Teacher Professional Development

LSLC professional development workshops are offered on a variety of topics and give educators experience with cutting-edge science technologies. These 5 hour hands-on workshops also provide teachers with innovative instructional materials that are aligned with New York State Math, Science and Technology (MST) standards, as well as National Science Education Standards.

These five hour programs (including a 40 minute lunch break) can be scheduled at your school or the LSLC anytime between 8:00AM and 4:00PM (for example, from 9:00-2:00 or 8:00-1:00) on any weekday that is convenient for a group of teachers.
Room requirements for each program are listed below.
Workshops must be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance.
Cost is $600 per workshop, with a maximum of 20 participants (maximum number of participants may also be limited by equipment available at your school, for example, microscopes or computers).

Electrophoresis

Principles of electrophoresis, both DNA and protein, are discussed. Methods for performing quick and easy electrophoresis activities with students using simulated DNA will be demonstrated, as well as methods for visualizing real DNA bands. We will also discuss case studies, both scientific and pop culture, that could be used to engage students in the use of electrophoresis. Teachers who have attended this workshop to borrow electrophoresis equipment for use in their classroom.
Room Requirements: At least 2 electrical outlets. Access to a sink is preferable, but the sink does not have to be in the room in which the workshop is held.

Microscopy: Take A Closer Look...

Help your students become proficient microscopists using engaging activities. Understand the use of all the parts of a microscope and learn how microscopy is used in present day research. This session will also introduce teachers to "Scope on a Rope" (SOAR), a hand-held microscope with magnification up to 200x, developed by Louisiana State University. Teachers who have attended this workshop are eligible to borrow the SOAR for classroom use.
Room Requirements: 1 microscope per 2 teachers

Math and Biology

Biologists do math too! Learn how math is used in biological studies, engage in student-friendly activities that require math to solve biological problems, and discuss ways of incorporating math into your own biology classroom.
Room Requirements: At least 2 electrical outlets. Access to a sink is preferable, but the sink does not have to be in the room in which the workshop is held.

PowerPoint: Bringing Science to Life Through Animations

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words and ideas can you express in a movie? Use PowerPoint to its fullest potential by learning to create and present animations. Or challenge your students to create animations to express how they understand science around them.
Room Requirements: 1 computer per 2 teachers

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Would you like to do PCR with your students? If you have a PCR machine and you would like to walk through a commercially available kit with our staff, or if you are considering purchasing a PCR machine for your school and would like to demo a PCR machine, or if you would like to learn how to do PCR and borrow a PCR machine from the LSLC for classroom use, this workshop can be tailored to meet your needs. Thanks to a generous donation from Laboratory Products Sales Inc., a PCR machine is available for loan to schools whose teachers have attended an LSLC PCR workshop.
Room Requirements: At least 2 electrical outlets. Access to a sink is preferable. Please discuss with the LSLC staff what you would like to accomplish during the workshop at least 2 months in advance of your scheduled workshop date so that we can best meet your needs.

Probeware

Learn how to use dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and conductivity probes to assess water quality. Teacher who have attended this workshop are eligible to borrow 10 sets of Vernier probes for use in their classroom.
Room Requirements: One electrical outlet per team learning to use the probes (Probes can be battery powered, but outlet power is much more reliable). Access to a sink is preferable.

Alternative Energy

Are you interested in teaching your students about alternative energy? We can show you a collection of short activities and demonstrations that get students involved in learning the chemistry behind hydrogen fuel and solar cells, as well as understanding how electrical energy is converted into physical motion. Teacher who have attended this workshop are eligible to borrow 10 solar panels and one hydrogen fuel cell demonstration unit, as well as an alternative energy exploration kit.
Room Requirements: At least 1 electrical outlet. Access to a sink is preferable.