C.S.I: Cycle Scenes Investigations

             With an emphasis on anywhere, anytime learning, the Lab-in-a-Bag project –C.S.I: Cycle Scenes Investigations- equips participating teachers with a portable math, science, and technology and multimedia lab -literally- in a bag. A backpack holds a wireless laptop computer, a digital microscope, scientific probes, calculators, a digital video camera and portable scanner. On campus, participating teachers will be equipped with a data projection device and additional technology equipment designed to help students communicate what they learn. The Lab-in-a-Bag project also provides intensive training for participating educators and gives an opportunity for pre-service teachers at the University of Texas at Tyler to participate in the project. In this way, developing teachers work hand-in-hand in an authentic teaching and learning environment with experienced educators. 

What makes it a unique program?

             In the Lab-in-a-Bag project, selected 5^th and 6^th grade educators from Tyler ISD, Whitehouse ISD, area private schools, and UT Tyler pre-service teachers. Participating schools and pre-service teachers receive a set of technology tools and professional development. Following their training, these teachers develop and deliver a two-week summer school and technology camp program for the upper elementary and beginning middle school grades centered around a study of the ecosystem in and around Tyler in coordination with Caldwell Zoo, and Tyler Waste Water Treatment Plant. Hand-held probes and microscopes will be used to collect water, and soil samples. Digital cameras, graphing calculators, scanners, and computers will be used as students analyze data and prepare multimedia reports of their findings. With the help of their teachers, students will create digital movies in DVD format.

            The project creates well-trained, technologically literate teachers who will continue as mentors at their campuses, sharing their knowledge, equipment, and instructional skills with fellow educators.

How does it apply to our curriculum and real-world applications?

            The project is based upon the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science and Math. It is also integrated with Tyler ISD local curriculum.  

            Real-life applications are present all throughout our program. We address a fundamental fact: Our students will have jobs which will require technology expertise. They need all the exposure to handheld devices they can get. Just like in real-world job applications, our students gather water data from places such as water streams, using graphing calculators that communicate with probes and laptop computers. Students also use digital video cameras to document their findings. These tools are very similar to those a scientist would use today on a field investigation. Our students learn to create multimedia presentations, edit and author video, and integrate it all in a classroom setting. This is all hands-on inquiry based learning, and the technology is embedded on it.

Who is involved?

             Teachers from Tyler ISD, Whitehouse ISD, East Texas Christian Academy, TK Gorman, Stepping Stone and UT Tyler pre-service teachers. Caldwell Zoo and South Tyler Waste Water Treatment Plant are partners that collaborate with us in this project.

   Who it benefits

             Participation in the Lab-in-a-Bag project for the TARGET grant provides improved teaching and learning across the district. Benefits to the Tyler ISD and the community include:

•   Highly trained faculty

•   Strengthened partnership with Whitehouse ISD, area private schools, and UT Tyler

•   Strengthened partnership with the Caldwell Foundation

•   Challenging science, math, language arts, and social studies curriculums, along with technology applications that addresses all areas of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

•   State-of-the-art multimedia computers, scanners, digital cameras, graphing calculators and printers

•   Campus-wide sets of hand-held math and science technology equipment

How many students are involved?

            On last year’s summer school program, we had 240 students from 3^rd and 4^th grade. This summer, we anticipate a similar number of 5^th and 6^th graders.

Summary

            “As a participant in last year’s grant, I can say that our students came in early, and when it was time to leave, they could not believe the day was over, and wanted to stay longer after class. Our students were so excited about what was going on in the classroom that no discipline problems occurred during the whole program. Everybody was just too busy to miss any of the action!”

Rafael García, TARGET Grant Director

Teacher quotes

This is what some of our teachers have said after their experience through the program: 

“The TARGET Grant has empowered me to teach many lessons in a manner which totally captivates my students’ interests and their imaginations”

“An eye opening experience that allowed me to become a teacher from the twenty first century”

”It was like Alice stepping through the looking glass. A new world opened up for me full of adventure”

Some Facts about the Lab-in-a-Bag program:

Theme: This year we will feature our own C.S.I: “Cycle Scenes Investigations”. We will concentrate on the Water Cycle and topics that surround it.

Dates: June from the 20^th to the 30^th

Times: Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm