Project Exploration Science Teacher Institute
The Pearson Foundation is pleased to support Project Exploration, one of the most innovative and successful science education programs in the United States. The Pearson Foundation funds Project Exploration’s Field Institute, which – now in its third year – offers specialized training to exceptional Chicago Public School science teachers.
Project Exploration’s Field Institute promotes leadership and excellence in science education by building a cadre of teachers in the Chicago Public School system that become master teachers able to model and share what excellent science teaching and learning looks like.
Each year, teachers are selected from across the Chicago Public School District are awarded Neil Campbell Fellowships – fully-paid stipends to attend the Field Institute named in honor of the late Dr. Neil Campbell, a world-renowned textbook author and prominent University of California at Riverside biology professor. Over five million students have used Dr. Campbell’s textbooks and currently over 500,000 students use one of his books each year. Biology is the most widely used English-language scientific textbook in the world, and has been translated into eight languages
Each summer Neil Campbell Fellows take part in a three-week science immersion experience.
During the first week, teachers are engaged in an integrated science curriculum that covers biology, geology, paleontology, earth science, and astronomy through inquiry-based learning and a nature of science approach. The curriculum, developed with state and national standards in mind, improves the teachers’ content knowledge in science; engages them in understanding the nature of science; models research-based best practices for inquiry-based science in the classroom; prepares them for their upcoming fieldwork; and equips them to continue their professional development and learning when they return to the classroom.
During the second week of the Institute, teachers travel to the badlands of eastern Montana to conduct fieldwork in geology, paleontology, and astronomy. While out in the field, the teachers learn about “big ideas in science” such as data collection and analysis, mapping, superimposition, and form and function; create their own fossil and rock collections to support classroom instruction back home; and collect digital collateral materials (photos and video footage) to support their digital portfolios.
During the third week, the teachers return to Chicago to create their digital portfolios – images and video clips of their summer experiences and curriculum materials – and to evaluate their summer experiences. The teachers will be trained to use digital arts software to produce their own mini-films and slide presentations to support their classroom instruction. Lastly, the teachers develop a classroom lesson to use and share with other teachers.
Find out more about this program – including news of the Project Exploration’s 2008 Field Institute by visiting http://www.projectexploration.org/stfi.htm.
