The Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) was set up to give science students the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research projects. Teachers and students can access data and equipment that enable them to tackle real-life issues. As a result, not only do students gain in confidence and experience in their scientific work, they are also able…

For two weeks during Summer 2009, three elementary school teachers--Darcy Marcou, Melissa Lange, and Andrea Konitzer--participated in a science institute directed by Scott Ashmann, a science education professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The purpose of this institute for elementary school teachers was to learn (a) more about Earth…

Describes a high school faculty institute designed to assist teachers in helping students take up chemistry as a career or to continue studies in chemistry. Includes dates and topics covered in the institute since its inception in 1980 and highlights of institute activities. (JN)

Describes the Science Teacher Education at Museums (STEAM) program and focuses on the approach taken at the St. Louis, Hartford, and San Francisco Centers. Includes examples of the types of workshops offered. Provides a listing of museums that have been awarded grants. (ML)

Described are the efforts of the New Hampshire College and University Council to develop and institutionalize an interinstitutional, multi-disciplinary undergraduate marine science program. Among the aspects of the program that are presented are the structural elements, the three major components and the activities under each, a summary of the…

Students who work at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California learn about science by explaining to the visitors from all over the world how the museum's exhibits work. The students are teen-agers who also come from all over the world to be "Explainers" for the Exploratorium. They go through a training period to learn the basics of…

The United States Department of Education's National Diffusion Network (NDN) assists public and private educational institutions in sharing exemplary programs, products, and processes. The staff development and teaching strategies offered by NDN projects are intended to renew and enhance elementary and secondary teachers' knowledge and approaches…

The role of mentor is inherent to traditional American Indian societies, and American Indian students benefit greatly from mentoring. Discusses a handbook and two programs that emphasize mentoring in helping American Indians, other minorities, and women pursue higher education leading to careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and…

Briefly describes NSF-funded weekend courses at Western Illinois University. Includes a list of 16 courses with topic and enrollment data and a list of topics in which teachers felt a need for more preparation. (SK)

Two one-day conferences and a summer institute were held to provide inservice training for chemistry teachers. Brief descriptions of and conclusions related to these programs are provided. It is pointed out that such programs can be conducted without great expenditures of money and that various institutions/organizations are willing to help. (JN)

In 1988 Saint Mary's College received a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to create a program to improve the quality of science education in the local public and private schools. As part of applying that grant we created one-week summer work-shops for elementary and middle school teachers (K-8) based on guided inquiry methods of education. Each…

Preparation for college or life, working conditions and continuing education for high school chemistry teachers, and form/function of high school chemistry textbooks were addressed in presentations at the Seventh Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (Stillwater, Oklahoma 1982). Workshops, lectures, and demonstrations were also presented to…

Summarizes papers presented during a symposium at the Seventh Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (Stillwater, Oklahoma 1982). Topics addressed included history of summer institutes and high school CHEM Study Program, educational activities of American Chemical Society (ACS), and activities of ACS Committee on Professional Training and…

The Council for Basic Education cosponsored 11 mathematics and science institutes for secondary school teachers on college and university campuses in 9 American cities in 1984. This approach was a response to the national concern over the state of mathematics and science instruction and was facilitated through support of public and private…