Wheaton awarded grant to boost science education programs
November 2, 2000
Wheaton College and the Attleboro Public Schools have been awarded $44, 000 to improve early childhood and elementary teacher preparation in science education. The grant is funded through the state's Eisenhower Higher Education and Goals 2000 grant programs and will support the development of an innovative interdisciplinary course at Wheaton, enhancing science literacy for future early childhood and elementary level teachers.
According to the National Science Board, only one quarter of American adults understand the nature of science and science inquiry clearly enough to make informed judgements about the scientific basis of results reported in the media. The development of a science-literate society depends critically on the development and training of science-literate teachers.
Under the grant, Wheaton science and education faculty and representatives from the Norton and Attleboro Public Schools and Pinecroft School will develop a two-semester course for Wheaton students seeking certification in early childhood and elementary education. It will cover a comprehensive science curriculum with work in physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy. Based on problem-solving techniques, the course will have an emphasis on both laboratory work in the sciences and fieldwork with local students. Examples of fieldwork will include hosting an annual Science Literacy Festival at Wheaton and helping Norton, Attleboro and Pinecroft students with the development of classroom and science fair curriculum projects.
Subsequent phases of the project, yet to be funded, focus on the development of professional offerings for both education students and local teachers. The program might also provide students majoring in the sciences with an opportunity to try teaching, perhaps ultimately increasing the numbers of science majors pursuing teaching.
"The project began with a dialogue between the science and education departments," says Vicki Bartolini, assistant professor of education at Wheaton. "We are rethinking how we teach science to our future educators, and we want to create a pedagogical model that includes inquiry-based learning, active learning, frequent discussions and frequent assessments instead of relying on more passive learning. We want to rekindle the wonder of science for these future educators."
Wheaton and the Attleboro Public Schools have a history of successful partnerships in new teacher mentoring and in early literacy programs, some of which have provided a model for national programs. CAMPAIGN READ and America Reads are two early literacy initiatives whose goals have been furthered by joint work between Wheaton and the Attleboro Public Schools, highlighted each spring by the Literacy Festival for local families run by Wheaton students.
To learn more about the Eisenhower Higher Education/Goals 2000 grant or the work of the Wheaton education and science departments, call the Wheaton Communications Office at 508-285-8235.