9454413 Hamner The collaboration between the UCLA Marine Science Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is designed to create a cadre of 160 teachers (grades 5-12) trained to change and strengthen science instruction throughout the system using a marine science model. This model has been developed over a period of three years and was funded by NSF. This model (i.e., Marine Science Teacher Education Program: M-STEP) enhances the science skills of teachers in a classroom and ocean-b program that emphasizes a marine thematic integrative science approach to Science education. The ocean sciences are interdisciplinary so that they taught as an integrated, problem solving, hands on curriculum using the common theme of the marine environment. Experiences in the Leadership In Marine Science Program (LIMS) will develop in teachers the skills necessary to conduct classroom, laboratory and field research in marine sciences with their students. They will also be effective leaders in peer training. Because of LAUSD's new cluster organization of schools, these teachers will impact four school clusters consisting of elementary, middle, and senior high schools with about a total of 35,000 students. The program is aimed at systemic change through this integrative and thematic approach to science curriculum organization. It is designed not only to change the way that science is delivered in these clusters, but it is also focused on attracting young minority students into universities and into the sciences. It provides and presents a vehicle for further professionalization of teachers by offering new science content, leadership skills development, collaborative peer teaching training, and the improvement of what is taught and how it is delivered in the classroom of the LAUSD. LIMS teachers will provide the first cluster-based science dissemination programs for LAUSD.
