Tune Up Your Teaching and Turn on Student Learning: Move from Common to Transformed Teaching and Learning in Your Classroom

About Dr Chuck DowningJoann Jurchan

Dr. JoAnn Jurchan began teaching in elementary schools in 1979. From 1984-1991 she taught at the middle/ junior high level. She designed the comprehensive junior high program for a K-8 school and was appointed as Lead Teacher and then Vice-principal. In 1988 she began teaching GED and High School Diploma courses in the Adult School Education system. She also served as Director of Educational Development for a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing K-6 systems with school-wide character education programs. In 1996 she accepted a teaching position at Granite Hills High School in alternative education programs for at-risk students. While there she designed a high school independent contract credit retrieval program coordinated school-wide literacy programs was a member of the Literacy Professional Network and was a San Diego County RISE trainer. From 2000-2003 she served as Founder and Director of the Eye of the Eagle Academies -- a smaller learning community on the high school campus. In 2000 she received the Greater San Diego Reading Association Award of Excellence. She received the 2002-2003 Teacher of the Year Award (Granite Hills High School). From 2001-2003 she served as an adjunct professor in the Teacher Education Department of Alliant International University. In 2003 she accepted an Associate Professorship at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). While at PLNU she taught a number of Multiple Subject and Single Subject courses as well as Masters level courses. She served as the Single Subject Coordinator. In 2006 she accepted an Associate Professorship at Azusa Pacific University (APU). Leadership positions held at APU include CalTPA Coordinator CalTPA Lead Assessor/Trainer Course Lead Instructor and Area Regional Coordinator for Multiple Subject Single Subject and Special Education programs. Dr. Jurchan was the recipient of APUs School of Education Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008. Dr. Jurchan is author of Choices: Teachers Resource Kit and contributing author to Focus on Character. Character Counts! Articles published in professional journals include: Emotional Intelligence: An Introduction for the Educator Dispositions in Teacher Education: Complex but Comprehensible (co-authored) The Case Study: Bringing Real-world Experience into the Teacher Preparation Program (co-authored) and Preparing Teachers to Support English Language Learners (group-authored). JoAnn has conducted numerous faculty trainings and presented and consulted for state national and international audiences on a variety of critical education topics. Topics covered include secondary content area literacy universal access for diverse populations second language acquisition theory and pedagogy teacher dispositions emotional intelligence and the critical thinking approach. Dr. Jurchan has a Masters in TESOL and an earned doctorate in Educational Leadership. Dr. Chuck Downing began teaching at Monte Vista High School in 1973. He was department chair from 1981- 1995. He has been San Diego County Teacher of the Year and won the CIBA-GEIGY Award for Excellence in Science Teaching from NSTA. He was a Christa McAuliffe Fellow in 1992 and he won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1993. In 1994 he was named as a participant in Access Excellence for Biology teachers. In 1996 he accepted an Associate Professorship in Education at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) and was promoted to full professor in 2000. While at PLNU he was Director of Teacher Education and taught General Education Biology (lab always and lecture/lab twice) for the Biology Department. From 2004-2012 he taught science at Great Oak High School in the Temecula Valley Unified School District. Chuck retired from K-12 teaching in June 2012. Dr. Downing is co-author of CRANIAL CREATIONS in Life Science and CRANIAL CREATIONS in Physical Science by J. Weston Walch Publishers. This two-book series of creative exercises emphasizes critical thinking through a variety of strategies. Additionally he has designed Descendent Disks a genetic simulation activity for students using human genetic traits as the basis of the game and Cole Slaw Chemistry a series of activities using red cabbage juice as a pH indicator and Biome Bags a inquiry-based investigation of flora and fauna in world biomes. These kits and two kinesthetic experiential activities Cruisin the Circulatory System Kinesthetic Protein Synthesis are marketed by Science Kit-Boreal Laboratories. Ward's Biology markets a problem-solving forensic-based laboratory skills assessment kit Mystery at 323 Maple. He is principal author/editor of a 4-volume series of integrated science books Making Connections published by the Grossmont Union High School District but now out of print. Peoples Education published AP Biology: Inquiry-infused Laboratory Investigations and Activities with Thinking and Writing Skills in August of 2010. His first science fiction novel Travelers HOT-L will be released by Koehler Books in March 2014. Chuck is a frequent speaker at science conferences at the local state and national levels. Topics covered by his workshops include: critical thinking creative assignments integration of curriculum adding inquiry to laboratory exercises bringing about closure the importance of kinesthetic activities and effective questioning techniques. His consulting company Engage in Science provides professional development opportunities for school districts nationwide.