Effects performing authentic research has on secondary science teachers' classroom practices

CHED 233

Jeff D Weld, jeff.weld@uni.edu1, Dawn I. Del Carlo, dawn.delcarlo@uni.edu2, John Ophus, john.ophus@uni.edu1, and Andrea VanWaardhuizen, andreajv@uni.edu2. (1) Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, MSH 144, Cedar Fall, IA 50614-0421, (2) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Northern Iowa, MSH 243, Cedar Falls, IA 50613-0423
Research Avenues for Iowa's Science Teachers [RAISE] is a summer program that gives numerous secondary science teachers the opportunity to participate in authentic scientific research, and commenced the summer of 2006. RAISE was modeled after other similar programs around the United States, and aims to improve teacher effectiveness through a variety of mechanisms including: increasing teachers' content knowledge, understanding of the process of scientific discovery, and the use of inquiry in the classroom. Teacher responses to open-ended surveys and semi-structured interviews were examined to determine the effect participation in the program had on the teachers and their teaching practices. A description of the RAISE program, events, and teacher feedback will be discussed.
 

Impending Issues in Chemistry Teacher Education
8:30 AM-11:55 AM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N230B, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007