The Lesson Plan component of the Action Plan was added shortly after the beginning of this grant term. We hoped these plans would incorporate concepts acquired during their summer research experiences. We expected this exercise would challenge teachers to make realistic assessments of the types of curricula, laboratory experiments and scientific concepts (e.g., National Science Standards) and to use these concepts in solving problems of everyday life.
We believe the outcome of this activity has been very successful. Currently 93 research-inspired lab lesson plans are on the program's web site. Several publications, including Classroom Connect, have cited the lesson plan section of the programs website as being an excellent resource for science teachers.
We have known for some time that the program has a positive effect on the participants. What had been unknown was the teacher's participation in the program's effect on their students. The program has conducted a student outcomes study since the beginning of this grant period. Preliminary data indicates the following outcomes:
Increased student interest and motivation as measured by participation in a science club and Westinghouse/Intel Science Talent Search Projects.
Increased student academic performance as measured by standardized tests (New York State Regents Exam)
First year participants seemed concerned that there was little time for vacation going straight from the school year to the program and then back to the school year.
Solution: Small peer coaching sessions to have the second year participants explain to the first year participants the need to spend an extended period of time in the lab learning the process of research.
Teachers have little contact with the program during the 10 month school year. Program unable to followup on their implementation of new-found skills.
Solution: Hire a doctoral student from Teachers College to make school visits coupled with teacher interviews.
In the first 10 years of the program, we have been unable to obtain the local Superintendents support for the accomplishments of the individual teachers.
Solution: We were recently awarded a contract with the New York City Board of Education to assist the superintendents in improving science professional development. Program participants will use the skills they obtained in Columbia's labs to assist the superintendents in improving staff development workshops.
Program participants research-inspired lab lesson plans. 93 of these plans are available on the program's web site:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/physio/tchrplan.html
The Program has assembled over 600 Internet resources assorted by categories. The links to these resources can be found at:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/physio/links.html
The Program conducts a weekly seminar series during the summer. Each week a scientists gives a talk on their research (followed by a Q&A). Most lectures are videotaped. Copies of the tapes are available for a nominal fee to cover cost of the tape and postage. The list of available tapes can be found on the program's web site:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/physio/vidtape.html
