This project teams elementary school teachers with middle and high school teachers who are veterans of a previous project (ASSIST: TPE-8751767) in a summer institute for science teachers to be held at the University of Michigan Biological Station. The summer program will be characterized by flexibility and options to meet the varying needs of veteran and new participants. During the first year following the summer session, participants will implement in their classrooms one or more of the units introduced during the summer session. During the second summer, secondary and elementary teacher teams will work with their respective administrators to develop a program of professional development to be implemented in their schools. Project staff will provide support and site visits during the first year of implementation. Formative and summative evaluations, a Winter Reunion, site visits by staff, and assessments when units are implemented are means by which the project's effectiveness will be evaluated. This project is appropriate for the Teacher Enhancement Program because it (1) is designed to enhance the science knowledge and teaching of elementary school teachers through a emersion in a nature setting as they explore biological concepts and phenomena and learn appropriate methodology and materials to use in their elementary school classrooms; (2) provides veterans (high school teachers) of a previous enhancement program the opportunity to deepen and build upon knowledge acquired during participation in that program; and (3) contains an amplification plan which will be developed and implemented by teams composed of veteran (high school), and elementary teachers, and their school administrators. Non-NSF cost sharing is $61,524 or approximately 11% of the amount requested from NSF.
