Through a combination of science content instruction, science education modeling, peer interactions, and student instruction, the Puget Sound Basin Teacher Institute will help elementary and middle school teachers improve their subject matter understanding, teaching strategies, and their self-confidence in teaching science. An expansion of the successful 1989 summer institute, the program will utilize the shore side facilities of the Poulsbo Marine Science Center, the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratory and Western Washington University Shannon Point Field Station and the ship based program of "Sound Experience" to provide an intellectually stimulating learning environment. Intense coursework will be provided by knowledgeable scientists and exemplary science educators. The three follow-up weekends during the school year will provide the participants with additional support and instruction. Teachers will be selected on the basis of their desire and commitment to teaching science, their science training, and on their current teaching assignments. They will learn how to improve their students' knowledge and achievement. Equally important, they will learn how to work with and motivate other teachers. This type of institute provides an excellent example of the benefits of using a unique and highly motivating environment such as Puget Sound to help teachers understand science content and become motivated to use the instructional support provided to bring that understanding to their students. The cost sharing for the program will be twenty-six percent of he NSF portion.
