| Title |
Description |
Funding
Source |
Partner
Institutions |
Director
Name |
| Science A Professional Development Program: A Collaborative Approach |
Following the Iowa Professional Development model, K-8 teachers will be active participants in scientific inquiry lessons and will receive extensive training on how to recognize, develop, and effectively implement rigorous inquiry-based lessons. The K-8 teachers will implement lessons during a summer camp for elementary students. Teachers will receive continued support as they implement scientific inquiry as an instructional strategy during the regular school year.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
Drake; Central College; Graceland University; AEA 14 |
Jack Gerlovich
Professor of Education
aeas/leas
515-271-3912
|
| River Quest Institutes |
The River Quest Project will provide elementary teachers who are under-prepared in science and mathematics a way to improve content knowledge and enhance skill in curriculum and lesson design. Teachers will be using instructional technology, environmental education strategies, inquiry-based instruction, multiple assessment measures aligned with curriculum standards and benchmarks During Year 2 and 3, a second series of summer River Quest Institutes will be initiated for middle school teachers.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
Clarke College; Dubuque Community Schools, Keystone AEA; Archdiocese of Dubuque; National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium |
Mary Caffery
Professor and Chair: Chemistry Department
aeas/leas
563-588-6363
|
| Math Partnership |
Math Partnership is a research-based mathematics professional development program to enhance the content knowledge and pedagogical skills of all Des Moines Public Schools 750 elementary teachers, increase the number of teachers with math endorsements, support principals and teachers as instructional leaders in mathematics education, and increase the achievement of all students in the area of mathematics. Teachers will participate in on-going, district-wide professional development that utilizes the expertise of UNI and Grand View faculty.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
Des Moines Independent Community School District; UNI; Grand View College; Heartland AEA |
Barbara Adams
Lead Math Coordinator
aeas/leas
515-242-7875
|
| Science and Mathematics Avenues to Renewed Teachers and Students (SMARTS) |
The goal of this project is to increase the achievement in science and mathematics of K-6 students and reduce the math and science achievement gap of student subgroups through a professional development program consisting of intensive summer institutes, academic year lesson-study groups and seminars, and onsite implementation assistance. Research lessons in math and science will illustrate inquiry-based instruction and contribute to district systemic change.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Iowa Science Education Center and Dept. of Mathematics; Grant Wood AEA; High Need LEAs |
John Dunkhase
Associate Professor, Mathematics
aeas/leas
319-335-1185
|
| Research Avenues for Iowa Science Educators (RAISE) |
In this proposal, Iowa science teachers are paired with scientists at UNI and mentored in authentic research opportunities for side-by-side work during summer laboratory internships. The teachers will be offered weekly colloquia where they can develop classroom transfer of skills and knowledge. The 36 teachers will be further assisted by RAISE team faculty during school visits to help with facilitation, support and evaluation during the academic school year.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Northern Iowa; Waterloo Community Schools; LEAs 14 and 15 |
Jeffrey Weld
Associate Professor, Dept of Biology
aeas/leas
319-273-2723
|
| PRISST Physics Resources and Instruction for Secondary Science Teachers |
PRISST addresses the existing shortage of qualified Iowa high school physics teachers. This initiative will provide instruction in both physics content and pedagogy with the focus on interactive engagement methods. On-going outreach and professional opportunities to be part of a K-16 physics education community network with colleagues, university physics faculty, and master high school physics teachers, will be provided. The PRISST program will include two summer sessions of four weeks each.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Northern Iowa; Teachers from AEAs 11, 14, 267 |
Lawrence Todd Escalada
Associate Professor of Physics and Science Education
aeas/leas
319-273-2431
|
| IMPACT (Impacting Achievement with Collaborations and Technology) |
The focus of the IMPACT program is to integrate the science-based programs of STORM and GLOBE along with educational technology materials into existing PreK-12 science curriculum. Included in this initiative is a two-week Summer Institute for 45 teachers followed by ongoing support during implementation. The activities are aligned with the Iowa Professional Development Model.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Northern Iowa; Diagonal; MFL MarMac; S. Winneshiek |
Doreen Hayek
IT Project Administrator
aeas/leas
319-273-7300
|
| Helping Iowa Teachers Promote Critical Thinking and Inquiry in Science and Literacy in K-8 Classrooms |
This professional development project for teachers will promote their students critical thinking and inquiry skills through embedding language practices into K-8 science classrooms. Teachers will implement Science Writing Heuristics in their classrooms. Teachers will participate in long-term professional development designed to improve content knowledge, teaching skills and understanding how to embed language practices as critical components of inquiry. Assessment is included in the proposal.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Iowa; Iowa State University; AEA 13, high needs school districts in western Iowa |
Brian Hand
Professor
aeas/leas
319-335-5608
|
| Inquiry Geographic Information Systems in Science Teaching (IGISST) |
The project will provide professional development for 50, 7-12 grade teachers, to improve Earth Science teaching incorporating inquiry and problem-based learning and GIS data analysis tools into a learning instructional framework. The teacher development will include: Summer Institutes, curriculum planning, academic year seminars, on-site lesson implementation assistance, student learning showcases, and a collaborative mentor network.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
AEA 10; University of Iowa Science Education Center; Geography Dept. and Center for Evaluation and Assessment; IOWATER Project; eight LEAs |
Christopher Soldat
Science Curriculum Consultant
aea10
319-399-6406
|
| Important Mathematics and Powerful Pedagogy (IMP2): Deepening Teacher Content Knowledge and Using a Lesson Study Approach to Effectively Implement Iowas High School Mathematics Initiative |
Summer content workshops will focus on deepening teacher knowledge of the specific mathematical content recommended in the Mathematics Model Core Curriculum. The project will use a lesson study approach to help teachers gain skill in developing and teaching effective lessons that are built around problem-based instructional tasks. Lessons will be collaboratively planned, taught, debriefed, revised and retaught.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
University of Iowa; Maharishi University of Management; Southern Prairie AEA; Oskaloosa and Fairfield Community School Districts |
Cos Fi
Professor
319-335-5432
|
| Title II, Part B (Science Writing Heuristic) |
The intent of the program is to improve student performance in both science and language arts on standardized tests by linking science inquiry activities to the reading/writing programs within elementary schools by using the Science Writing Heuristic. Thirty-two K-6 teachers will be involved in a summer workshop (science content update, critical reading, science inquiry teaching strategies), plus implementation and analysis cycle, for each of three years.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
Iowa State University; AEAs 11 and 13 |
Lori Norton-Meier
Co-PI (Department of Curriculum and Instruction)
Brian Hand (515-294-00330)
|
| Teaching and Learning Mathematics: A Problem-Solving Approach |
The goals of this initiative are: 1. improve mathematics
achievement of K-6 students, 2. improve teachers'
mathematical content knowledge, 3. build learning
communities engaged in the study of mathematics, mathematics
instruction and student achievement in mathematics. Teachers
will practice Japanese-style lesson study, by planning,
teaching and discussing lessons. Areas of support will
include: writing problem-based tasks, integrating reading
and mathematics, and assessment techniques.
Project Status: Current |
MSP |
Loras College; Dubuque Community Schools; AEA 1; AEA 9;
Participating LEAs |
Daniel Wills
Project Co-Director
563-588-7708
|
