567-0085. Many thanks,
Caroline