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CALL FOR TEACHERS
We are looking for teachers to participate in a research study on professional development. The study is open to teachers who will be implementing the Investigations in Environmental Science curriculum in 2008-09 and have not received professional development from Northwestern in the past.
Study Information
Professional Development Study -
Teacher Benefits
Teacher Commitment -
School Commitment
Required Materials -
Request More Information -
Application
Teachers who will be implementing the Investigations in Environmental Science curriculum in the 2008-09 academic year have a special opportunity to receive free professional development.
We are able to offer this opportunity as part of a new research study funded by the National Science Foundation. This study, being conducted jointly by the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, is investigating differences between online and face-to-face professional development. This project, which is the first of its kind, is expected to have a significant influence on professional development policies in the U.S. in the future.
In the section below, we provide additional detail about the study, including both benefits and commitments for both teachers and schools. At the bottom of this page is information about applying.
The Professional Development
Each teacher selected for the study will receive 48 hours of structured professional development designed to support the teacher in implementing Investigations in Environmental Science. Investigations in Environmental Science is a project-based science course in which students investigate real world environmental issues. The professional development will cover both the science knowledge and instructional techniques required to implement the curriculum successfully. Different teachers will receive different combinations of on-line professional and face-to-face professional development, but all will cover the same science content and teaching strategies.
The Study
If selected to be part of this study, teachers will be randomly assigned to one of three different professional development groups.
All three groups will travel, expense free, to Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago) for an introductory two day workshop, where teachers will get a general overview of the curriculum, its pedagogical structure and the software components associated with the curriculum.
Two of the three groups will participate in ongoing online professional development throughout the next academic year. The third group will receive an additional four days of face-to-face summer workshop at Northwestern University.
The study welcomes multiple teachers from the same school or school district. To the greatest extent possible, teachers from the same school or district will be assigned to the same workshop group.
If selected, teachers will be asked to:
Complete questionnaires and participate in interviews on their beliefs about science teaching and knowledge of environmental science Videotape selected lessons from the curriculum throughout the year Administer student pre- and posttests (these are the tests used for regular assessment in the unit)
This study requires a two-year commitment from participating schools and teachers. Teachers participate in professional development prior to and during the first year of their study participation. Teachers will participate in the classroom study for both years of participation.
Goals
To support teachers in incorporating a case-based approach to their instruction To supply teachers with up-to-date information about environmental science To support teachers in adopting new technology into their classrooms
Teacher Commitment
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Commit to teaching at least the first two units of the Investigations in Environmental Science curriculum each year for two school years
Have access to a high-speed Internet connection and a computer for their personal use (the project cannot provide either of these) -
Be available to travel to Evanston, IL, for a one-week workshop to take place in summer 2008 (all expenses paid, exact dates to be determined)
Complete all 48 hours of professional development Participate in data collection for two years, including surveys, interviews, videotaping of classroom teaching, administration of surveys and assessments to students, and collection of student work
School Commitment
Schools must already own or must commit to purchasing the Investigations in Environmental Science textbooks, as well as all required software, equipment, and supplies. Investigations in Environmental Science is a published curriculum available from It's About Time Publishers. For information about purchasing Investigations, contact It’s About Time directly at http://www.its-about-time.com or (888) 698-8463. Participating teachers must be assigned to teach two consecutive years of environmental science using Investigations in Environmental Science. -
Schools must have adequate computing facilities to allow teachers to implement the program. They must commit to providing sufficient access to these facilities for all participating teachers and providing technical support to complete the implementation of the units.
Schools must give permission for collection of data from teachers and students. (All data collection, analysis, and reporting is conducted in accordance with university requirements and federal law. The identities of all participating schools, teachers, and students are kept confidential. Participation by students in the data collection is optional and requires consent from both student and parent.)
"Must Haves" for Study Participation
This Professional Development Opportunity is a national study supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). To ensure that every teacher's experience is similar, the study has paired down the "must have" list to the following items. Optional items are noted as such.
View the "Must Haves" for study participation
Teacher Benefits
48 hours of curriculum aligned professional development (This is valued at approximately $2000 per teacher) $1000 stipend per teacher after participation in the first year $500 stipend per teacher after participation in the second year CEU or graduate credit available (for a fee)
Application
We are currently accepting applications for the 2008-09 school year.
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For information about the study,
contact
Beth Kubitskey
University of Michigan
School of Education
610 East University Rm 1360
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-487-8798
Fax: 734-763-1368
iopd-info@umich.edu |
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Follow the links below to request more information or to submit an application.
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