For the past two years The Science House has led a statewide Mathematics and Science Parternship (MSP) program funded by the NC Department of Public Instruction and the US Department of Education. Modeling Instruction in Physics, Physical Science, and Chemistry is a program which equips teachers with the content knowledge and pedagogical tools needed to transform their instruction and their students.
The Science House took on this challenge to help North Carolina develop better prepared and more highly qualified physics, physical science, and chemistry teachers. Existing teachers face new challenges in their jobs everyday. This MSP program seeks: to increase the number of teachers qualified to teach the physics, chemistry, and physical science; to improve the content knowledge of all of our science teachers; and to help teachers teach in a way that leads to deep conceptual understanding by students.
Institutes in the Modeling Instruction are a proven method for improving science instruction in line with national and state standards. The Modeling Method is a coherent and student-centered program that has been shown, through the most impressive student assessment program in science education, to be an effective method of teaching and learning science. During an intensive 4-week training program, teachers transform their teaching methods while developing a deep understanding of the science content. Alternating in roles as teacher and student, participants dramatically improve their content knowledge because they benefit from the same effective teaching methods they are learning to deliver to their own students.
In this project The Science House partnered with Buncombe, Caldwell, Durham, Martin, and Watauga County School Districts to deliver modeling professional development to science teachers. This is a statewide initiative and also open to public and private school teachers across the state in addition to project partners. In the summer of 2008 we offered two workshops, Modeling Physics I (Mechanics) and Modeling Physical Science, to 38 teachers representing 26 different school systems. Prior to the summer of 2009 we partnered with the NC New Schools Project to add a third workshop. That summer we offered Modeling Physics I (Mechanics), Modeling Physical Science, and Modeling Chemistry. During 2009 we trained 69 teachers from 37 different school systems. During the upcoming summer of 2010 we plan to train 70 additional teachers in either Modeling Physics II (Electricity, Light, Waves), Modeling Physical Science, and Modeling Chemistry.
Each workshop provides 120 hours of instruction: 14 days held during the summer and 6 additional days of follow up held during the academic year. During the course of the school year participants receive the support from one of two modeling coaches who travel the state visiting teachers' classrooms.
The Modeling MSP is the type of project The Science House loves to support, deepening teacher's content knowledge while equipping them the tools and skills to transform student learning in their classrooms. With continuned support we hope to offer this innovative professional development for many years to come. To find our more about the Modeling MSP contact Scott Ragan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 919-515-5610. Additional information about Modeling Instruction may also be found at http://modeling.asu.edu.
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