Teams of four Presidential Awardees (PA) in Science teaching will work with a university professor in 3-week summer institutes for middle school teachers. The summer institutes will be offered at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1989 and 1990. A third site, to demonstrate transportability will be added in 1990. Each institute will serve 30 teachers. Reflecting the breadth of science taught in middle schools the institutes include content classes in physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. The morning sessions using a hands-on approach to teaching science content are complemented with methodology classes in the afternoons, and evening lectures on leading-edge scientific topics. Teachers will receive three hours of graduate credit. Each team of PA mentors will include a physics, chemistry, biology, and middle school teacher. The principal of each participating teacher will spend one day at the institute. Lead teachers within the group will be identified and invited to return to a follow-up workshop in the succeeding year and then be given assistance in planning and conducting in- service sessions in their geographical region. The intent of the program is to provide a middle/junior high school science education leadership cadre composed of PAs and teacher participants. This cadre, with support from their administrators, will replicate the peer coaching model with their colleagues on the local level. Dr. Clifford Schrader, a Presidential Awardee, is the project Director. Ms. Marily DeWall of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Dr. Roy Saigo of UNI are Co-Directors. The NSTA will coordinate the summer institutes and follow-up sessions at NSTA area conventions. It will also facilitate promotion of the program, supervise dissemination of applications and help with all reports. UNI will compile the proceedings of each institute with the help of the NSTA editor. A Central Planning Committee will develop the final program agendas, provide leadership training for PAs and select materials for the institutes. The strength of this project is the cooperative partnership of NSTA, the universities, and the PAs who are outstanding science educators. The model is consistent with recommendations which have been formulated by recognized educators of the Holmes Group. It uses master teachers in a discipline to help with science instruction of their peers in a university setting. There is cost sharing in an amount equal to 6% of the NSF award.
