For Workshop Leaders & Organizers
Below are some checklists for workshop leaders. Of course, not every workshop is the same, but this is a good start.
Sponsorships
- It’s great if you can get a company or grant to sponsor your workshop. Please review our page Financial Support for Workshops.
- Sponsorships can also provide stipends for your participants, which will increase the popularity of your workshop.
- If you approach a large company for a sponsorship, don’t present yourself as representing AMTA. The national organization applies for grants and seeks company/foundation collaborations separately – this will avoid confusion. However, if you have connections with a national organization and would like to collaborate with AMTA on grants, we invite this partnership.
Fiscal Management
- If an institution sponsors your workshop, they may provide fiscal management (collect workshop fees, pay bills, compensate instructors, etc…). In most cases, AMTA will provide fiscal management for a flat fee of $1000.
Materials
Printed materials:
- You may print materials in-house or through a local vendor.
- AMTA collaborates with Crown Press (https://crownpress.com) in Phoenix, AZ to print materials. Contact Patrick O’Dell at (602)437-4444 about materials costs (you are responsible for paying for the number of binders you use).
- You should plan on purchasing large binders for your participants, usually 3″ will do.
Electronic materials:
- All documents are available online.
- You can also post supplemental documents to the forums on the AMTA member portal (we can create a sub-forum just for your workshop). Other workshops create a Google doc folder to support group communications.
Workshop leader stipends
- AMTA suggests that workshop leader stipends are $1,600/week and we advocate for a two-leader workshop structure.
Supplemental readings:
Most workshops require reading outside of the teacher notes. These provide background information on teaching and learning that are not included in the teacher notes.
- Arons, Arnold – A Guide to Introductory Physics Teaching. This book can be ordered at a significant discount. ISBN-10: 0471137073 ISBN-13: 978-0471137078. Contact Jane Jackson for the discount code that must be entered on Wiley.com before checkout.
- Jackson, J., Dukerich, L., and Hestenes, D. – Modeling Instruction: An Effective Model for Science Education (8 pages, reprint from Science Educator, Spring 2008)
- Wells, M., Hestenes D., and Swackhamer, G. – A Modeling Method for High School Physics Instruction (34 pages, reprint from the American Journal of Physics, July 1995).
College units
- Many hosts/leaders arrange to have their workshops approved as courses at local universities. AMTA has established a relationship with the University of the Pacific (CA) for $79/credit hour. A three-week workshop is eligible for up to 6 credit hours. If you do not have a local University/College contact and are interested in one of our partner universities, contact amtaexec@modelinginsruction.org for more details.
- It is the responsibility of the participating teacher to check that these credits will transfer into a Master’s program or be accepted for their intended purpose.
Food
- Most workshops start the first day by providing snacks for participants, then ask them to sign up to bring different snacks on the following days.
- Don’t forget that coffee machines are appreciated.
Logistics at your site:
- Parking: Do participants need any permits?
- Lodging: If you can, find a local hotel that will provide a discount to attendees. University/College dorm housing is also an option to consider.
- Copying: You will probably need to make a few copies during the workshop, so having access to a copy machine is useful.