This proposal will provide training over a 32-month period to improve the instructional skills of 60 middle school science teachers. The major objectives of the project is to improve the teaching effectiveness of middle school teachers (4-9) in Educational Service Units Nebraska. This objective will be fulfilled by means of: (1) three-week summer workshops and (2) evening sessions conducted throughout the academic year. The basic purposes of the summer program are to permit a cadre of teachers to improve their process skills, teaching methodology, and critical thinking skills by involving them in a teaching strategy known as the Inquiry Role Approach. This cadre of teachers will be utilized as resource persons in their local service unit areas and to assist as team leaders in workshops and seminars dealing with (a) life, earth, and physical science content; (b) Inquiry Role Approach teaching methodology, and (c) schoolyard science. The academic year meetings will encompass the disciplines of life, earth and physical science. Each discipline will be organized into a number of content topics designed for an evening session of three hours. One-half hour prior to each evening session, a staff member will be available for consultation on science content or science curricula. In summary, this project is designed to improve the teaching effectiveness of middle school science teachers by using the Inquiry Role Approach as the major instructional strategy. The content of earth, life and physical science will be emphasized through field trips, class discussions, lectures, and the individualization of laboratory activities. No cost sharing is included in this proposal.
