Operation Physics: A National Program for the Improvement of Physics Teaching and Learning in the Upper Elementary andMiddle Schools

该项目旨在通过开发15个资源和材料包来改进4-8年级的物理教育，这些资源和材料将用于培训科学教育人员团队，这些教师将利用这些资源和材料包来加强其所在地区教师的物理科学背景和课堂教学方法。该项目是美国地理位置不同地区的三所大学的合作努力：罗德岛大学、路易斯安那州立大学和圣地亚哥州立大学。该项目涉及三项不同的活动：1.由科学家、科学教育工作者和教师团队开发资源和材料包；2.培训36个三人小组(每个地区12名成员)在其教室中使用资源和材料包并为其同龄人提供在职服务；3.在培训工作人员和与每个大学站点相关的区域咨询委员会的支持下执行在职方案。如果该模式被证明是成功的，未来的举措将涉及通过在一个地区发展更多的团队或增加参与该模式的大学数量来传播该模式。该项目有可能在全国范围内产生重大影响。该计划值得资助的原因如下：拥有代表科学家、科学教育工作者和模范课堂教师的高素质工作人员；专注于经常被引用为需要改进的科学教育领域和水平；利用以前资助的享有良好声誉的项目的人员和材料；利用可移植到其他人口和科学领域的“模式”；以及几个机构和支持者的合作，这为国家科学基金资助之后的重大影响和持续提供了更大的保障。

This project seeks to develop a model for the improvement of physical science education in grades 4-8 through the development of 15 kits of resources and materials to be used in the training of teams of science educators who will, in turn, use the kits to enhance the physical science background and classroom methodology of teachers in their geographical regions. The project is a cooperative endeavor of three universities in geographically distinct regions of the nation: University of Rhode Island, Louisiana State University and San Diego State University. The project involves three distinct activities: 1. the development of the kits of resources and materials by teams of scientists, science educators and teachers; 2. the training of 36 three member teams ( 12 from each region) in the use of the kits in their classrooms and to provide inservice for their peers; and 3. the implementation of the inservice programs with support from both the training staff and regional advisory committees associated with each university site. If the model proves successful, future initiatives will involve the dissemination of the model through the development of more teams in a region or increasing the number of universities involved in the model. The program has the potential to make a significant national impact. The program is deserving of funding for the following reasons: an eminently qualified staff representing scientists, science educators and exemplary classroom teachers; focus on an area and level of science education often cited as needing improvement; utilization of personnel and materials from a formerly funded project which enjoys an excellent reputation; the utilization of a "model" which has transferability to other populations and areas of science; and the cooperation of several institutions and constituencies which provides greater insurance of a significant impact and continuance beyond the time of NSF funding.