9453159 Kniseley This Local Systemic Change Through Teacher Enhancement project is the result of a collaboration between the East Bay Educational Collaborative (EBEC) and Rhode Island College. Resources from a consortium of higher education institutions, the Rhode Island Department of Education, community organizations and agencies, and the private sector will be combined to implement an integrated, hands-on, kit-based science curriculum in the elementary schools of the eight school districts in EBEC. The project will make a long term commitment to bringing this curriculum into the middle and high schools. During the project, elementary teachers will work cooperatively with academic and industry scientists to learn effective science teaching methods through the use of nationally acclaimed and validated modular units. Science professionals will keep linked together with the teachers via the Internet throughout the project so to build ongoing support and leadership for systemic change. During the five-year project, there will be four two-year cycles of professional development. Year one will consist of a seven- day summer institute to explore modular units that will be implemented in the classroom. Direct support for project teachers will be included throughout the school year. Year two will be a three-day "mini-institute" to re-examine all four modules used in year one and discuss instructional strategies and interests. Preservice college students will co-teach with new project teachers during this year. Six hundred EBEC teachers will be enhanced over the life of the project and 800 preservice college students will have participated in the project. Cost sharing is 219% of the total NSF requested budget. 9453159 Kniseley This Local Systemic Change Through Teacher Enhancement project is the result of a collaboration between the East Bay Educational Collaborative (EBEC) and Rhode Island College. Resources from a consortium of higher education insti tutions, the Rhode Island Department of Education, community organizations and agencies, and the private sector will be combined to implement an integrated, hands-on, kit-based science curriculum in the elementary schools of the eight school districts in EBEC. The project will make a long term commitment to bringing this curriculum into the middle and high schools. During the project, elementary teachers will work cooperatively with academic and industry scientists to learn effective science teaching methods through the use of nationally acclaimed and validated modular units. Science professionals will keep linked together with the teachers via the Internet throughout the project so to build ongoing support and leadership for systemic change. During the five-year project, there will be four two-year cycles of professional development. Year one will consist of a seven- day summer institute to explore modular units that will be implemented in the classroom. Direct support for project teachers will be included throughout the school year. Year two will be a three-day "mini-institute" to re-examine all four modules used in year one and discuss instructional strategies and interests. Preservice college students will co-teach with new project teachers during this year. Six hundred EBEC teachers will be enhanced over the life of the project and 800 preservice college students will have participated in the project. Cost sharing is 219% of the total NSF requested budget. *** ***
