Illinois Science Teachers Association Annual Convention

Sandra Menke, MAE Center Education Program Specialist and Tracy Smith, Graduate Research Assistant, presented a workshop on Earthquake Preparedness and Safety in the New Madrid Seismic Zone at the Illinois Science Teachers Association Annual Convention, July 12-14, 2004. Teachers were given a notebook that contained resources for instructing K-12 students why earthquakes occur, what we can do to prepare for them and how to minimize loss of life, injury, and property damage when they occur. Teachers received a program guide, lesson plans, video/DVD, poster, brochures, and a listing of resources and references. The mission of the ISTA is to provide proactive leadership that will improve science education by promoting effective classroom practices, supporting sustained professional development opportunities, facilitating communication, collaboration and networking opportunities, and advocating for the needs of science teachers.