About the Institute
This six-day Institute is designed to provide teachers
(grades 3-12) with a basic understanding of forest
ecology and management. At the end of this institute,
educators will be able to:
♦ Describe forests and their components: forest types,
abiotic and biotic components of forest ecosystems.
♦ Explain the historic, current, and future
importance/uses of forests in Michigan and globally,
and threats to forests (climate change, invasive
species, disease, land use changes, fire ecology).
♦ Discuss forest management and sustainability: biodiversity,
silvicultural prescriptions, forest health,
multiple uses (wildlife, water, recreation, timber).
♦ Identify and utilize a variety of resources to design
and implement a forestry teaching unit, forest
education/ management program, and/or schoolcommunity
outreach program on forestry.
Michigan Tech brings together the expertise of
university faculty, scientists, natural resource
management professionals, and educators to conduct this
Institute. Through lecture, hands-on data collection and
analysis, field trips, technology applications, and
assignments, participants will obtain new knowledge and
skills that can be adapted to their work with students.
Teachers will receive classroom resources and
curriculum support materials.
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The Institute will provide participants with standardsbased
professional development, an opportunity to
participate in real-world, inquiry-based investigations,
and time to share teaching ideas with their peers.
In addition, participants will gain a sense of forest
stewardship—by better understanding how human
activities interact with forest distribution and health.
Participants will enhance their teaching skills—by
sharing ideas and innovative approaches to curriculum
development and delivery with other educators; and will
be better able to guide their students’ interest in natural
resource careers after interacting with a variety of
scientists and natural resource professionals. |
About Michigan Technological University
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Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan, along
the shores of the Keweenaw Waterway. Houghton is a
quaint town with roots in the historic copper mining
days of the mid-19th century. While every season is a
great time to be in Houghton, summertime is relaxed and
the weather refreshingly cool. Stroll along the
waterfront, get an ice cream or cappuccino, or take in a
movie. There’s hiking and mountain biking on the
awesome Michigan Tech Recreational Trail System. Or
hike up Mont Ripley Ski Hill or along Lake Superior at
McLain State Park, or take in a round of golf at the
Portage Lake Golf Course. To learn more about
Michigan Tech visit: http://www.mtu.edu . |
Course Credit & Requirements
Participants will earn three graduate credits (ED 5630)
from Michigan Technological University (MTU). To
receive credit, participants must:
• Complete assigned readings.
• Actively participate in the entire Institute.
• Keep a field journal during the Institute.
• Design a one-week teaching unit (rubric provided)
that meets Michigan (or national) content standards.
Participants should plan to implement their unit
during the 2009-10 school year. The teaching unit is
due September 1, 2009.
Professional Certificate
The credits earned from this Institute can be applied
towards an 18 semester-hour planned course of study for
teachers working toward their Michigan Professional
Certificate. For more information about designing a
planned course of study, contact Judy Anderson at the
Michigan Tech Department of Cognitive & Learning
Sciences at 906-487-2460 or juanders@mtu.edu.
Participants interested in pursuing an advanced degree at
Michigan Tech in a field other than education, should
contact the department of interest (http://www.mtu.edu/). |
Master of Applied Science Education
Graduate credits may also be applied towards Michigan
Tech’s Master of Science in Applied Science Education
program. For more information about the Master’s
program, contact Dr. Bradley Baltensperger in the
at 906-487-2460 or brad@mtu.edu. |
Institute Instructors
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The institute will be taught by Michigan Tech University School of Forest
Resources and Environmental Science (SFRES) faculty and staff and natural
resource management professionals. Visit http://forest.mtu.edu/ to learn more
about these faculty and staff:
Invited MTU presenters:
David Flaspohler, Ph.D. - wildlife and conservation biology
Michael Hyslop, Ph.D Candidate. - geomorphology, GIS mapping
Andrew Storer, Ph.D. - forest pathology and entomology
Linda Nagel, Ph.D. - ecophysiology, silviculture, forest vegetation dynamics
Jim Schmierer, M.S. - applied forest management
Invited guest presenters:
Eric Lilleskov, Ph.D. (USDA Forest Service North Central Research Station) –
soil mycorrhizae and exotic earthworms.
Mark Sherman (Plum Creek Timber) – silvicultural prescriptions, timber harvest,
logging operations, forest products.
Corey Soumis and Darrell Hendrickson, Science Teachers, Calumet High School |
General Information
Cost
Registration fee for the 6-day Institute is only $400
for both Michigan and out-of-state residents and
includes five lunches, instruction, field trips, classroom
materials, plus three graduate credits from Michigan
Tech. The total cost for participants who choose to stay
on campus is $675 which includes five nights lodging
and all meals. Generous support from the Michigan
Forest Foundation, along with a departmental
stipend from the School of Forest Resources and
Environmental Sciences reduces the official 2008-09
Michigan Tech Graduate Resident and Non-Resident
tuition of $391 per credit. Payment of the full
registration fee is due by June 5. Please make checks
payable to: Michigan Technological University. Refunds
will be provided if the space is filled.
Campus Accommodations (optional)
Participants may choose to stay in Michigan Tech’s
newly remodeled Wadsworth Hall in a single room with
private bath and receive meals from Sunday lunch
through Friday lunch. Michigan Tech Trails and
downtown Houghton are within easy walking distance.
Getting to Michigan Tech
Michigan Technological University is located just east
of downtown Houghton, MI. Houghton is served daily
by Northwest Airlines (800-225-2525 or nwa.com) from
Minneapolis through the Houghton County Airport in
Hancock. Commercial taxi is available from the airport
to the Michigan Tech campus for approximately $20 per
person by calling Neil’s Cab at 906-482-5515. |
Websites for More Information
School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science at
Michigan Tech: http://forest.mtu.edu
Michigan Technological University: www.mtu.edu
Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics &
Environmental Education: www.wupcenter.mtu.edu
Tourism information: www.thekeweenaw.com
Questions
For more information, contact Joan Schumaker-Chadde
at 906-487-3341 or jchadde@mtu.edu .
How to Register
Send your registration form by email or postal mail to:
Joan Chadde, Course Coordinator
Western U.P. Center for Science, Math & Environ. Education
105 Dillman Hall - Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931
Tel: 906-487-3341
Fax: 906-487-1620
Application forms are available at:
http://forest.mtu.edu
http://wupcenter.mtu.edu
Application deadline is Friday, May 15. Participants
are accepted on a first-come basis. Participants’
registration will be confirmed by email as their
applications are received. Limited to 20 participants.
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Need more credits? Attend another Michigan Tech
summer institute. See: http://www.ed.mtu.edu/pd.html |
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Joan
Schumaker-Chadde, Course Coordinator
Western U.P. Center for Science, Math & Environ. Education
105 Dillman Hall
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931
Tel: 906-487-3341 Fax: 906-487-1620
Contact the
WUP Center |
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