California State University, Long Beach, will carry out a project to improve methods courses in elementary science by conducting summer workshops for college and university instructors who teach the elementary science methods course. The project seeks to improve science education for elementary school children by strengthening the elementary science methods courses which enroll large numbers of elementary preservice teachers each semester. Exemplary instructors and science teacher education specialists will conduct these summer workshops, and the participants will learn about recent research findings and new science teaching methods while exchanging ideas and forging new connections with colleagues. It is anticipated that these methods instructors will return to their home institutions to stimulate change in teacher education and help create links between the science and education faculties at their institutions. Systematic communication and continuing follow-up will take place after the summer workshops through electronic networking, newsletters, and annual meetings. As a result of the follow- up activities, an array of resource materials for elementary science methods courses will be developed for dissemination. A pilot workshop will be conducted during the summer of 1990, and three additional workshops will take place during the summer of 1991. The workshops will be held at various geographical locations throughout the U.S., and one of the workshops will take place at an institution that educates large numbers of minority students. The total cost sharing for the project is 24% of NSF's contribution.
