PMT Meeting

February 9, 2025

TIE Office

Present: Bob Magelky - TIE Office; Tim Creal - New Underwood; Kathy Hood - Spearfish; Mary Kay Swanson - Lead-Deadwood; John Swanson - Belle Fourche; Jim Meszaros - Douglas; Joe Hillberry - Douglas; Kathleen Van Horn - Meade; Julia Sankey - SDSM&T; Colin Paterson - SDSM&T; Charles Sykora - Wall; Josephine Hartmann - Kadoka; Becky Binder - Lead-Deadwood; Janet Lillehaug -BLAHST Project Manager, CAMSE; Laurie Barnaud - Materials Coordinator, CAMSE; Dorothy Keller, BLAHST Project Coordinator, CAMSE

Absent: Charles Lamb, BHSU; Ben Sayler, Camse Director; Mitch Chapel - Lead-Deadwood

The meeting began at 1:00 with Bob Magelky and Janet Lillehaug discussing the requirements for student assessment that NSF has outlined for all LSC projects. The BLAHST Project is required to test from 4-6 classrooms of students in either grades 4, 5, or 6, using an instrument that Horizon Research is developing. Bob mentioned the possible options. Horizon is piloting the test this spring to determine whether the questions are appropriate or not. After much discussion, it was decided unanimously that the school districts did not want to participate in the pilot test. We will start with a pre-test next fall, and do a post-test in the Spring, with all 6th grade students in the project. Horizon will provide the testing instrument and do the scoring. It will take students approximately 50 minutes to take the test. We will be provided with information from the testing.

The Project is required to submit a student assessment plan by November 15, 2001. Project staff will put together a plan based on the discussion and bring it to the next meeting for the group's approval. The use of open-ended assessments was discussed, but the group decided not to include them in the formal assessment plan at this time. It was suggested that there be training workshops for teachers to learn how to use open ended performance assessments. The group would like to have open-ended assessments as part of our evaluation of the project.

Julia Sankey, SDSM&T, provided us with information on her upcoming summer workshop. At the present time the dates are June 6 - 13, 2001, but this may change. This workshop will accommodate 16 students. They will be spending 3 days in the classroom, the rest of the time in the field in North Dakota. Students will be working with GIS technology and topographical maps. They will be collecting specimens and documenting their finds. Students will be able to pay for graduate credit at a reduced rate.

Colin Paterson, SDSM&T, talked about his 4-day field experience planned for July 2001. This will be a total field experience taking place from Nemo to the Badlands. This workshop will have a maximum of 24 students. This workshop will also provide graduate hours for those students wishing to purchase reduced credit.

Bob discussed the Horizon report that was submitted in October 2000, and handed out a copy to the members. Janet informed the group that as of the end of January, teachers have logged 10,700 professional development hours. From the total list of teachers (this includes teachers who are gone) 77% have participated in some development; 86% of those teaching science right now have participated. Many activities that the school districts are involved in can be counted for professional development if we have the proper documentation. Districts should contact Janet prior the activity to find out the requirements.

Janet handed out the reservation schedule for the rest of spring semester. Most of the workshops are full, but a few can handle more teachers. We asked the group to pass these on to their people.

A tentative summer workshop schedule was disseminated. Some of the dates and locations have not been finalized. There are 47 days of workshops planned for this summer. It was suggested to use the website to post district activities. We hope to send out a final schedule sometime in March.

Laurie Barnaud discussed refurbishment of kits for the 2001-2 school year. Most of the districts have provided her with their kit numbers, but she is still waiting for some information. She hopes to get refurbishment materials ordered soon so that she can bring the materials out to the districts to refurbish the kits in April and May. Regarding live materials, she suggested that the districts use their live materials cards first, and then go to the new system of ordering directly through the Center. Laurie will e-mail each PMT with information for teachers.

Janet handed out information on Dr. Andy Johnson's electricity workshop that is being held June 18 - 22, 2001 at SDSM&T. This is a 5-day workshop that the teachers can take for reduced credit. They will be discussing ways to use classroom kits to teach electricity and learn how to meet some South Dakota standards in physical science.

Janet reminded the members that the request for continuation of funding is due soon. We have received most of the district cost-share reports but must have them all for the report. If you have not already done so, please get your cost-share report to us "ASAP".

Janet has been visiting most of the districts for some model teaching. Interested teachers should contact Janet to get on her schedule.

Joe Hillberry brought some information about their "Space Consortium. One session is being held at SDSM&T from June 4th - 8th. The second session is June 11 - 15th in Sioux Falls. Teachers will be working with GPS software. The cost for this workshop is $250.00 but each teacher is paid a stipend of $175.

Bob Magelky mentioned that he has the list of teachers to be observed and interviewed and will be sending it out soon.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 27th.