Renewal Activities in Science Education for Elementary Teachers in Central Pennsylvania

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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.