Free Professional Development
Grade(s): Middle School / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
Bill Nye is a man with a mission: to foster a scientifically literate
society by helping people everywhere understand and appreciate the
science that makes our world work.
Nye has spent the past 20 years educating students young and old
about science and understands the importance of keeping minds active
after the last school bell rings.
“Learning can happen anywhere and at anytime – the important thing
is that it should never stop,” Nye said. “We’ve put together fun, free
and easy activities that will make this the summer of learning versus
the summer filled with the dreaded words ‘I’m bored.’ ”
AN EARLY KNACK FOR HOW THINGS WORK
Making science entertaining and accessible is something Bill has done
most of his life. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he spent afternoons
and summers de-mystifying math for his classmates.
While working for Boeing in Seattle, Bill combined his love of science
with his flair for comedy. After winning a Steve Martin look-alike
contest, he became an engineer by day and a stand-up comic by night.
Eventually, Bill made the transition to comedy writer and performer on
Seattle’s home-grown ensemble comedy show “Almost Live.”
This is where “Bill Nye the Science Guy®” was born. The 18-time
Emmy Award-winning show appeared before Saturday Night Live and
later on Comedy Central. During this time, he also wrote five kids’
books about science, including his latest title, “Bill Nye’s Great Big
Book of Tiny Germs.”
BROADENING HIS MISSION
Bill’s passion for math and science translated into a love of space. His
role as CEO of The Planetary Society, the world’s large space interest
organization, has taken him across the globe. And one thing Bill is very
proud of is the MarsDials, two sundials on residing on Mars he created
with Cornell scientists.
America’s favorite stand-up scientist hasn’t changed much from that
kid growing up in Washington, DC. He still rides his bike to work. He’ll
pull out his Periodic Table of the Elements from his wallet. And his
drive for helping others understand science is as strong as ever.
I am originally from Guyana, South America. I came to the U.S in 1991 and lived in Brooklyn, New York for about four years before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where I currently live. I went to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, where I attended the Institute of Technology and received degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering. I currently work as a Learning Coach at Sophia and am pursing a masters degree in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University. My goal for Sophia is to provide a clear understanding of math and science concepts by relating them to elementary ideas. My hope is that the method(s) I employ will make what seem to be very complex ideas much more approachable and appreciated.
I have a keen interest in effectively integrating technology into the classroom. My goal is to constantly push the science of teaching forward to engage students and to make learning feel like play. I have a huge desire to share my enthusiasm with other educators and to change the dynamics of the traditional classroom. In my teaching, I continue to enjoy improving my flipped model in the AP Calculus AB and Honors Algebra 2 classroom. Through my role as technology coordinator, I am able to empower teachers with ideas and tools to restructure curriculum, enrich the classroom experience, and better engage learners.
I graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. I received my teaching certification from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois in an accelerated math and science certification program. I started my teaching career at Thornwood High School in South Holland, IL. in 2006 and am still employed in the district. I currently teach general chemistry and AP chemistry. For the past three years I have been the Core Course Coordinator of my school which entails working with my chemistry colleagues to align our curriculum to the NGSS and to find innovative ways of modernizing our teaching methods. I have been using Sophia since the spring semester of 2013 and have been providing PD workshops on the use of Sophia to the teachers in my district. I am also a member of the Sophia Learning Teacher Advisory Board.
I am a high school mathematics teacher in Southern California who absolutely loves to make math meaningful and memorable to my students. I currently teach Algebra 1 to 9th and 10th graders, and Math Analysis Honors to 11th and 12th graders. I teach using a "Flipped Classroom" model, where my students receive instruction at home via video and then come to class ready to discuss, think and work together, and solve problems. Outside of teaching, I enjoy relaxing with my husband, reading fiction, going on walks, and watching our favorite shows on Hulu.
I am a math teacher at Huntington Beach High School. I got my degree in Mathematics from UC Irvine and I have been teaching high school math for 8 years. I began the AP Calculus AB program at my school 3 years ago. The number of students taking the class has slowly increased and my numbers for next year are exactly double what they were the year the course began. The growing interest in the class is exciting for me, yet I know I need to look for ways to improve the students learning and retention in the course. I began flipping my class in the second semester of last year. This will be the first year that it will be flipped for the entire year. My goal for this year is to have an 80% pass rate on the AP test. I believe that with this new method of flipping, it is entirely possible.
