E M P O W E R
Enriching Middle schools:
Project Outreach to Widen Educational opportunities for Rural students

A project to transform science education in Eastern North Carolina's rural middle schools. Funded by NSF Grant # ESI-9619024.

Project Information

Participating Schools

Syllabus and Supplies

Learning Materials

EMPOWER reached apporximately 120 middle school teachers in eastern North Carolina from 1997 to 2000 through training and equipment lending. Participating teachers learned to use computers and calculator-based laboratory equipment, worked with experienced teachers, and took advantage of the lending library of laboratory equipment and inquiry-based science and mathematics learning activities.

The EMPOWER program included:

• Middle school math and science teachers who took part in a three-week summer program (one week at NC State and two weeks at a nearby school). The program focused on using microcomputer-based and calculator-based laboratory equipment in teaching math and science
• Experienced high school teachers who have already worked in our successful NSF Team Science and Howard Hughes projects served as mentors and facilitators to help middle school teachers
• A lending library of laboratory activities and computer-based and calculator-based laboratory teaching equipment for the use of participating teachers

Participant Schedule

• May 3, 1997: A one-half day introductory meeting at The Science House in Raleigh.
• July 7 - 11, 1997: A workshop at The Science House in Raleigh.
• July 14 - 25, 1997: A two-week commuter program at a school site in your general area.
• Academic Year 1997-1998 - Laboratory equipment and activities brought to use with your own students.
• Summer, 1998: A one week followup workshop at a site near you. New activities and reinforcement of what you have learned.
• Academic Year 1998-1999 - Laboratory equipment and activities brought to use with your own students.

Participants were middle school science or mathematics teacher from one of the counties listed below in two-teacher or four-teacher teams of math and science teachers from the same school. These teachers submitted a letter of support from their schools that granted them a $600 stipend to attend the two week program.

Target Counties -Edgecombe, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Lenoir, Nash, Randolph, Vance, Wake, Wayne, Wilson