Partners for Sustainable Innovation (PSI) is a new Science Academy professional development program for middle school teachers (grades five through seven). Over the course of three years, teachers will receive 300 hours of professional development. PSI will deepen teacher understanding of the connections between genetic, species, and ecosystem biodiversity, human health and life science careers, and will provide training in the use of inquiry-based learning to engage students in science. It will also build a sustained dialogue between educators and partnering life science organizations to facilitate effective workforce development and provide a context for concepts taught in the classroom.
The Partners
The Science Academy has brought together 14 partners: Van Andel Research Institute, St. Mary's Health Care, Metro Health, Pierce Cedar Creek, and Outdoor Discovery Center, Grand Valley State University, Kent Intermediate School District, and seven school districts - Grand Rapids Public, Grand Rapids Christian, Kentwood Public, Holland Public, Wyoming Public, Newaygo Public, and Grant Public.
Program Outline
This three-year program includes:
- Site Visits: Teachers will visit partnering organizations and interact with life science professionals and find out what types of knowledge and skills are required for their work.
- Summer Sessions: Each summer, teachers will participate in an intensive 60-hour experience at the Science Academy that will include one week of immersion in inquiry-based teaching and learning and another in which teachers will develop or revise instructional units.
- Evaluation and Feedback: During the school year, teachers will be videotaped in their classrooms as they implement their instructional units and will receive feedback from the Science Academy and partnering organizations.
- Student Evaluation: Teachers' students will be surveyed at the beginning and end of the program to measure changes in their attitudes toward science and science-related careers.
- Dialog for a Sustainable Partnership: Over the course of the program, teachers and partnering organizations will dialogue about how to sustain their connection after the program has ended.
Science for ALL Students
One of the goals of PSI is to make science accessible for all students, regardless of gender, race / ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. This has been a hallmark of the Science Academy's programs. To this end, PSI brings together teachers from rural, urban, and suburban school districts, who will in turn impact a variety of students.
Results
At the end of the program, VAEI hopes to share the instructional units that the teachers develop with as many educators as possible. PSI will not only improve the effectiveness of science teachers to educate the future life sciences workforce, but will also spark student interest in science, leading more of them to science-related careers.
