Renewal Activities in Science Education for Elementary Teachers in Central Pennsylvania

宾夕法尼亚州立大学将在一个为期两年的合作项目中更新和进一步发展来自宾夕法尼亚州中部不同学区的55名K-6教师领导的科学知识库、科学教学能力和对教学科学的态度，该项目包括一个为期五周的更新研究所，五个学年教师计划会议，并在第二年由教师领导在项目工作人员的帮助下向其他教师传播。在两年的国家科学基金会资助周期后，宾夕法尼亚州立大学将利用这55名科学教师干部培训职前科学教师，以演示科学课程，并建议帮助大学教师在39%的小学教师很少或根本不教科学的地区开展在职活动。应目标参与者的明确要求，四名初中科学教师将为该计划提供科学内容和基于过程的教学，在此期间，教师将介绍、录制、复习和评论科学微课，并为包括生命与地球科学、化学和物理在内的课程制作自己的材料。教学指导将由高级人员提供。为了建立小学科学教学所需的支持性环境，所有参与学校需要为期一周的校长讲习班将提供一个良好的科学计划的典范，校长在制定科学计划和关于小学科学的研究成果方面的作用。评估将包括对教学内容的检查，以及参与者在课堂上教授科学时的跟踪调查。宾夕法尼亚州中部小学教师科学教育更新活动的费用由宾夕法尼亚州州立大学、学区和宾夕法尼亚州教育部承担。来自这个经济不景气的农村地区的参与者将获得5小时的科学研究生学分。彼得·鲁巴博士，科学、技术和社会教育中心主任，副教授，有九年科学教育经验。助理主任是科学课程协调员David Kleindenst先生。帕特里夏·F·凯格女士是宾夕法尼亚州立大学教授基础科学方法的博士生。巴托女士、约翰斯通女士、肖普先生和艾森巴赫先生等杰出的经验丰富的学校教师之所以被选中，是因为他们有能力使用动手的、探究的方法进行科学教学。

Pennsylvania State University will renew and further develop the science knowledge base, science teaching competencies and attitudes toward teaching science of 55 K-6 teacher leaders from diverse central Pennsylvania school districts during a cooperative two year project which includes a five week Renewal Institute, five academic year teacher planned meetings and, in the second year, dissemination to fellow teachers by teacher leaders with assistance from the project staff. After the two year NSF funding cycle this cadre of 55 science teachers will be utilized by Penn State in the training of preservice science teachers to demonstrate science lessons and be recommended to assist university faculty for inservice activities for an area in which 39% of the elementary teachers teach little or no science. Responding to the explicit request of the targeted participants four junior high school science teachers will deliver the science content and process based instruction for this program during which teachers will present, videotape, review and critique science microteach lessons and create their own materials for a curriculum which includes Life and Earth science, Chemistry and Physics. Pedagogical instruction will be provided by the senior personnel. In order to establish a supportive environment required for elementary science instruction, a week long Principal's Workshops required of all participating schools will provide a model of a good science program, the role of the principal in developing science programs and research findings on elementary school science. Evaluation will include examination of the instructional components and follow-up of the participants in their classroom as they teach science. Cost sharing for Renewal Activities in Science Education for Elementary Teachers in Central Pennsylvania is assumed by Penn State, the school districts, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.Participants from this economically depressed, rural area will receive five hours of graduate credit in science. Dr. Peter Rubba, Director of the Center for Education in Science, Technology, and Society is an associate Professor with nine years experience as a science educator. Mr. David Kleindienst, a science curriculum coordinator is the assistant director. Ms. Patricia F. Keig is a doctoral student at Penn State teaching elementary science methods. The outstanding experienced school teachers, Ms. Barto, Ms. Johnstone, Mr. Shope and Mr. Eysenbach have been chosen because of their competence in using hands-on, inquiry approaches to science instruction.