The Teton Science School (TSS) in Kelly, Wyoming was created in 1968 as a residential education facility. The TSS's Professional Residency in Environmental Education (PREE) is one of seven components that comprise the current TSS program. Dr. Wachob, a University of Wyoming graduate, has been the Director of Science and Research at the Teton Science School for the past five years. He also teaches ecology classes to PREE graduate students at the TSS and works with university partners to create degree programs such as the MSNS Option 2.

For information on applying to the Teton Science School, please contact Sue McGuire, Director of Education and Dean of Faculty, at 307-733-4765 ext 311 (email sue@tetonscience.org).

As you may have already noticed by looking at our newsletter title, the Natural Science Program has changed its name to the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC). Some of you will remember this name as not new, but the original name when the Center was created over 30 years ago. Others of you never stopped calling it the SMTC. So we have moved through several program names over the years to now come full circle. We think our name reflects what we do, both on-campus and as we work with educators throughout the state. Reflecting this change, our website address is now http://smtc.uwyo.edu

Take time to look through the newsletter, for much has happened this year. This summer will bring our first rotation of the Middle-level Math Initiative classes; the result of a lot of hard work of faculty and mentor teachers during 2001. The MSNS summer science program will focus on life sciences. We also have a new degree option in collaboration with the Teton Science School. Additionally, there are courses and workshops offered this summer both on and off campus. I look forward to the summer and to seeing many of you.

The Wyoming Geographic Alliance (WGA) Summer Institute on July 7-14 in Laramie, will focus on public lands. Tentative topics include: management of Wyoming's Red Desert, wild horses, oil and gas development, wind energy, endangered species, grazing, landscape analysis, history of public lands, ecosystem management and wilderness. Development of K-12 standards based learning will be a focal point. For application and prerequisite information, please contact the WGA toll-free at 1-888-831-7794 or email wga@uwyo.edu.

The 5th summer of the cohort-centered Master of Science in Natural Science program kicks off this June. Teachers who have been participants in this science masters program are excited about what they have learned. They consistently rate the quality and usefulness for the program as high and value the long-term collegial relationships they build.

Summer 2002 courses will focus on life science and then move to physical science in 2003 and earth and space science in 2004 (see the SMTC website for specific summer course titles). Participants can enter in any summer and move through the 3-summer sequence from that point. Students are on campus for approximately 4 weeks each summer, and the three-summer sequence fulfills 24 of 30 credit hours required toward completion of the Master of Science in Natural Science (MSNS) degree. Each student has a 3-member faculty committee that helps guide the remaining work and a Plan B project (often, but not limited to, a classroom research project).

The 2002 summer session focusing on life science will be from June 10 - July 5, 2002, and instruction will be provided by faculty from the Colleges of Education, Arts and Sciences, and Agriculture. Many of the courses have been designed specifically for this program to connect ideas presented form course to course.

Teachers who are participating this summer are receiving $2000 scholarships to cover tuition, fees, and some of the summer session living expenses. There is a possibility of scholarship monies becoming available for future summers. For more information, contact Anne Crocco (acrocco@uwyo.edu; 766-6381) or visit our website

His article "Euler and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra" won the 1993 George Polya Award from the Mathematical Association of America. Professor Dunham will be the guest speaker at the 2002 Summer Mathematics Institute for two days between June 17-20. He will also present a general mathematics talk to the public.

A professional development workshop to certify you as a GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) teacher is available this summer. It will be held July 8-12 on the UW campus. Globe certification is free, but there is a $30 registration fee that will be refunded upon completion of the workshop. There is also the option to register for 2 UW graduate credits at $35 per credit.

Topics in the GLOBE workshop will include:
• Atmosphere/Climate
• Hydrology
• Soils
• Land Cover/Biology
• Remote Sensing/GPS
• GLOBE Date Entry

Alan Buss (SMTC affiliate faculty), Kathleen Harper (Wyoming Space Grant Consortium), Greg Bell (Cheyenne) and Sharon Catchpole (Wheatland) will be the GLOBE trainers. Sharon and Greg use GLOBE in their classrooms to help them meet the state standards. According to Sharon, "Probably the most significant thing about GLOBE is that it is real hands-on science. I have had students doing measurements for six years now." Greg adds, "Teachers would want GLOBE in their classrooms, because it fits into the state standards. The greatest thing about GLOBE is the flexibility and information it provides."

Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) in the classroom takes students, from elementary school through high school, to local ranches in Wheatland, Douglas, Lusk, Cody, Thermopolis, Gillette, Shoshoni, Ten Sleep, Lander, Pavillion, Poison Spider, and Ethete. Supported by the Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources (IENR), the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program, and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, this project allows students to understand and participate in unique learning experiences with ranchers and other environmentally concerned citizens. The class members complete a comprehensive study of a small landsite, using science, mathematics, history, economics, language arts, and other disciplines. They use what they have learned from their case study and the expertise of ranchers, government agency representatives, environmentalists, and concerned citizens in consensus-building groups to make decisions about the land and natural resource sustainability.

