ABOUT US--- Modeling Instruction Teachers Transforming STEM Education Through Modeling Instruction |
AMTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by teachers with the mission of providing professional development designed to help teachers implement Modeling InstructionTM in their classrooms. Teachers learn to help students plan and conduct data collection, analyze data, and share their findings in order to develop conceptual models that help them make sense of phenomena they observe.
Emphasis is placed on promoting classroom discussion in which the students arrive at a set of representations (a diagram, a graph and an equation) for the model they have created, then deploy the model in a series of related tasks.
This classroom dynamic is very different from the typical school culture, and requires teachers to develop skills in redirecting student questions to the group rather than simply giving the answers. To become proficient in the implementation of this pedagogy requires time and practice.
AMTA offers a number of experiences including face-to-face workshops, distance-learning courses and customized training which are aligned with NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. AMTA is a community of teachers dedicated to providing a wealth of instructional resources (curricular materials, webinars, short conferences and the ability to interact on various social media platforms) that will support teachers long after the training has been completed.
What is Modeling Instruction?
How Does Modeling Instruction Work?
Modeling InstructionTM works within a flexible curriculum design that can be used in a variety of disciplines, from introductory classes through Advanced Placement courses. Modeling teachers act as facilitators and help students construct explanations and defend their conclusions with evidence.
In a Modeling classroom:
- Instruction is organized into modeling cycles which move students through all phases of model development, evaluation, and application in concrete situations.
- The teacher sets the stage for student activities to establish common understanding of a question to be asked. Then, in small groups, students collaborate in planning and conducting experiments to answer or clarify the question.
- Students present and justify their conclusions in oral and/or written form, including a formulation of models for the phenomena in question and evaluation of the models by comparison with data.
- Technical terms and concepts are introduced by the teacher only after students display conceptual understanding to sharpen models, facilitate modeling activities, and improve the quality of discourse.
What standards are addressed in Modeling InstructionTM?
Modeling InstructionTM is very well-aligned with the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards. Students are involved daily with the science practices, disciplinary core ideas, and Modeling InstructionTM has a primary focus on the crosscutting concepts of systems and system models and energy and matter. Students will also leave a Modeling classroom with much improved 21st Century Learning Skills – critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.
How can teachers learn more about Modeling InstructionTM and professional development?
AMTA provides many opportunities for high-quality professional development throughout the spring and summer, both in-person and virtually. Visit our Upcoming Workshop page to learn more.