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Projects and Partnerships

Loyola University Visitors

Loyola

In July, the BSCS Center for Professional Development hosted a two-day professional development workshop for visitors from Loyola University Chicago, which is taking part in the Chicago Public Schools High School Transformation Project.

Visitors from Loyola were Judith Tammi, Charles Bilodeau, and Rita Nelson. BSCS staff Janet Carlson, Nancy Landes, Elizabeth Edmondson, April Gardner, Paul Beardsley, and Sarah Wise hosted the workshop.

The workshop focused on the implementation of BSCS Biology: A Human Approach and how Loyola University Chicago can support teachers through professional development and school-based coaching and thus support students in learning critical concepts in high school biology.

DETS

This spring and summer, the Center for Curriculum Development hosted design meetings with participants from DETS (Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools).

This project focuses on diabetes education for Native American students K-12, in which BSCS will help produce implementation test and final materials for approximately 13 modules.

Following this fall’s implementation testing of the materials, BSCS will revise and prepare the materials for release in 2009.

Inquiry Workshop

BSCS Science Educator Jody Bintz, with the BSCS Center for Professional Development, presented a full-day inquiry workshop to kick off the 2007 Tewksbury Township School District’s Summer Science Institute in Califon, New Jersey.

Bintz’s August 27 presentation, "Can Students Learn Rigorous Content through Inquiry-based Experiences?" engaged participants in an interactive, inquiry-based experience that led to an evidence-based explanation of an important science concept. Participants became familiar with the Essential Features of Inquiry from the National Science Education Standards (NSES) that help students understand and experience the nature of science.

The session, designed to deepen elementary and middle school teachers’ content knowledge, ended with a discussion of the issues facing teachers iin implementing inquiry-based science in the classroom.

DETS

In June, the Center for Professional Development hosted a DETS (Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools) professional development training in which 22 people took part. Sessions included "Engaging the Learner," "How People Learn and the BSCS 5E Instructional Model," Modeling lessons with a focus on cultural orientation," and "Modeling lessons with a focus on science as inquiry."

Agile Mind, Inc, and the Dana Center

The Center for Curriculum Development is working with Agile Mind, Inc. and the Dana Center at the University of Texas, Austin, to develop a comprehensive, coherent, online tool for students and teachers in high school biology. The first version of the product is being introduced in a number of key school districts around the county this fall.

Project PRIME

PRIME

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Project PRIME is now entering its third year. Two cohorts of biology teachers have been recruited and are in the midst of the professional development program. The professional development program features focused study of curriculum materials for high school biology as well as student work products produced through the material’s use. The two curriculum programs of interest in the study are BSCS Biology: A Human Approach and Insights in Biology (EDC). The research around this program is also well underway with researchers collecting data on student learning, teachers’ content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and fidelity of curriculum use. Project PRIME is a partnership between the BSCS Center for Research and Evaluation and Northern Arizona University.

Study of Multidisciplinary Science in Florida

Florida This Center for Research and Evaluation study, funded by the US Department of Education, is seeking to document the effectiveness of the program: BSCS Science: An Inquiry Approach in the state of Florida. The first cohort of schools has been recruited and randomly assigned into two groups, one that uses the BSCS program and one that continues using existing curriculum materials. Teachers from schools in the BSCS group received professional development on the curriculum program this summer and will continue to do so throughout the school year. Data collection begins in earnest this fall.

For more information about any of the projects and partnerships described, please contact us at info@bscs.org.