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Science KICKS Keep Improving Content Knowledge and Skills

Sheree Person-Pandil, Project DirectorJim Woodland, Technical AdvisorJohn Sutton, Project Evaluator

MSP Regional ConferenceSan Francisco, CAFebruary 14, 2008

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Project Goals

1) Improve the content knowledge, skills, and pedagogy of K-12 science educators.

2) Establish a statewide network to end the isolation of science educators.

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Content Institutes• Rationale for Summer Institutes with additional

follow-up activities • Partnership roles

– SEA

– IEA

– IHE

– LEA

• Instructors are award-winning master teachers• Participant selection

– State identified populations

– Local needs assessments

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Institute Content

• Aligned to Nebraska Science Standards• Enhanced by master teachers’ curriculum• Bolstered by the NSTA Science Objects• Integrated with Science Olympiad events

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Content Institute Timeline

May: Institute planningJune/July/August: Conduct two, 4-day/week content

institutesSeptember: Institute planningOctober: 3-day institute follow-up at state science

teachers conference November/December: Institute planningJanuary/February: One-day follow-up sessionMarch/April: One-day follow-up session

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Content Institutes

• Daily Design– Participant Engagement– Instructional approaches

• Follow-up– Online learning– Conference Attendance– One-day session

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State Network• Rationale for Building a Presence for Science

(BaP)

• Partnership roles – NSTA/NATS– IEA– LEA– IHE– SEA

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State Network

• State Director for BaP• Key Leaders• Points of Contact• BaP structure is determined locally

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State Network TimelineOctober: Key leader meeting held in conjunction

with state science teachers conference November/December: BaP recruiting and

networkingJanuary/February: Points of Contact meetingsMarch/April: BaP recruiting and networkingMay: Points of Contact meetingsJune/July: BaP recruiting and networkingAugust/September: BaP planning, recruiting, and

networking

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KICKS Evaluation

• Institute– Content Knowledge Inventory– Teacher Survey– Observations

• Network– Interviews – Focus Groups– Observations

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Lessons Learned

• Nonpublic school involvement

• IHE

• Value of master teachers as instructors- finding appropriate teachers

• Need to develop leadership

• Outlining clear expectations for participants

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USDE Disclaimer

The instructional practices and assessments discussed or shown in this presentation are not intended as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.