Collaborative Development and
Implementation of Inquiry-Based
Lesson Plans
Bill Donovan The University of Akron
Kim Calvo The University of Akron
Diana Williams Firestone High School
What is NEOCEx?
• Northeast Ohio Center of Excellence for
Math and Science Teaching
– Ohio Board of Regents Funding
– One of 6 centers in Ohio
– Primary goal: to improve teaching and
learning of mathematics and science in
schools and universities through collaboration
among higher education institutions, school
districts, professional development centers,
and the Ohio Resource Center (ORC)
NEOCEx Chemistry Partners
NEOCEx Objectives
• Help adapt, redesign, and/or develop
introductory undergraduate courses taken by
students seeking to teach science and/or
mathematics in the middle grades so that such
course serve as a model for effective science
and mathematics instruction.
• Provide university instructors with resources and
assistance to add inquiry-based learning
opportunites to their courses to enhance
students' concptual understanding.
NEOCEx Objectives
• Coordinate professional development among the
collaborating institutions and assist in
developing resource materials and
disseminating best practices to other Ohio
educators.
• Develop and disseminate online resources on
inquiry teaching and learning in mathematics
and science (including presentations, content
specific classroom assessment techniques,
lesson plans, and topic modules) through the
Ohio Resource Center for Science,
Mathematics, and Reading (ORC).
NEOCEx Team Activities
• Two chemistry faculty, one education
faculty, one high school teacher fellow
• Frequent meetings throughout summer
2005 to develop lesson plans and align
with state and national standards
• Testing of lesson plans in college courses
in 2005-06
NEOCEx Dissemination
• Lesson plans translated to middle school
level in summer 2006 by high school
teaching fellows
• Weeklong workshop for middle school
teachers, facilitated by high school
teaching fellows, UA education faculty
member, and lead chemistry faculty
member
– Focus on inquiry methods, standards
NEOCEx Dissemination
• Lesson plans to be posted to NEOCEx
web site and shared with Ohio Resource
Center (ohiorc.org) including standards
and additional material
Benefits
• “Collateral Damage”
– Non-teacher candidates
• 9-12 in Gen Chem, 5-8 in Chemistry for Everyone
• Networking
• Partnerships
– 5-8, 9-12, college
• Inquiry Exposure
– Teacher responses
Lesson Plan Components
• Teacher Info
– Standards
– Misconceptions
– Materials, etc.
• Student Info
– Inquiry-based
Acknowledgements
• Cleveland State University
Team
– David Ball, CSU Chemistry
– Rob Ferguson, CSU Teacher
Education
– Jerry Reed-Mundell, CSU
Chemistry
– Donna Turner, Normandy High
School
• Kent State University Team
– Andrew Burns, KSU Stark
– Cameron Church, KSU
Chemistry
– Steve Horvath, Aurora High
School
– Wendy Sherman, KSU
Curriculum Studies
• University of Akron Team
– Francis Broadway, UA
Curriculum & Instruction
– Kim Calvo, UA Chemistry
– Bill Donovan, UA Chemistry
– Sherri Lovelace-Cameron,
YSU Chemistry
– Kathie Owens, UA Curriculum
& Instruction
– Diana Williams, Firestone
High School
• David McConnell, NEOCEx
Director
• $$$: Ohio Board of Regents
Lesson Plan Resources
• http://www2.uakron.edu/cci/NEOCEx/
• http://www.ohiorc.org/