TEA Collaborative Learning Group
Annual Report

Demello
2003

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How did your work with your team help you meet the professional growth goals you set for yourself?
1. We set out to develop more ways to connect the classroom to real world research and applications. I feel we were able to accomplish this. For example, a WebQuest was developed that asks students to assume the role of a science reporter and requires them to report in one of five formats used in the media. Other teachers worked to develop hands on units that requiring students use a classroom skill to complete a polar task, such as graphing data, journaling, or locating research sites. 2. Another goal was to incorporated technology into the curriculum using polar learning as a theme. Along with a colleague from a nearby community, we wrote and were awarded a technology grant for $200,000 dollars over two years. We used parts of this grant to obtain computers and sensors to use in polar lessons and to conduct professional development workshops for teachers in the polar community. Teachers learned how to use science probes, a GPS, and applications such as iPhoto, iMovie, Powerpoint, Inspiration, and Graph Maker for potential use in their polar units. They also received extensive training in the use of the Internet, a skill that they used when developing the WebQuest. I was pleased that we were able to use this technology grant for our middle school to help promote and enhance our polar learning goals. 3. Our collegial network has expanded, parcticularly within our district. Many people who had never worked together before, found themselves working to solve a common goal. This was especially nice to observe when an elementary teacher was paired with a high school teacher. Also, now have other TEAs and TEA Associates that we can collaborate with, and teachers from other school districts who have attended presentations. 4. We were able to develop several new interdisciplinary lessons. For some examples, refer to the chart at the end of the "Materials" section of this form. 5. Finally, I think teachers have continued to become more familiar with State and National Education Standards because each lesson developed must incorporate the standards.

How did your work with your team impact your content knowledge and pedagogy?
My content knowledge continues to expand. I have learned a great deal about polar science in the past two years and because I am teaching it and constantly repeating much of the information, I feel confident that I will retain it. I have also learned an overwhelming amount of technology in the past two years as a necessity to fulfilling many of the goals I established for learning and presenting polar information. Working with my team and others in the TEA community has been incredibly enriching for me both professionally and personally; and of course enough could never be said for what I gained from my field experience as well. In my district and surrounding communities I have now met and worked with so many teachers and community leaders that I would not likely have ever worked with had I not become involved in TEA. I love sharing my new found knowledge and experience with students and other teachers, but I really just enjoy the fact that so many different people have displayed an interest in learning about polar science and polar life. I am amazed at how anxious people become about wanting to tell someone else what they have learned.

What materials / resources / workshops did you use / produce / host with your team members over the last year?
1. Working with Sue Rice at the high school level, we coordinated with twelve other teachers to develop units for use in nine different disciplines and 13 different high school courses. (Refer to the table at the end of this chart) 2. Working with Mara Carey at the middle school level, six other middle school teachers, and with input from TEAs and TEA Associates at the NYC summer workshop, we developed a WebQuest adaptable for students in grades 5-12. We brainstormed and collaborated with these teachers and used many web resources to develop our own WebQuest. 3. Working with Melinda Learning at the elementary level, we collaborated to develop units in polar science for grade 4 and then worked to adapt them to the second grade level. We also collaborated with three other first grade teachers for a polar presentation. HIGH SCHOOL LESSONS FACILITATED BY MARY ANN DEMELLO & SUE RICE-PATTON TEACHER HOURS DISCIPLINE UNIT OR FOCUS Timothy Owens 4 Grade 10 Biology Ecosystems of Antarctica Robert Murphy 14 Grade 8 Earth Science Mapping Longitude and Latitude Alanna Bailey 4 Grade 8 Computers Excel – Graphical Displays of Data; Measures of Central Tendency PowerPoint – Create presentations based on info from DeMello journals Fred Damon 4 Grades 8,9,&10 Algebra 1 Scatter Plots Integrating DeMello’s Temp. Data Kathy Hoffman 4 Pre-Algebra / Geometry Charting; Word Problems; and Graphing Kathy Hoffman 4 Statistics Experimental Design; Graphical Displays; Measures of Central Tendency & Variability; and Confidence Intervals & Hypothesis Tests Mal Lanin -Cotton 8 Journalism Journaling DeMello’s Journey; Interviewing/Reporting of DeMello’s Return TEACHER HOURS DISCIPLINE UNIT OR FOCUS Jim Patton 4 Grade 8 History Exploration: Long Ago, Today, and in the Future Paula Arzoian 4 Spanish Level 2 Using Spanish to talk about “Weather in Antarctica and Other Regions in the World” Sandra Tessar & Cheryl Kuhn 10 Art Design a Flag Representing Antarctica Carol Souza 7 Consumer Science Sewing – Create Antarctic Flag Designed by Art Dept. TOTAL HOURS = 67

Based on the past year, what ideas do you have to improve the effectiveness of your team interactions?
I truly feel we accomplished a great deal this year and I am very happy with the results. I believe I am extremely fortunate to have received such incredible support from so many individuals in the district. I think we tried to fit a great deal of work into a short amount of time given everyone's busy schedule, and perhaps it became a bit hectic and stressed at times, but people were committed. I hope in the upcoming year we will all have an opportunity to use and expand upon the lessons and units we worked to develop.

Total hours of collaboration with each team member:
MARY ANN DEMELLO: 2003 MENTORING LOG GR. 8-12 GR. 5-7 GR. K-4 DATE HOURS: SUE RICE PATTON HOURS: MARA CAREY HOURS: MELINDA LEARNING FOCUS 2003 67 free periods & after school Developing Interdisciplinary Units with 11 Teachers (See other document) 3/26 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience Getting There 4/3 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – The Berg Field Center 4/9 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience - Communications 4/10 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – Helicopters & Sling Loads 4/14 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – Collecting Data 4/15 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience - Research 4/16 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – Camp Life 4/17 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – Rocks, Minerals, & Terrain 5/1 2 2 2 My Antarctic Experience – Food & Waste 5/7 3 3 3 My Antarctic Experience – The Lakes, Safety, & Misc. 5/8 3 3 3 My Antarctic Experience – Misc. and Planning for ’03-’04 school year 5/14 2 2 2 Technology Updates 5/15 2 2 2 Technology Updates 5/16 2 2 2 Technology Updates 5/20 2 Developing PowerPoint Journals 5/22 2 Polar Symbols 6/4 2 Research WebQuests 6/5 2 Research WebQuests 6/9 2 Research Polar Web Sites 6/11 3.5 Research Polar Web Sites 6/16 1.5 2.5 Polar Images Polar Facts 6/17 1.5 2.5 Critiquing DeMello Journals Polar Facts 6/18 1.5 Implementing other TEAs and Disciplines 6/19 1.5 Implementing other TEAs and Disciplines DATE HOURS: SUE RICE PATTON HOURS: MARA CAREY HOURS: MELINDA LEARNING FOCUS 6/23 7 Polar Quest Plan/Outline 6/24 7 Ideas for Teacher notes 6/25 7 Background Information 6/26 7 General info: Quest Roles 6/27 7 General info: Quest Roles 7/1 5 Reporting Information 7/2 5 Notes for the Teacher 7/14 7 7/15 7 7/16 7 7/17 7 7/21 7 7/22 7 9/17 3 Biologist Role 9/18 3 Biologist Role 9/23 3 Meteorologist Role 9/24 3 Meteorologist Role 9/25 3 Meteor./Expeditionist Role 10/1 2.5 Expeditionist Role 10/6 2 Geologist Role 10/7 1.5 Geologist Role 10/8 1 Support Sites 10/9 3 Support Sites / Maps 10/15 2 Rubrics / Evaluation 10/29 2 Rubrics / Evaluation We all agreed we that we had maintained a busy fall schedule, so we would not have any collaboration during the holiday season. We would continue again after the first of the year. 2003TOTAL HOURS 107 116 79.5 2002TOTAL HOURS 9.5 9.5 7.5 GRAND TOTAL 116.5 125.5 87

Additional reflections:
I spent a considerable amount of time familiarizing people with polar science and polar life. Since my return from Antarctica, I am pleased with what has been accomplished with colleagues, but unfortunately, I have not had time to develop my own presentation to bring it to a higher level. Upon my return, I created a new presentation with various versions for different age levels. I incorporated many still photos into my presentation, but this upcoming year I want to spend time pouring through my video footage to develop some movie segments to be added into the presentations. I am disappointed that I have not had the time to do this, but it takes time to learn new editing software applications and I have begun the process with iMovie and Final Cut. I feel confident that I will complete the mentoring hours in the upcoming year, but sense that a break is needed for a while. I don't want to push people to a point where "too much of a good thing" goes sour.