Dr. Vera Zdravkovich is a professor of chemistry at Prince George's Community College in Largo, Maryland. She has spearheaded summer institutes for elementary teachers in the past, and she now proposes to expand these efforts significantly. Dr. Zdravkovich has initiated collaborations among four of Maryland's community colleges, with the purpose of forming a network of science faculty members interested in improving pre-college science education. Eleven faculty members from Cecil Community College, Anne Arundel Community College, and Hagerstown Junior College will attend workshops together to become familiar with exemplary instructional materials and approaches to elementary science education. These science faculty members will serve an internship at the 1992 summer teachers institute at Prince George's Community College. Additional workshops held during the 1992-93 academic year will add 28 science faculty members to the cadre of trained scientists, who will then plan and implement teacher enhancement institutes at their host institutions. Community colleges are strategically positioned for significant impact on pre-college science education. Interactions among their education and science faculties can catalyze important opportunities that have not emerged from research universities. The proposed collaborations among Maryland's community colleges has the potential for substantial impact, and can serve as a model for other states. Cost sharing on this project amounts to 132% of the NSF contribution.
