HR: 10:20h
AN: ED51D-01 INVITED [PDF]
TI: Teacher Professional Development Programs Promoting Authentic Scientific Research in the
Classroom
AU: * Sukow, W W
EM: wsukow@nsf.gov
AB:
Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) are a fundamentally different kind of professional development (PD) than the more
typical teacher PD workshop format. In the past decade RET has evolved from "a great summer research experience with slides
to show students" to an equal emphasis on transfer to the classroom so students "learn science by doing science" as they
engage in authentic scientific research. Different models for RET have evolved as well as methods to increase the transfer to
the classroom of thelearning-science-by-doing-science pedagogical paradigm.
In the Elementary, Secondary, And Informal Education (ESIE) division at NSF, different RET models have been developed through
program emphases such as Teacher Leadership, Research Experiences for Teachers and Students programs and most recently
through Teacher Retention and Renewal programs. Some of them include the Research Based Science Education I project at NOAO,
Research Experiences In Industry at Mississippi State, QuarkNet at Fermilab, The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project at University
of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Teacher Experiencing Antarctica/the Arctic program, oceanographic research in The Teacher ARMADA
project at the University of Rhode Island, and the Science Research in High School project at SUNY-Albany. Regardless of the
RET model, one of the critical results is the development of a professional learning community that outlives the research
experience and the RET program. RET programs exemplify the integration of science disciplinary research and education, which
is a critical component of NSF's strategic plan.
UR: http://www.nsf.gov
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting