ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Althea -

The Exploreum has been involved in professional development for teachers
for the last 3 years (we only opened 5 years ago). Internally, with
Exploreum education staff (only 3 full time at the moment), we do some
"basic" PD for teachers that includes:

- "Science Survivor" - a twist on a standard scavenger-hunt program in
our 10,000 square foot exhibit hall where teams of teachers compete with
each other to complete several challenges on our exhibits as a means to
learn the science on which the exhibits are based. We then review the
content with them and suggest ways to work the exhibits into the
curriculum. (We also do this for staff training and are considering the
Science Survivor idea for camps and/or selected school programs.)

- Exhibit, IMAX Film, and program previews two times a year.

Being a small shop, we also partner with the NASA Stennis Space Center
to be a "satellite" site for the implementation of some of their PD
programs. We host a NASA Aerospace Educator on 4 Saturdays each year.

Finally - and most significantly - we are a major partner in the science
education reform efforts of the Mobile County Public School System,
which is the largest in Alabama, and 4 other, smaller systems. We
catalyze and organize reform efforts for these systems. The reform
efforts focus on changing the way science is taught and learned with the
use of research-based, inquiry-centered teaching modules. These modules
were developed over a number of years and are used nationwide. As a
small center, we are not positioned to "reinvent the wheel" - and we
wouldn't want to if there are products that already work. Our role has
been to transfer the materials to our context and provide training -
either by an Exploreum educator or a consultant - to teachers to help
them use the materials. As the "science place" in town, school systems
look to us for leadership, which we provide by managing partnerships to
get more quality materials into the hands of teachers and students.

Our efforts in reform have led to partnerships with the University of
South Alabama that include a mandatory "Exploreum 101" class meeting for
all student teachers to learn how to use the Exploreum as an educational
resource. Another partnership is the graduate level science education
class that I co-teach at the University, geared toward integrating
inquiry-centered science across the curriculum.

I love to talk about ways that science centers can be involved in
science education reform - particularly about the momentum nationally
for science center involvement. It's a longer story here than I've been
able to represent, so please feel free to call me at 251-208-6851 or
email at [log in to unmask] if you'd like to talk about it further.

I hope some of that made sense - and maybe even helped!

Bill

Bill Watson
Education Director
Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center
Mobile, AL
(251) 208-6851

*******************************************************************
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"Scream Machines: The Science of Fun" opens in the
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-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of nscyapollo
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 1:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Teacher training at Science Centres

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****

HI,

I would appreciate some feedback regarding the role at your science
centres
in teacher training. IT may be formal or informal, long or short term.
We
are considering  doing something at our science centre in the near
future
and would like to compare ideas with  what is being done.


Althea Maund
Senior Science  Educator

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More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
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