Concurrent Professional Development Sessions

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Fellowship Funding Opportunities for Students and Strategies for Successful Grant Writing and Development

Kristin Janka
International Engagement, Honors College, Michigan State University

Location: Room 62

The goal of this presentation is to increase diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce by providing students with STEM funding and research opportunities, and provide faculty and administrators with tools and resources to recruit, retain and promote students in STEM. Attendees will discover funding resources to share with their pre-college students and also learn tips and tricks for successful grant writing to help fund their programs.​

1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Is Pluto a Boy or a Girl?

Deanna Hurlbert
Michigan State University

Location: Willy Room

In this workshop, participants will learn to:

  1. Define and describe foundational concepts related to sexuality and gender
  2. Identify principles that enhance accessibility, inclusivity and affirmation for pre-college students
  3. Document action plans to enhance personal competencies and the programs and services for pre-college students

1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Identifying, Addressing, and Promoting Student and Adolescent Mental Health

Kristine Zayko
General Counsel, Michigan State University

Scott Becker
Counseling Center, Michigan State University

Natalie L. Moser
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University

Location: Room 103 AB

This mental health workshop will include presentations on these topics:

  • Recognizing and addressing mental health issues in the pre-college and youth program context, while considering legal issues and strategies
  • Understanding mental health issues among children and adolescents, including current trends and possible interventions
  • Cues to identify and general strategies to manage adolescent depression and anxiety (plus how to approach parents)

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Building Community: Cultivating Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in the Classroom

Kevin L. Brooks
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, Michigan State University

Location: Michigamme Room

Building a safe community in the classroom is one of the most challenging topics discussed among educators and administrators in higher education. With students from different backgrounds and experiences, educators are incorporating an assortment of ways to best provide instruction that enhances the teaching and learning process, as well as to offer practical and relevant tools to address real world problems. This workshop provides several approaches to strengthen diversity, inclusion, and equity in the classroom. In addition, it presents ways to cultivate positive relationships through mentoring and leadership development.

Participants will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe various approaches to building community in the classroom through storytelling, personal narratives, and cultural heritage
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the communicative, physical, and psychosocial barriers that could obstruct the teaching and learning process
  3. Develop strategies to assist students and their efforts to achieve academic success via mentoring and leadership development
  4. Create asset mapping and relationship building activities to help support effective decision-making and solve complex problems

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Remixing Your Resources: Positive Effects of Integrating College Positive Volunteers into a Teen Empowerment Summit

Danyelle Gregory, Chelsey Carpenter, Jasmine Davis, Chrissonia Melton-Davis
MI GEAR UP, Ferris State University

Location: Riverside Room

A common frustration amongst teachers, faculty, and school administration is trying to empower unmotivated learners. Utilizing multiple program resources has been identified as a best practice. This workshop will showcase the positive effects of integrating College Positive Volunteers (CPV) while implementing a teen empowerment conference for high school students. This workshop is designed to "remix the reality" of post-secondary education. The topics highlighted will be creating hope, building professional relationships, emphasizing financial responsibility, and expressing enthusiasm.

By the end of this workshop attendees will be able to:

  1. Develop motivational events for pre-college students
  2. Identify ways to recruit and retain volunteers for pre-college programs
  3. Assess program effectiveness on multiple levels (i.e. students, volunteers, school administration)

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Developing Project Based Learning Units Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards

Tom Bielik
CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University

Location: Room 105 AB

In this presentation, we will present several projects at CREATE for STEM Institute that focus on developing and implementing project based learning curricular units that align with the Next Generation Science Standards. These units were created and enacted by secondary science teachers to support students in building three-dimensional understanding of scientific practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts. We will discuss international collaborations between teachers and using advanced learning tools, such as online modeling software.

Participants will learn about project based learning features, how to develop and implement NGSS-aligned curricular materials, and how to use advanced technological tools with secondary students.

3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Implicit Bias

Paulette Granberry-Russell
Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, Michigan State University

Location: Room 105 AB

Bias is not only a topic of discussion among researchers; it is discussed in the national media and social media. Students are being introduced to the concept of implicit bias as a part of the popular culture. There is a deepening public awareness of implicit biases and the challenges they pose in our efforts to treat all of societies members equally. In this session, participants will explore the meaning of implicit bias and the ways it influences how we see and treat others, including our students, even when we are determined to be fair and objective.

1:30 - 3:00 p.m. and 3:15 - 4:45 p.m.

Using Khan Academy to Support Performance on the PSAT and SAT

Theodore J. Gardella
Michigan SAT Implementation, The College Board

Location: Room 106

This session will enable participants to help students set up both College Board accounts and Khan Academy accounts. Participants will explore the resources available to improve student performance on the College Board student portal, and will experience the process of linking to Khan Academy to personalize practice and develop study plans. New features of the Khan academy site will be explained, and the College Board’s daily practice for the new SAT app will be integrated with other resources.