NASC 5690-01/EDCI 5870-60 for K-6 math and science teachers and NASC 5700-02/EDCI 5870-61 for grade 7-12 math and science teachers are standards-based instruction and assessment classes that will be offered, and taught by Dr. Joe Stepans, this summer with compressed video and on-site (in Casper) dates.

Join your fellow science and math educators at Casper College for two days of hands-on training in the use of technology in the classroom. You can participate in hands-on lessons and demonstrations with the chance to attend six or seven 50-minute sessions each day. This is a great opportunity for you to see and learn new and exciting ways to integrate and use technology in your classroom!

Co-sponsored by: Casper Community College, the Wyoming Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science (WCMS) at the University of Wyoming Science and Mathematics Teaching Center, the Wyoming Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Wyoming Science Teachers Association and the Casper Star-Tribune.

Science and Mathematics Teaching Center Faculty Affiliate and Physics and Astronomy Professor, Ron Canterna, understands that he has the best of two worlds. When not in Laramie, he lives in Venice, Italy with his wife and family. According to Ron, both offer him peace and tranquillity but one is a little more interesting than the other.

Jim Wangberg, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, was presented the S.A.Y. (Suggestions, Awards and You) award for submitting ideas for improving safety practices involving vehicle use on campus.

After 27 years of teaching at the University of Wyoming and ten years of service in the public schools, Dr. Duane Keown is retiring. Duane is an Associate Professor in the College of Education in the Elementary and Early Childhood department and he is also an Affiliate Faculty to the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC).

Duane wants to assure everyone though, that the Wild Wonderful Wyoming: Choices for the Future program, including workshops, will continue. Duane is currently offering free (to school districts) workshops for teachers at either the elementary or especially the secondary level. The workshops include free SICEP activity manuals that are correlated with the Wyoming state standards in science, mathematics and social studies. Of the 48 school districts in Wyoming, 40 have been beneficiaries of the elementary workshop while 25 have received the secondary workshop.

Recently, Dr. Joe Stepans, Joan Gaston, and Diana Wiig were invited to speak at the Ninth International Consultation of the International Consortium for Research in Science and Mathematics Education (ICRSME) in Panama. ICRSME actively pursues its goal of improving the educational opportunities for the school populations of the participating countries.

Dr. Montague summarized the evidence that supports the international scientific consensus that the world is warming. He encouraged the students to learn the science behind global climate change and make up their own minds.

At the annual Excellence in Advising recognition reception, held April 4th, University of Wyoming faculty and professional academic advisers were honored with a student-nominated award that recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions of advisers in academic departments across campus. Three of these honorees are Affiliate Faculty in the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC). We would like to extend our congratulations to:

Wyoming has extraordinarily thick coal deposits - up to 200 feet. These deposits cover thousands of square miles, are very low in ash and sulfur, and are right at the surface, allowing open pit mining. Where did all this coal come from? How is coal mined, transported, and used?

Graphics and pictures are also organized in an Image Bank where they can be printed without the accompanying page of text. Features include links to news articles relating to coal, other websites related to coal, and an extensive database for Wyoming mines. Included on the site is a virtual field trip to a coalmine. An illustrated history of the Powder River Basin takes you back in geologic time as you click on a colorful diagram of the rock formations. How environmentally conscious are the mines? You can find out about the many steps taken by the industry from strategies for keeping the dust down to continuous reclamation of habitat.

What do: Brooke Bard, Greg Bell, Bob Bushong, Bob and Sharon Catchpole, Karen Cole, Paul Crips, Ty Fittje, Larry Hodgson, Carolyn Jacobs, Misti Kern, Mary Jo Kinstler, Mary Lovelace, Shelly Perkins, Ron Powell, Mary Skoog, Jan Schmitzer, Betty Yedinak, and Jennifer Weber all have in common?

Last summer, these SMTC Master of Science in Natural Science (MSNS) graduate students each received a scholarship of $2,000 to work on their MSNS degree. Summer of 2001 was the Earth Science summer in the three-summer MSNS sequence (this summer is Life Science and next summer is Physical Science). During the Earth Science summer, the students studied climate change; used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to analyze data they collected in field studies with Global Positioning System (GPS) units; examined various classroom assessment strategies; examined national standards in earth and space science; and learned about basic astronomy concepts. In addition, the Planetary and Space Science Center at UW awarded 10 new Odyssey 8 telescopes to the MSNS graduate students taking the Astronomy for Teachers course. Previously in the summer of 1998, 19 telescopes were awarded. After viewing the stars during several evening "Star Parties", the MSNS students teamed up to share the 29 total telescopes and took the telescopes home to use them with their own students and community members.

CONGRATULATIONS! to Mark Mcilvain, who graduated in the fall of 2001 with his Masters of Science in Natural Science (MSNS) degree. Mark researched the practices and methods being used in outdoor education programs by studying literature on outdoor education and surveying specifically chosen programs to determine the most successful strategies. His goal was to enhance the program at the Sherman Mountain Outdoor School (SMOS) then operational, but in its early stages of development. The school is based at the Retreat of the Rockies in the foothills of the Sherman Mountains between Laramie and Cheyenne, and serves south-eastern Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska.

