Getting K-6 Teachers INSCITED about Science Education

This summer College of Science K-12 Outreach partnered with the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Program Development and K-6 science education specialists from across Indiana to host the INSCITED (INdiana SCIence Teacher EDucation) Summer Institute. This four-day institute for thirty K-6 teachers from across Indiana was held at Purdue University from July 18 to July 21, 2006. Science K-12 Outreach Coordinators and the K-6 science education specialists spent three days working with the attending K-6 teachers on standards-based science content, state science assessment, K-6 science lesson plans, and inquiry-based teaching strategies.

The four-day institute included two half-days for the teachers to work with over 120 K-6 students on new lesson plans and teaching strategies. The students came to Purdue from K-6 schools near the campus to participate in innovative and hands-on science lessons.

“INSCITED is a great opportunity for K-6 teachers to focus on Indiana Academic Standards for Science, investigate scientific principles, and have fun teaching science in innovative ways,” said Bill Walker, Director for College of Science K-12 Outreach. “A very important aspect of INSCITED was providing time for teachers to work on science units and collaborate with colleagues from across the state. The INSCITED participants learned from each other and will return to their classrooms with many new science education ideas to implement.”

The summer institute is just the first part of a full year program. Four school-year workshops will be conducted in 2006-2007. During these workshops teachers will work on supporting teachers with the implementation of the new science lessons, investigative experiences, assessment, and maximizing resources for science education.