Office of Academic and
Student Affairs

Technology Leadership Corps

Eisenhower Grant Partnership

School Districts

Overview

The partnership is developing a year long teacher professional development course designed to increase middle school and secondary school teachers knowledge and experience with computer probeware in collecting, analysing and reporting data. The science, mathematics, and technology teachers will participate in an integrated environmental science course using probes in the field. They will work in school teams to design and implement an inquiry based mathematics and science mini unit that follows the Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools(SOL), National Science Education Standards, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, and Science for All Americans. In the following year, members of this corps of teachers will be selected to lead professional development in their school district.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the project is for the teachers to have students use computer probeware to collect, analyse, and report data as they investigate real issues. The project will provide 30 middle and secondary teachers from three school districts with the content knowledge and teaching strategies that emphasize the inquiry process and connections among science, technology and mathematics as articulated in the standards. The teachers will:

  • Increase their knowledge and understanding of computer applications to science and mathematics by participating in a problem solving model as they investigate a local environmental science issue using probeware to obtain data;
  • Plan and conduct an environmental science investigation using a series of probes such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity;
  • Analyze pedagogical strategies for using probeware to facilitate student investigations; and
  • Design and implement for their students an inquiry-based mini unit probes to collect, analyze, and report data.

Teacher Support

The inservice teachers participate in two weeks of training during the summer with follow up sessions during the academic year. Each team consists of science, mathematics, and technology teachers.