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

There is what teachers need and there is what teachers think they need. These are not the same things. 

I developed a week-long outdoor science immersion experience for science-phobic elementary teachers that ran through the 90s and a little beyond called "Recreational Science at Loon Lake." We pretended that we were going to give teachers what they think they need, lots of binders full of blackline masters but then we gave them what they actually need, exposure to real scientists doing real science. So they would go out in the morning with a forensic entomologist and exhume the corpse of a pig or help an engineer with a remotely-operated sub. Then they would work with a "master teacher" to figure out how some of this science could be done as activity-based inquiry in a classroom. In the evening we'd sing songs around the campfire and get drunk. It was awesome.

I think the key is to focus on science process skills, even if teachers think they don't need them because they invariably do.

David Savory
Community Extensions Program Developer and Exhibit Curator
Science World British Columbia
TELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6A 3Z7

t: 604.443.7561
f: 604.443.7434
e: [log in to unmask]
w: scienceworld.ca

Science World British Columbia is a self-supporting non-profit organization which engages British Columbians in science and inspires future science and technology leadership throughout our province.


This e-mail may be privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. If you received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately.


-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Ann Wojton
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 7:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Teacher Needs Assessments

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

Has anyone done a teacher needs assessment?  I'm trying to go deep and find out what teachers need from my museum and remove as many barriers as possible.  Any examples or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
 
Mary Ann Wojton, Ph.D.
COSI Columbus
333 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH  43215
614.629.3148 (desk)
614.629.3226 (fax)

 
 
Please consider the environment before printing this email
 

Now Boarding for Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at COSI through Labor Day
Visit www.cosi.org ( http://www.cosi.org/ ) for more information and to purchase advanced tickets.
 
Groupwise powered by Time Warner Cable Business Class

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]

***********************************************************************
For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html.

To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]