8ULS Faculty Receive Funding to Hone Their Craft

As the demonstration school for LSU’s College of Human Sciences & Education, University Laboratory School aspires for maximum student achievement for all students through the development, implementation and demonstration of exemplary programs and instructional practices. Ongoing faculty development, funded by the ULSF Annual Appeal, plays an integral role in fulfilling that mission.

So far this year, eight faculty members have applied for and received funding from ULSF to attend conferences across the nation and to present and learn from others.

By invitation, High School Science Instructor Steven Babcock will travel to the National Science Teachers Association Seattle Area Conference in December to present a ULSF Annual Appeal funded drone-based environmental research curriculum he has developed for his students. “Drone technology supports key areas of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned curriculum, including monitoring of water quality, infrared and near-infrared imagery of urban surfaces, unobtrusive observation of wildlife, identification of land-use changes, surveying flood impacts, development of plant health and distribution studies, elevation mapping and time-lapse observations of the spread of invasive plants in ecosystems,” said Babcock.

At ULS, Babcock and his students use drones to study the plants and animals in and around the LSU Lake as well as the lake itself and nearby forested environments. “Our students are really excited to use the drones for engaging science activities and engineering practices that could be utilized in a real-world setting,” he added. Babcock’s presentation will incorporate ULS student work samples and will focus on legal and safety issues he has learned to navigate in setting up the drone curriculum and how to establish an aerial monitoring program, including suggested investigations and NGSS connections.

High School English Instructors Dr. Candance Robillard and Dr. Emily Peters and Secondary Librarian Dr. Charity Cantey will attend the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Workshop and Conference in Baltimore, Maryland in November where they will present, “When Identity Feels Fractured: Mental Health in YA Literature.” Their seminar will share how teachers, librarians, and young adults can use literature to address mental health sensitively by seeking ways to use books to open conversations. The annual ALAN Workshop is attended by approximately 500 librarians, English teachers, university faculty and young adult authors. “We look forward to representing University Laboratory School and LSU at this national workshop and sharing the high-quality work happening here at ULS with colleagues from around the country,” said Cantey.

ULS faculty attending professional development conferences this semester include Secondary Resource Instructors Lillian Carver and Shannon Gregoire, who will participate in a workshop focused upon best practices in student intervention aimed at further enhancing learning outcomes. All three ULS Counselors, Lauren Eglin, Angela Murray and Kristy Gremillion, will connect with others in their field at a training seminar to expand their knowledge on the latest evidence-based research on understanding and supporting youth.