MITS: A National Model for a State-Wide Collaboration of Science Museums for Improving Science Literacy among Elementary School Teachers

马萨诸塞州的11家博物馆形成了独特的 合作，以帮助小学教师提高他们的 以及他们传播科学知识的能力 他们教的孩子识字。 主要重点是 为期三周的暑期研究所和学年后续计划 在教室和学生之间建立了一种专业的伙伴关系， 教师和博物馆的各种资源， 工作人员、收藏品和展品。 这些伙伴关系 有助于提高科学素养， 这些教师对科学的态度有所改善， 学生 至少有132名小学教师 将为马萨诸塞州的35个学区提供 有机会选择在以下之一的研讨会 设施：哈佛大学阿诺德植物园， 波士顿儿童博物馆，马萨诸塞州奥杜邦协会， 比较动物学博物馆（The Museum of Comparative Zoology） 哈佛、科学博物馆、波士顿、新英格兰 水族馆，马诺梅特鸟类天文台，科德角博物馆 自然历史，新英格兰科学中心和 斯普林菲尔德科学博物馆 全体教师见面 在研讨会的开始和结束时一起呆一天， 然后参加他们选择的研讨会， 对生命科学、物理科学和/或 环境科学 所有程序都是基于查询的， 非常重视活动和发现。 暑期活动的重点是帮助教师了解 不同科学领域的共性。 教师 培养对探究本质的理解， 在学校内外的孩子中培养它， 可以修改以直接用于其 教室 在这一年中，各种各样的计划帮助 教师备课、资源咨询 通过各种非正式的科学设施， 材料和其他支持服务。 鼓励通过出版 “科学是基本的”，一个丰富的通讯，分发 定期向该计划的参与者提供。 所需经费的35%由联合国分摊。 新英格兰水族馆、合作博物馆、学校和 私营部门的贡献。

Eleven museums in Massachusetts have formed a unique collaboration to help elementary school teachers improve their over all science literacy and their ability to transmit such literacy to the children that they teach. The main focus is a three-week summer institute and school year follow-up program that has created a professional partnership between classroom teachers and the diverse resources of the museums, their staffs, collections and exhibits. These partnerships contribute to the development of greater science literacy and improved attitudes toward science by these teachers and their students. One hundred and thirty two elementary teachers from at least thirty-five school districts in Massachusetts will be provided the opportunity to choose a workshop at one of the following facilities: The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, The Children's Museum, Boston, The Massachusetts Audubon Society, The MetroPark Zoos, The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, The Museum of Science, Boston, The New England Aquarium, The Manomet Bird Observatory, The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, The New England Science Center and The Springfield Science Museum. The whole group of teachers meet together for one day at the beginning and end of the workshop, but then attend the workshop of their choice, with their varying emphases on life science, physical science, and/or environmental science. All programs are inquiry-based with a heavy emphasis on activities and discovery. Key summer activities focus on helping teachers understand the commonalities among diverse scientific fields. The teachers develop an understanding of the nature of inquiry, the ways to foster it among children in school and out and investigate activities that can be modified for direct use in their classrooms. Throughout the year, a variety of programs help the teachers with lesson planning, resource consultation through the various informal science facilities, the loan of materials and other support services. Networking activities are encouraged through the publication of "Science is Elementary", a rich newsletter that is distributed on a regular basis to participants of the program. Thirty-five percent of the request has been cost-shared by the New England Aquarium, the collaborating museums, schools and private sector contributions.