How to set up a science-teacher workshop at TAM6?

[MattusMaximus]

Howdy,

I know that when I was at TAM4 there were some workshops on various topics. I was wondering how one goes about applying to host a workshop, set it up, etc. I ask because of something I heard from the folks at Skeptics Guide to the Universe recently, namely that they're interested in connecting with science teachers who are interested in promoting skepticism & critical thinking. I've been doing this very thing in my physics classes for many years, and I'd love to share some of my ideas & lesson plans with other skeptically-minded science teachers.

Any help on how to proceed would be much appreciated!

Cheers - Mattus

[Gravy]

Great idea, Mattus. You may want to send an email to JREF general manager Jeff Wagg: jeff@randi.org

[MattusMaximus]

Great idea, Mattus. You may want to send an email to JREF general manager Jeff Wagg: jeff@randi.org

Thanks much - I'll get right on it!

[Hokulele]

If you do get something like this organized, please let me know as my mother is a science professor and would be very interested in attending/participating. She has set up a class with a fellow professor titled "The Way of Science" that was featured in SWIFT a few years ago.

Pimping Mom's Class (http://wayofscience.info/)

[MattusMaximus]

I do hope it would get some attention from experienced teachers and prospective teachers. I can really only approach the topic of pseudoscience from the standpoint of physics & astronomy, though I have also had a lot of experience in doing activist work in dealing with creationism in my neck of the woods.

I also think it'd just be good to have a forum for science teachers to share ideas and whatnot, though I'm not sure if something like this has been done before.

[athon]

The idea of having more science educator workshops at these conferences isn't a novel one. Jeff is a good one to petition, and I know Hal has long been a supporter of the idea. There was a fairly good workshop at TAM5, however I'd like to see it become more of a workshop and less of a lecture presentation.

There's a few of us who'd like to be more involved with such an event. PM me for any details or help you'd like on the matter.

Athon

[MattusMaximus]

Great idea, Mattus. You may want to send an email to JREF general manager Jeff Wagg: jeff@randi.org

Gravy, I emailed Jeff but haven't heard back yet -- how long do you think I should wait before pestering him again? I don't want to be a pain in the ass.

[MattusMaximus]

The idea of having more science educator workshops at these conferences isn't a novel one. Jeff is a good one to petition, and I know Hal has long been a supporter of the idea. There was a fairly good workshop at TAM5, however I'd like to see it become more of a workshop and less of a lecture presentation.

There's a few of us who'd like to be more involved with such an event. PM me for any details or help you'd like on the matter.
Athon

Thanks for the support Athon. I will try to get in touch in the next few days.

It is my hope that this NOT be a lecture oriented thing. More like a sharing of lessons and activities to encourage skepticism among students (and, ugh, colleagues -- you wouldn't believe the amount of woo espoused by even some of my science colleagues :boggled: )

And if I can swing it, I'll try to show some of my most killer skeptic demos :)

Cheers - Mattus

[MattusMaximus]

If you do get something like this organized, please let me know as my mother is a science professor and would be very interested in attending/participating. She has set up a class with a fellow professor titled "The Way of Science" that was featured in SWIFT a few years ago.

Pimping Mom's Class (http://wayofscience.info/)

Wow, that looks damn cool. Yes, if I/we can pull this thing off, I definitely would like to have your mother there for collaboration.

Cheers - Mattus

[Gravy]

Gravy, I emailed Jeff but haven't heard back yet -- how long do you think I should wait before pestering him again? I don't want to be a pain in the ass.I would give him a few days.

[Richard]

I'll be there and I'll be happy to talk to you about it.

[athon]

Thanks for the support Athon. I will try to get in touch in the next few days.

It is my hope that this NOT be a lecture oriented thing. More like a sharing of lessons and activities to encourage skepticism among students (and, ugh, colleagues -- you wouldn't believe the amount of woo espoused by even some of my science colleagues :boggled: )

And if I can swing it, I'll try to show some of my most killer skeptic demos :)

Cheers - Mattus

The TAM5 workshop had three excellent speakers; Bob Carroll, Richard Wiseman and (IIRC) Diane Swanson. Out of the three, Richard's talk was the most useful, while it was just nice to meet Diane and discuss her book 'Nibbling on Einstein's Brain'.

That said, it was simply a talk with some worksheets. There was some interaction by way of questions from the audience, but otherwise it didn't feel very progressive in any way. More like a big chat session where we listened to the opinions of three skeptical communicators. Of the three, only Diane seemed to have something to offer to educators of adolescents and younger, yet Icame away with a few resources as a result of Richard's lecture.

I'd like to organise more of a workshop aimed primarily at primary and secondary teachers of all discplines. It should have worthwhile advice on how to construct (or even interpret an existing one) curriculum in your favour. A high priority should also be to have a framework of a good critical literacy policy which can be taken back to the school administration and implemented, as well as an open discussion on what constitutes good critical thinking policy in a school. Lastly, it should cover some resources in different countries which offer means to teaching effective philosophy to adolescents and younger (how to get young kids to adopt epistemologies which complement critical thinking).

Oh, and it should be an afternoon exercise with punch and pie. :)

But seriously, TAM was moved to this time slot for a reason. If the JREF doesn't take maximum advantage of that, it would be insane. It should also seek to have knowledgable professionals who have experience in implementing critical literacy plans conduct the workshop rather than some well known authors or academics who have little to no direct experience in pre-adult pedagogy.

Athon