Training and Preparation
Science Partners in Inquiry-based Collaborative Education
Training and preparation will have 6 components:
Summer Institute: ( July 27-Aug 7, 2009) This two-week institute consists of 60 hours of instruction. During the institute, graduate fellows and middle school teachers develop their inquiry-oriented teaching skills, specifically, targeting approaches to hands-on science inquiry, the learning cycle, conceptual change teaching, and small group cooperative learning. Specific content topics related to ecosystem health serve as the context for learning these teaching skills. All lessons and activities focus on topics specifically addressed in the National Science and Sunshine State Standards. At the end of the Summer Institute, Teachers and Fellows will be paired for the upcoming year.
Scope and Sequence: Before the start of the school year, each graduate fellow- teacher team develops a lesson timeline and come to final agreement on roles and expectations for the upcoming semester. Together, they will prepare a "scope and sequence" document, outlining topics and lesson plans for the year. Particular attention should be paid to which inquiry-based materials to adopt, how to modify them to be grade-level appropriate, and how to ensure that national and state standards are met. The scope and sequence is developed during the Summer Institute.
Seminar: (1 credit course for graduate fellows) This course meets one evening per week. One objective is to provide a mechanism for all graduate fellows to meet on a regular basis, thereby providing a forum for addressing logistical difficulties associated with the program. More important, the seminar will provide an opportunity for graduate fellows to share and discuss their experiences, while simultaneously obtaining feedback and support. The goal is not to "fix" particular problems in the classroom, but rather to raise and resolve deeper issues that will resonate with all involved (e.g., the emotional unpredictability of adolescents).
Short Course: All new graduate fellows in SPICE will take a short course specifically designed to focus on teacher-directed and teacher-facilitated methods of teaching science in grades 6-8. (Aug 10-Aug 14, 2009)
Workshops: SPICE organizes 4 full-day workshops for Fellows and Teachers throughout the school year. The workshops provide opportunities for participants to learn and practice new lesson plans, including modules created by SPICE fellows and teachers in previous years. Workshops also allow for fellow-teacher planning time.
GK-12 Summit: Selected participants are chosen and funded to attend NSF's annual "GK-12 Summit" in Washington, DC. This summit provides a wealth of opportunity for learning about successful practices of other GK-12 programs and for brainstorming about common problems.
