The College of Science at Texas A&M University offers Advanced Placement® (AP) science and math teachers one-week AP Institutes.

BIOLOGY
June 29-July 2, 8am – 5pm (ONLY 4 DAYS)

The AP Biology Institute emphasizes subject content, including classroom-tested methods for presenting the material in exciting and effective ways. The Institute will cover all aspects of AP Biology curriculum, including choice of textbooks, scheduling/time management, how to present complex material to students, how the AP Biology exam is prepared and scored, new procedures for the AP exam and more.

Participants will carry out each of the recommended AP lab exercises and will gain hands-on experience with apparatus and organisms. This Institute is especially suitable for beginning or less-experienced AP Biology teachers. The Institute will be led by Debbie Richards and Jackie Snow.  The registration fee ($450) includes textbooks, classroom materials, light lunches and afternoon snacks each day.

Please note location: As opposed to previous years, the biology institute will take place at Bryan High School - on campus parking fees not necessary.

Contact: Dr. Timothy P. Scott (c/o Adrienne Bentz); Center for Mathematics and Science Education; 3257 TAMU; College Station, TX 77843-3257

PH: (979)458-8001, FX: (979)845-6077

E-MAIL: abentz@science.tamu.edu

CHEMISTRY
July 27-30, 8am – 4:30pm (ONLY 4 DAYS)

The Department of Chemistry is again offering the TAMU AP Chemistry Institute suitable for both new and veteran high school chemistry teachers.

The Institute will involve four full days divided into content lectures, problems sessions, laboratory exercises, review of past AP materials, guest lectures, and if time allows, one or two field trips. This year Kristen Jones and Lisa McGaw will be lead consultants for us. At various times there will be separate sessions for new and experienced AP teachers. The Institute has been very popular during past summers and will be very useful to you.

Applications will be accepted until the Institute fills. A minimum of twelve participants is required. The registration fee ($450) includes textbooks and materials, morning and afternoon snacks, and light lunches Monday–Friday.

Contact: Veronica Ramirez, Department of Chemistry; 3255 TAMU; College Station, TX 77843-3255

PH: (979)845-1979, FX: (979)862-3308

EMAIL:  vramirez@mail.chem.tamu.edu

MATHEMATICS

Participants are asked to bring their own graphing calculators for all sessions.  For more information about the summer Institutes and on-line registration, visit our website at http://www.math.tamu.edu/research/workshops/apcalc. The registration fee ($450) includes morning and afternoon snacks and a light lunch each day.

July 20-24, 8am – 4pm

Pre-AP High School Mathematics with Geometry focus
The Pre-AP Institutes expose participants to the most current perspectives of College Board Pre-AP high school mathematics. The focus for this session will be on teaching geometric thinking in all Pre-AP high school mathematics courses.  Strands that have components that can be studied in Pre-AP Algebra I, revisited in Pre-AP Geometry, and built more deeply in Pre-AP Algebra II and Pre-AP Precalculus will be explored. Time will be dedicated to answering the question, “What makes a test question Pre-AP?” Graphing calculator and dynamic geometry approaches will be introduced for some content strands.

AP Calculus AB for inexperienced instructors
AP Calculus AB for experienced instructors
The content of Advanced Placement Calculus AB is covered with an emphasis on approaching the material graphically and intuitively before practicing the analytical questions found in typical textbooks. Changes in the AB syllabus are addressed; specifically slope fields and changes in the justification of increasing, decreasing, maximums, minimums, etc. Hints and practice for the AP test, the use of graphing calculators, and grading free response questions using the grading standard are also included.   Internet and computer resources for calculus are included, as well as hands-on activities that increase student comprehension.

AP Calculus BC
Discussion of how to fit the AP Calculus BC topics into the school year and how to review for the AP exam will be included as well as a review of new insights gained from the AP reading. Topics will include arc length, Euler's method, techniques of integration (including integration by parts and by partial fractions), logistic growth, L'Hopital's Rule, improper integrals, parametric equations and vectors, polar equations, series of constants, Taylor polynomials and error bounds for polynomial approximations, and Taylor series.

