Webutuck science department shares highlights of 2018-19 programs and partnerships

WEBUTUCK — As one in a series of presentations given by members of the Webutuck faculty, Webutuck science teachers Christine Gillette, Patrick Mc-Keever and Danielle Fridstrom brought the Webutuck Board of Education (BOE) up to date with science department programs and partnerships on Monday, March 18.

Beginning with grades four through six, Gillette said the department is currently using ScienceFusion textbooks for fourth- and fifth-grade students and will be looking into updating the ScienceFusion series next year to comply with the state’s science standards. Sixth-grade students have started using a digital interactive textbook through the educational company Pearson, and the department plans to discuss using the online textbook with students in the seventh and eighth grades. As an advantage of using Pearson, Gillette said the digital textbook allows students to work at their own pace as they engage in different enrichment activities.

Gillette reported that the department intends to continue its relationship with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, especially the students in grades four through six. In addition to continuing the classroom visits with Cary Institute instructors, she said students have been informed about the Cary Institute’s summer camp program, adding there are financial opportunities available to Webutuck students.

In addition to discussing the implementation of the digital textbook, Gillette said the department is using iPads in a laboratory setting for students in grades seven and eight with great success. The iPads have also been used for collaborative class projects. After identifying graphing as a weakness across math and science classes, Webutuck science teachers have encouraged students to practice graphing by hand as well as on the iPad to strengthen their skills.

Gillette said seventh- and eighth-grade students are continuing to benefit from the collaboration between the Cary Institute and the Webutuck school district. As an example of the different activities students participate in, she showed a photo of students setting up a night vision camera behind Webutuck High School (WHS) to capture wildlife images.

Overseeing the science classes at WHS, McKeever said the department has integrated more technology into the classroom by using educational programs such as Castle Learning, Nearpod and Edpuzzle.

“There were some bumps in the road to get here,” he said, “but we’ve adapted and the students have adapted and we learn from our students every day.”

Calling it the high school’s anchor app, McKeever talked about the use of Google Classroom, which has motivated students to keep track of assignments, school announcements and links. The app also supports the sharing of content and assignments so students can keep up to date even when they’re absent from school. Through Castle Learning, Fridstrom said the students and teachers are provided with meaningful data about student performance and growth. The program uses randomized questions to allow for a more accurate measure of student mastery as well as hints and auto retakes to encourage a review of errors. In spite of the surge of technology in the classroom, McKeever reported that they’re integrating plenty of hands-on activities with technology to document students’ efforts.

Speaking on behalf of teacher Thomas Monteverde, Fridstrom talked about the department’s decision to incorporate probeware, which combines hands-on learning with technology in a laboratory setting. As an opportunity for data analysis to identify areas for improvement and reteaching, midterms were given in all Regents and Dutchess Community College science classes. She also touched on implementing live labs as a different approach for teaching science.

“You really do a fantastic job,” said local resident DeLora Brooks at the meeting. “I can’t believe what you’ve done — it’s exciting.”

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