Columbia College–Lake Ozark faculty member, Wyrick, participates in Intel ISEF Educators Academy

Wyrick

Columbia College–Lake Ozark faculty member Connie Wyrick’s passion for teaching and for mathematics and science earned her an invitation to the 2010 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Educator Academy.The 12th edition of the event took place May 10-14 in San Jose, Calif. The Academy was part of Wyrick’s ongoing training provided by Intel for the Society for Science and the Public Fellows.

“This conference was a tremendous opportunity to exchange ideas and successful educational methodology fellow educators from around the world have utilized to increase our students love of science and mathematics,” Wyrick said. “Intel does a tremendous job coordinating the event and we now also have the opportunity to continue to share thoughts and ideas in a new online community for all participants.”

More than 160 educators from 24 countries took part in the Academy with the goal of improving math and science education and to improve the quality of science fairs. Speakers from around the globe presented workshops on student research, project-based learning and other proven ways to engage students in the study of science and mathematics.

Wyrick has been a member of the Columbia College–Lake Ozark faculty for three years teaching classes primarily in the areas of chemistry and biology. She has received the Lifetime Certificate for Biology and Chemistry from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is a fellow for the Missouri Academy of Science. She was awarded the Howard Hughes Research Fellowship and has also received the Monsanto Teaching Award as well as the Intel Teaching Award.