The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) and the University of Georgia, Department of Science Education, will conduct a regional leadership consortium for Middle School Life Science teachers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, leading to the establishment of regional resource teams. Their objectives are: (1) to update the teachers' knowledge in Biology; (2) to help teachers design lessons illustrating the relationship between biology, society and technology; (3) to help teachers select curriculum materials and learning experiences to develop problem-solving skills for middle school students; (4) to cultivate positive self-concept among the teachers, and to (5) design outreach programs of resource teams. This will be two sequential, five and six week summer institutes for 48 science teachers and 24 science/curriculum supervisors from two districts in each of the 6 states (a total of 72 participants). After the second summer institute, the resource teams will conduct five 3-day workshops in their local district or county. The leadership consortium will include significant partnership with cooperating school districts, the University of Georgia, and existing teacher centers. The summer institutes will be conducted by a team of scientists, science educators, and master teachers. This project should strengthen science education in the Southeast by increasing the number of expert professionals available to school districts and teacher centers for local teacher education activities. An amount equivalent to 5.8% of the NSF award is being contributed by NABT as cost sharing.
