NSF Award
8651988
This proposal will utilize the expertise of 30-50 of local science professionals (Content Specialists) and 150 elementary school teachers in a four week inservice training partnership. The workshop will benefit from the strength and uniqueness derived from the active participation of two science-rich communities. One is the greater Livermore, California area that includes 5000 practicing scientists, technologists and engineers. The other community is the "Space Coast" area of Brevard County, Florida where the science resources are greater than those of Livermore. The aim of "Helping Our Partners Enrich Science" (HOPES) is to bring a high quality science program into the elementary classroom and is based on a proven pilot program. HOPES summer workshop will include content training, topic selection, lesson development, mentor teachers development, follow-up activities and the development of a manual. The program will involve scientists and teachers working together in the learning, teaching and sharing of basic skills, strategies, methodologies and content information for effective teaching of science. The staff for both locations of this project is highly qualified. In addition, to the college level personnel, two Master Teachers are included on the instructional staff. The combined team represents a broad range of experience in science and science education. HOPES should provide a highly refined and well documented program for teacher inservice training in science and for training scientists and engineers as classroom resources. This program has the potential to become a model which can be replicated in many other science-rich communities throughout the country and is in keeping with the purpose of the Division of Teacher Preparation and Enhancement.