After graduating from UW with her bachelors in 1991, Mary Arth began her teaching career in Sheridan, where she taught first and second graders for six years. She completed her Masters in 1999 and immediately began her doctoral studies. When asked why she chose to pursue her doctorate, she responded, "I want to teach at the university level to help influence teachers in teaching young children mathematics." Mary's doctoral dissertation examines the way in which teachers use questions to engage students in on-task dialogue. Mary plans to become a professor of Curriculum and Instruction in elementary mathematics.

While working on her own degrees, Mary has taught several classes for undergraduate teacher education majors at UW. She has also been involved in the Wyoming Clearinghouse for Math and Science (http://smtc.uwyo.edu/wcms/), a project funded by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE). The WCMS project supports mathematics and science education by sharing information about the teaching and learning of mathematics and science as well as linking teachers and administrators to faculty from the University's Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC). As if working on her Ph.D. and teaching weren't enough to keep her very busy, Mary also is the instructor for a WDE Math Problem Solving grant where she works with teachers in Cheyenne to explore the current research on problem solving as well as the materials and resources available. Thanks Mary for all of your hard work for the SMTC and the College of Education. We wish you much success in your future endeavors!

A former University of Wyoming undergraduate in Political Science, Elliott has directed his career toward the use of technology in education and politics. His previous positions include the Systems Administrator for Congresswoman Barbara Cubin, and an Assistant User Consultant for Dr. Terry Roark when he was the University of Wyoming President. Before coming back to Wyoming and working for the SMTC, Elliott worked for a dot com in Washington, D.C. where he currently has a patent pending for an Internet related technology. His experience is not limited to the Internet as he has written five educational software CDs.

As the Web Site Coordinator for the SMTC, Elliott is responsible for updating the SMTC website. One of his major accomplishments has been to create an email listserve to disseminate information to teachers, administrators, and other interested persons throughout Wyoming.

Elliott is currently in the process of redesigning the entire site so that all information presented will be current and easily accessed. For example, the calendar (which he designed) displays only current information. There will never be an outdated event on the calendar! There is also a "New Opportunities" link where teachers can find information about grant and funding opportunities as well as course and workshop opportunities. You may sign up to be on an email list to receive the most recent updates by going to the URL address: http://smtc.uwyo.edu/email.asp.

CONGRATULATIONS! to Marty Higginbotham for winning the Presidential Award for elementary science teaching in 2001. Marty teaches at West Elementary School in Lander and is a consultant to CRM in the Classroom workshops. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching programs was established in 1983 by The White House and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

The program identifies outstanding science and mathematics teachers in each state. Recognition is given to kindergarten through 12 grade teachers in four award groups, (1) elementary mathematics, (2) elementary science, (3) secondary mathematics, and (4) secondary science.

Wyoming Future Problem Solving student, Aisha Bradshaw, from Sheridan, WY placed third Internationally for her Scenario Writing. Her scenario was based on the FPS topic, Organ Donation and the title of her scenario is, "Wish." Aisha is coached by Pat Best. Way to go Aisha!

Lusk educator, Dave Hamaker, looks forward to each new year's excitement and challenges. He has taught chemistry, physics, mathematics, photography, computer, and various science classes since 1965. Dave is currently also the lead Wyoming teacher for a NASA grant administered by the SMTC. As such, he has participated in, presented at, and helped develop Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium (UMAC) Global Information Systems (GIS) remote sensing workshops. On a more local note, many of the SMTC's discussions, courses, and workshops have sparked Dave's interest and excitement, which he then passes on to his own students.

Nearly every day, the classroom environment presents new challenges: finding ways to spark interest in a subject, helping students understand a difficult concept, articulating how lessons apply to their world, and convincing students that learning can be fun and rewarding. Dave feels rewarded, though, when he sees his students get their "ah ha!" as they feel empowered with their new knowledge and understanding that they can apply to their world.

Dave uses the philosophy and ideas from CRM in the development of an Applied Science class. He and his students visit a ranch six miles from town where a number of individuals including Rod Nelson, Pete Ellsworth, Vince Sindt, Joanne Wade, and Lisa Shaw, have been instrumental in assisting the students with identifying several agricultural problems. The students are collecting and analysing data from the site and offering suggestions that might benefit the land and the economics of the ranch.

Dave feels that the SMTC is invaluable in helping him learn how to teach and evaluate what is important for students to know and be able to do. He is very appreciative of everyone at the Center for serving as his teachers, mentors, cheerleaders, confidants, counsellors, supporters, and friends for so many years.

Beginning this summer, the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center (SMTC) will be a Wyoming Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) Access Center site as part of a national network of centers. ENC Access Centers provide information to teachers, parents, and students on Eisenhower National Clearinghouse and Eisenhower Regional Consortium (ERC) resources and services. ENC centers distribute free mathematics and science education materials, display example copies of current books and other publications on timely topics in science and mathematics education, and provide training with the ENC website where educators can view current science and mathematics news items, lesson plans, relevant web links, and much more. For more information contact: SMTC@uwyo.edu.