Center for Learning and Teaching with a Focus on Research for Developing Instructional Materials in Science

American Association For The Advancement Of Science, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), through its education reform initiative Project 2061, will partner with Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University to create a Center for Learning and Teaching that focuses on research and development issues related to improving curriculum materials for K-12 science. This new Center for Instructional Materials in Science will serve a critical national need to help all students achieve science literacy. It will help to foster a new generation of leadership with specific expertise in the analysis of curriculum materials and in their development, evaluation and implementation. The new Center will focus on three main goals: 1) to develop the national instructional materials development infrastructure at the doctoral and postdoctoral level; 2) to provide relevant inservice and/or preservice training to science teachers and other professionals; and 3) to conduct research on questions related to instructional materials for science at the highest level. The project plans to enroll 30 Ph. D. students (most of whom will be supported for three years under this award) and support the professional development of an additional 30 postdoctoral students. The professional development program will impact 400 science teachers and will foster the professional development of 30 other teachers, training them to become teacher leaders.