Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Vice President of WASC to Keynote Loma Linda University’s 4th Annual EXSEED Conference

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EXSEED is part of our educational strategy to develop both minds and characters that are essential for producing quality health professionals.

Loma Linda, CA (PRWEB) June 19, 2014

The 4th annual EXSEED Conference is set for June 23-27 at Loma Linda University (LLU). EXSEED (Excellence in STEM Experiential Education) is an innovative and collaborative program that offers K-12 educators from the local community as well as across the nation an opportunity to enhance integrated science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in their schools.

Kicking off the conference on Monday, June 23 will be the first plenary keynote, Charles F. McMillan, PhD, a nuclear physicist and the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, at 9:15 a.m. McMillan will give a presentation on national security, STEM and K-12 education.

Richard Osborn, PhD, vice president of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), will follow as the second keynote at 10:45 a.m. Osborn will present on the changing ecology of K-G education. Both presentations will take place at LLU’s Centennial Complex, 24760 Stewart St., Loma Linda.

“We are pleased to have two nationally recognized presenters at this summer’s conference,” said EXSEED co-executive director, Marilyn Eggers, PhD. “It’s an honor to have them share their knowledge and expertise with our EXSEED educators.” Eggers, along with LLU provost Ron Carter, PhD, also co-executive director of EXSEED, have worked to grow the event beyond the original vision. This past year, Doug Havens, MS, EXSEED director, was hired full-time to help with expanding needs and opportunities.

The week-long conference will provide educators a chance to get hands-on training in specific workshops such as iPad integration in the mathematics classroom; studying sound and light; physics and medicine; 3-D printing in the classroom; high school robotics; Lego robotics and several others so that they may integrate these skills in the classroom with their students. Workshops will take place Tuesday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 25.

EXSEED was envisioned by LLU president, Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, as a way for LLU and Adventist higher education to partner with K-12 educators on science education. The vision quickly expanded to also include, technology, engineering, and math.

Local educators from San Bernardino City Unified School District and Rialto and Redlands Unified School Districts are confirmed to attend this year’s event as well as Adventist educators from across the North American Division (U.S. and Canada). Educators from Jamaica, Curacao and Bonaire will also be traveling to the event.

“EXSEED is part of our educational strategy to develop both minds and characters that are essential for producing quality health professionals,” Hart said. “By working together, we strive to support and empower educators in teaching the STEM disciplines with a mission-focused learning context.”

Brian Willemse, the health academy coordinator at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino and a former EXSEED participant, can attest to the knowledge and training that educators return home with after attending the conference. “The teachers from our district were amazed at all of the tools and strategies that they got from their experiences,” he said. “I found it invaluable myself and took some great strategies back to my students.”

LLU significantly funds EXSEED along with some major grants making it accessible for educators at every level to participate.

Six Adventist colleges and universities are currently EXSEED partners with Loma Linda University: Andrews University, Kettering College, La Sierra University, Pacific Union College, Union College, and Walla Walla University. More are getting ready to participate and all are invited.

For full conference schedule and more information on EXSEED visit llu.edu/exseed.

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