The Second Latin American Workshop on Nuclear andHeavy Ion Physics
Teachers and Scientists: Partnership for Change in School Science

Marilyn Schaffer, Ph. D.
Director, International Center for Education and Technology
International Center for Education and Technology
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT 06117 USA
FAX (860) 242-7002, Phone: (860) 243-4277
E-mail address: mschaffer@uhavax.hartford.edu

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL OUTLINE

In many countries science education is inadequate and in need of reform. To support teachers as they strive to develop new skills and strategies to help students prepare for life in the 21st century, we have stablished the International Center for Education and Technology.

Our goal is to help teachers to develop the confidence and the competence to produce investigative project-based science curricula that can contribute to the improvement of science and technology education for their students. We assist them to collaborate with our team of scientists, from both within and outside of the University, to enhance their understanding of the process of science and develop competence in science content and science investigation.

We try to focus on the global implications of science issues and we emphasize the use of technology as a tool for the active doings of science and for engaging in collaborative projects in which teachers and students work with scientists to plan, discuss and share their work.

During the presentation I will discuss our methods for work with teachers and our collaborating scientists, including Summer Institutes, School Visits and Telecommunications Support in order to:

  1. Foster the investigative skills that are an integral part of an inquiry-based science program, such as observing, data collecting, classifying, recognizing patterns, predicting, analyzing and synthesizing.
  2. Master strategies for planning and implementing collaborative science investigations.
  3. Learn the technology that can support hands-on science and collaborative learning, such as Telecommunications, multimedia and CD ROM Technology; Robotics and Microcomputer Based Lab Peripherals.
  4. Develop a real-world context in which science and technology are seen as essential links to being productive workers and contributing citizens.
Return to The Second Latin American Workshop on Nuclear and Heavy Ion Physics Home Page