Expectations of Participants
Science Partners in Inquiry-based Collaborative Education
Graduate Fellows
- To champion the goals of SPICE, especially in your department and in the middle school classroom
- To work with teachers to implement inquiry-based learning of topics related to Ecosystem Health and Sustainability
- To design modules focused on Ecosystem Health and Sustainability that specifically address national and state science standards and that stress hands-on exploration
- To participate in the Summer Institute, Planning Workshops, Seminar and Short Course (the latter for Type I Fellows only).
- To help bridge the gap between classroom needs and university resources, both intellectual and material
- To participate in assessment activities of SPICE (e.g. taking surveys and participation in discussions with an outside evaluator).
- To promote SPICE on a national and state-wide level by submitting posters, publishing professional articles, and presenting experiences at conventions and conferences
*Type I Fellows will receive stipends of $30,000 and will work with an average of two days per week in middle school classrooms. According to NSF, the time commitment for this must average 15 hours/week (2 full teaching days, including some planning time/preparation)
*Type II Fellows will be primarily supported from university funds, but will receive a supplement of $3,500 from SPICE to teach at a much reduced level in comparison to Type I Fellows (2-3days/per month). Type II Fellows will act as mentors to Type I Fellows.
Presumably, Type II Fellows will work with the same teacher at the same school as when they were Type I Fellows.
*Importantly, all graduate students who accept a Type I Fellowship for one year, are required to become a Type II Fellow the following year.
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Middle SchoolTeachers
- To champion the goals of SPICE, especially in your school and classroom by making SPICE a priority in your list of job responsibilities
- To work with Graduate Fellows to implement inquiry-based learning of topics related to Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. A graduate fellow will be in your classroom an average of 10-15 hoursper week.
- To help Graduate Fellows design modules that meet state and federal standards, that prepare students for the FCAT, and that stress hands-on exploration
- To help Graduate Fellows take advantage of middle school resources
- To participate in the Summer Institute
- To participate in assessment activities of SPICE (e.g. taking surveys and participating in discussions with an outside evaluator)
- To develop a scope and sequence with graduate Fellow
- To participate in Planning Days and Workshops provided by the program
- To promote SPICE on a national and state-wide level by submitting posters, publishing professional articles, and presenting experiences at conventions and conferences.
