ERIC Number: ED383558
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Apr-12
Pages: 48
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Intervening in the Professional Development of Science Teachers: The Colorado Science Teaching Enhancement Program. Interim Report of the Formative Evaluation of CO-STEP.
Ellis, James D.; Maxwell, Donald E.
The purposes of the Colorado Science Teaching Enhancement Program (CO-STEP) are to improve the background in science content and the instructional skills of teachers in grades four through six throughout Colorado and to support the implementation of effective instruction. A network of six Teacher Development Centers in Colorado coordinate teacher enhancement programs and follow-up implementation support. Physical science (physics, chemistry, geology, meteorology, and astronomy), life science, and environmental science content that is essential to teaching science in the upper-elementary grades is a central focus of the program. Teachers also learn how to infuse the science content into their curriculum and instruction. During the program teachers develop instructional skills, including cooperative learning, constructivist-based teaching strategies, and innovative assessment procedures. Participating teachers adapt instructional units from existing curriculum materials and field test, evaluate, and revise the units for use in their classrooms. This document discusses the project goals and objectives, project design, rationale for CO-STEP, general model of the teacher development program, the teacher development program, evaluation plan, evaluation results (quantitative and qualitative) for each of the centers, and conclusions. Contains 67 references. (LZ)
Descriptors: Biological Sciences, Elementary Education, Elementary School Science, Elementary School Teachers, Environmental Education, Faculty Development, Inservice Teacher Education, Instructional Effectiveness, Intermediate Grades, Physical Sciences, Program Descriptions, Program Evaluation, Science Education, Science Teachers, Teacher Education Programs
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Administrators; Teachers; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA.
Authoring Institution: Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, Colorado Springs.
Identifiers - Location: Colorado
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A