|
|
The Science Education Leadership Fellows (SELF) program, in partnership with the Houston Independent School District, recruits elementary school teachers with advanced science education skills, and Baylor graduate student and postdoctoral fellow scientists to learn and work together as science education improvement teams. Teams participate in joint learning experiences in schools and laboratories, co-teach lessons in classrooms, and work together on short summer research projects at Baylor. SELF activities target teachers/schools with high enrollments of students from under-represented, underserved minority groups. SELF will:
? Continue to create and support mutual learning communities of elementary teachers and scientists, who participate in joint educational experiences over a two-year period.
? Provide high quality teacher professional development through (1) collaborative activities and a summer research experience for SELF teachers; (2) web-based ?virtual workshops? that will be accessible to all 6,000 HISD elementary school teachers; and (3) a two-day ?Leadership Colloquium? for SELF alumni and other education leaders that focuses on issues related to school reform and science education.
? Promote interaction of students with scientists by creating and supporting opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to partner with elementary teachers in delivering science instruction in elementary schools.
? Develop scientists? teaching and communications skills, and their awareness of and commitment to the improvement of science, mathematics and technology education in schools.
? Promote family and community involvement in schools by sponsoring at least one family science festival per year at HISD elementary schools represented by SELF teacher/scientist teams.
Program evaluation is measuring the extent to which participants (1) exhibit leadership behaviors, such as making professional presentations or mentoring others; and (2) receive external verification of their development as leaders in the form of promotions, competitive awards or increased responsibilities. We also are examining participant science teaching efficacy beliefs, content knowledge development, products such as lesson plans and journals created during the program, and teaching behaviors. Proposed Internet-based education components will be field tested and include embedded assessments for users.
|
