Generations of Teachers Gather at Island University for 15th Annual ME by the SEa
Generations of Teachers Gather at Island University for 15th Annual ME by the Sea
Connecting established and future teachers from across the state, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted the 15th annual ME by the SEa, a regional professional development conference focused on STEM education in the Coastal Bend. Supporting the Texas A&M University System-wide campaign, “We Teach Texas,” ME by the SEa invited educators of all levels to the Island University on June 14, to share and exchange the latest teaching techniques to better serve the students of tomorrow. This year, ME by the SEa boasted record-breaking attendance with 301 participants from nine colleges and universities, 21 school districts, 80 schools, and 23 unique vendors.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Connecting established and future teachers from across the state, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted the 15th annual ME by the SEa, a regional professional development conference focused on STEM education in the Coastal Bend. Supporting the Texas A&M University System-wide campaign, “We Teach Texas,” ME by the SEa invited educators of all levels to the Island University on June 14, to share and exchange the latest teaching techniques to better serve the students of tomorrow.
“ME by the SEa is a great summer networking environment for teachers,” said Dr. Faye Bruun, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Sciences at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and ME by the SEa organizer. “It’s a valuable experience for pre-service teachers because they see that educators never stop learning. Teachers need to be up-to-date on what students need to know for the future.”
This year, ME by the SEa boasted record-breaking attendance with 301 participants from nine colleges and universities, 21 school districts, 80 schools, and 23 unique vendors. The conference is a collaboration between the College of Education and Human Development at A&M-Corpus Christi and the Coastal Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
“This is an opportunity for educators to grow professionally. The sessions are meant to be hands-on and ‘make-and-take’ so teachers can use these ideas in their own classrooms,” said Kim Moore, President of the Coastal Council of Teachers of Mathematics and West Oso ISD STEM and Advanced Academics Coordinator.
More than 50 sessions were offered during the day-long conference, ranging in topics from problem solving using children’s literature to implementing virtual learning environments. One session, “Keeping Students on Track: Using Ozobots to Enhance Critical Thinking,” introduced Islander students and current educators to the limitless potential of incorporating pocket-sized coding robots in the classroom.
“This is my ninth year attending ME by the SEa,” said Dr. Cynthia Hopkins, Islander alumna and science teacher in the Corpus Christi Independent School District who presented on Ozobots. “I love learning and connecting with other people. I come back every year to get new classroom strategies and pedagogical ideas.”
Samantha Rocha, an Islander student majoring in education, attended sessions like “Mathematics for the Gifted Student” and “Bells & Whistles: Bell Ringers and Exit Tickets.”
“It’s a cornucopia of ideas,” said Rocha, who was recently awarded a Grow Your Own Grant. “These teachers have been in the classroom for years and they have resources that you wouldn’t get without attending these in-depth sessions.”
During “Bells & Whistles: Bell Ringers and Exit Tickets,” attendees learned how to better assess if students understood the content of their lessons by incorporating daily routines. In “Speaking Mathematics – Better Self-Talk and Feedback Can Improve Learning,” attendees learned how to give effective verbal feedback to students.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher my whole life,” said Olivia Rodriguez, senior education major at A&M-Corpus Christi and ME by the SEa attendee. “As a future teacher, I can’t think of everything on my own. I need help to become the best teacher I can be for my students.”
Click here for a look at additional photos from this year’s conference.
Additional Information
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is proud to be a part of the We Teach Texas initiative. The 11 education colleges in The Texas A&M University System graduate more fully-certified teachers than any other public university system in Texas, and the System is number one in producing certified teachers in mathematics as well as bilingual and special education.
