The National Science Teachers Association in cooperation with the National Center for Excellence in Education will conduct a Physics and Computer Science Summer Institute for High School Teachers for 32 physics teachers of gifted students at Long Island University during two weeks in the summer of 1987 and another 48 teachers during three weeks in 1988. At each institute, conducted by NCEE, teachers will study advanced concepts in physics and computer science with special emphasis on solving problems and explore alternative teaching strategies for which they will receive two graduate credits from Long Island University. They will interact formally and informally with eight eminent scientists, including two Nobel laureates, who will visit the project and give evening lectures. Teachers will observe and participate in the NCEE math, science, and computer science program for 120 academically talented high school students and assist in designing and running the mathematics and science olympiads in that program. Following the institute, participants will expand or start science clubs and organize physics competitions in their schools or districts with the technical assistance of NCEE. Also, they will be given release time to conduct workshops for their colleagues to share information and teaching methodologies from the institute using videotapes of the lectures. NSTA will prepare and disseminate a monograph based on the institute experiences to assist other teachers in setting up and running math clubs and competitions. One goal of this project is to establish a model that improves the professional image of high school teachers by recognizing them as legitimate members of a peer group that includes distinguished scientists, acknowledging the important relationship between a high school teacher's professional status within the educational and research community and his or her own job satisfaction. By interacting with leading research scientists, institute participants will expand their knowledge of science and their range of teaching skills and be able to share the benefits of this experience with students and colleagues.