July 27-31, 8am – 4pm

Pre-AP High School Mathematics with Algebra/Precal focus
The Pre-AP Institute will expose participants to the most current perspectives of College Board Pre-AP high school mathematics. The focus for this session will be on teaching algebraic, and precalculus thinking in all Pre-AP high school mathematics courses. Several strands will be explored and will have components that can be studied in Pre-AP Algebra I, revisited in Pre-AP Geometry, and built more deeply in Pre-AP Algebra II and Pre-AP Precalculus. Time will be dedicated to answering the question, “What makes a test question Pre-AP?”

Contact:  Sandra Nite, Department of Mathematics, 3368 TAMU, College Station, TX  77843-3368

PH:  (979)845-1170, FX:  (979)862-4190

EMAIL:  snite@math.tamu.edu

PHYSICS
June 29-July 2, 8am – 5pm (ONLY 4 DAYS)

The AP Physics Institute helps prepare teachers to teach AP Physics features two levels: Physics B (noncalculus-based) and Physics C (calculus-based). Teaching strategies for both B and C will be discussed, but the emphasis will be on B. Teachers will learn to use strategies and resources including lab ideas, technology, pacing, AP test development and grading, and AP exam trends. Previous AP exams, solutions and grading standards will be distributed.

The Institute will be led by Mark Kinsey.  A minimum of twelve participants is required.  The registration fee ($450) includes textbooks, classroom materials, light lunches and snacks each day.

Contact: Dr. Timothy P. Scott (c/o Adrienne Bentz); Center for Mathematics and Science Education; 3257 TAMU; College Station, TX 77843-3257

PH: (979)458-8001, FX: (979)845-6077

E-MAIL: abentz@science.tamu.edu

STATISTICS
June 15-19, 8am – 5pm

The Department of Statistics is offering an Advanced Placement Institute for new and experienced teachers of statistics. This year the Institute will be led by Daren Starnes, a Master Teacher in Mathematics at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Starnes is also co-author of "The Practice of Statistics, 3rd Edition" and "Statistics Through Applications."

The daily lectures will cover topics from the course syllabus, demonstrate various computer software and review the AP exam. Starnes' presentations will be supplemented by faculty lectures, led by Dr. Jamis Perrett, Director of the AP Statistics Program. The Institute will also draw on the resources of the Department, one of the largest of its kind.

The registration fee ($450) includes all Institute materials, lunch each day, and a dinner on Thursday evening. 

An online version of the workshop is also available. Please contact Ms. Penny Jackson (pjackson@stat.tamu.edu) for information on the online workshop.

Contact: Dr. Jamis Perrett (c/o Ms. Elaine Washington); Department of Statistics; 3143 TAMU; College Station, TX 77843-3143.

PH: (979)845-3143, FX: (979)845-3144

E-MAIL: elaine@stat.tamu.edu

Cost:

• AP Institute Fee: All Institutes cost $450. Registrations made within two weeks of the starting date of Institute have an additional $25 processing fee.
• TEA Teacher Training Reimbursement: A state incentive program reimburses tuition. TEA will fund teacher training reimbursements of up to $450 per teacher who completes a 30-hour AP institute approved by TEA. Teachers are eligible for this reimbursement biennially (every other school year). See the TEA website at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/stanprog012609.html for specific details.
• Meals: Some meals are provided. The estimated cost of on-campus food is $25 a day.
• Optional costs (estimated):
  Reserved On-Campus Parking - $15/day.

Housing: Participants will be staying at The Tradition at Northgate.  Unit features include private bedrooms, fully furnished units, mini fridge and freezer, microwave, high speed internet access (computer needed), and cable (TV needed).  You may bring a TV or use one of the media rooms. Linens, towels, and parking in the garage at Tradition are included. All star amenities include 24 hour fitness center, swimming pool, The Edge Café, media and TV lounges, group study rooms with Ethernet, laundry facilities, covered garage parking, community kitchens, and more.  Breakfast included each morning at The Edge Café.  Visit website for additional information http://www.livethetradition.com/.

Refunds: Full refunds will be available for cancellations made at least three weeks before the beginning of the Institute. Partial refunds may be available for cancellations up to one week before the Institute begin. No refunds will be made after that time.

Register: To register for any AP Institute, fill out the following form. An email confirmation will be sent and the contact person for your institute will contact you regarding payment information.