HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science (CAIMS) at Penn State Harrisburg will welcome sixth and seventh grade teachers from thirty public middle schools from throughout Pennsylvania to participate in a free training workshop on teaching mathematical modeling and how to use 3D printing in their lessons, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 22, in the Olmsted Building on campus.
Participants will receive a free 3D printer for their school.
Mathematical modeling is the process of using various mathematical structures — graphs, equations, diagrams, scatterplots, tree diagrams, etc. — to represent real-world situations.
The workshop is taught by Tyler Love, director of CAIMS and assistant professor of education, and Reuben Asempapa, assistant professor of mathematics education in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education. It will focus on using free 3D design and 3D-printing software packages to apply mathematical modeling concepts to solve real-world STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) issues.
Participants will have the opportunity to earn Act 48 Continuing Professional Education hours, as well as collaborate with Penn State Harrisburg STEM education faculty and other teachers in across Pennsylvania.
Participating schools include:
- Annville-Cleona School District
- Catasauqua Area School District
- Central Dauphin School District
- Conestoga Valley School District
- Cornwall-Lebanon School District
- Cumberland Valley School District
- Elizabethtown Area School District
- Gettysburg Area School District
- Halifax Area School District
- Harrisburg School District
- Lower Dauphin School District
- Manheim Central School District
- Mechanicsburg School District
- Northern Lebanon School District
- Palmyra School District
- Penns Valley Area School District
- Philadelphia School District
- Riverview Intermediate Unit 6
- Shamokin Area School District
- Shenango Area School District
- Southwestern York School District
- Waynesboro Area School District
- West Perry School District
- West Shore School District
- York Academy Regional Charter School