I-Corps L: University of Florida Unites Teachers to Reform Education in Science: Preparing a New Generation of Middle Grades Science Teacher Leaders (U-FUTuRES 2.0)

本项目将通过美国国家科学基金会（NSF）创新团队学习计划（I-Corps L），研究如何扩大专业发展模式的规模和影响，从而改变初中科学教学。我们国家的初年级科学教师是参与科学并在高中及以后取得成功的门户，他们绝大多数都没有准备好满足认证要求和公众对学生科学表现的期望。许多中等年级的科学教师完成了非科学或科学教育领域的大学学位。这种变革性的、以课堂为中心的、经过实地测试的专业学习计划，有可能同时加强中学科学教师的能力。学科内容知识和教学技能。这个I-Corps L团队项目解决了国家对更强的中学科学教师的迫切需求。U-FUTuRES 2.0模式（佛罗里达大学联合教师改革科学教育v.2）将从目前的地区、学校和课堂改革模式扩展，以响应国家对改进科学教学的迫切需求。目前的课程是由佛罗里达大学的科学教育工作者和合作科学家共同开发的，将加深中等年级科学教师的内容知识，并将他们的课堂方法转变为以探究为基础、以学习目标为导向、高度参与和具有挑战性的科学学习体验。这一创新将包括与学校和地区领导人建立伙伴关系的战略，努力支持他们的科学教师领导者在他们的学校和地区的发展和更广泛的影响。预期在专业学习和领导力发展方面提出的创新将增加教师对学科核心科学概念、科学与工程实践和跨领域概念的知识，转变教学实践，提高学生的参与度和学习成果。该项目的目标是帮助初中生在严格的高中科学课程中取得成功，这是STEM教育机会和职业生涯的门户。

Through the NSF Innovation Corps for Learning Program (I-Corps L), this project will develop ways to increase the scale and impact of a professional development model to transform middle grades science teaching and learning. Our nation's middle grades science teachers, the portal to science engagement and success in high school and beyond, are overwhelmingly under prepared to meet certification requirements and public expectations for student performance in science. Many middle grades science teachers complete a college degree in a field other than science or science education. This transformative, classroom-focused, field-tested professional learning program has the potential to simultaneously bolster middle grades science teachers? disciplinary content knowledge and teaching skills. This I-Corps L team project addresses the pressing national need for stronger middle grades science teachers.The U-FUTuRES 2.0 model (University of Florida Unites Teachers to Reform Education in Science v.2) will be expanded from the current model of district, school, and classroom reform to respond to the pressing national need for improved science teaching. Current coursework developed through a collaborative effort between science educators and partnering scientists at the University of Florida, will deepen middle grades science teachers' content knowledge and transform their classroom approach to an inquiry-based, learning-goals-driven, highly engaging and challenging science learning experience for all their students. Incorporated in this innovation will be strategies for establishing a partnership with school and district leaders striving to support both the development and broader impact of their science teacher leaders in their schools and districts. It is expected that the proposed innovation in professional learning and leadership development will result in increasing teachers' knowledge of disciplinary core science concepts, science and engineering practices and cross-cutting concepts, transformed teaching practice, and improved student engagement and learning outcomes. The project goal is to prepare middle grades students for success in rigorous high school science courses, the gateway to STEM educational opportunities and careers.