June 18, 2008
Addition of program enhances mission to reach entire spectrum of learning: from early childhood to graduate level
Grand Rapids, MI (June 18, 2008) – Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI) this week launched its new Middle School Program. The program builds on the success of earlier elementary school programs to expand inquiry-based science education to the middle-school level, and offers an additional series of unique professional development opportunities targeting middle school science teachers.
Recent renovations to the VAEI facility at 216 N. Division and the hiring of a middle school science specialist enable VAEI is to offer an initial two-week middle school summer science program beginning June 16, followed in August by its signature professional development program, Classroom Science Investigations (CSI). CSI is designed to enhance science instruction and encourage student interest in science in Grand Rapids area schools by providing simultaneous student and professional development, with input from the classroom teacher.
“This is the next step in our mission to touch students of every age along the spectrum of learning,” said VAEI Associate Director Marcia Bishop. “The institute serves the dual purpose of providing quality instruction to Grand Rapids-area students that stresses critical thinking, and serving as our own laboratory where we can study how students best learn science, with the goal of having a national impact on science education.”
The new middle school initiative builds on the success of earlier VAEI Science Academy programs. The inaugural out-of-school-time science education program enrolled its first cohort of 4th and 5th grade students from the Grand Rapids area in July of 2006. In 2007, VAEI launched its initial CSI program for elementary school teachers and the popular Science on Saturday (SOS) program in which a student and parent utilize the inquiry-based, critical thinking techniques of scientific investigation in a single Saturday workshop.
A recent renovation to the Science Academy facility also provides the necessary space for the program expansion. In addition to upgrades to the rest of the facility that will provide enough space to offer new openings in 2009 for the popular out-of-school time program, there are 2,000 square feet of new lab space devoted solely to the middle school lab.
“The new middle school laboratory incorporates all of the best features of the rest of the building,” said Bishop. “There is lab space, project space and presentation space – all fully integrated.”
A new full-time middle school science specialist augments the staff and provides support for the development of future programs. Randy Schregardus, M.A., brings over 20 years of middle and high school science teaching and curriculum development experience to the institute. Much of his career was spent in the Holland Public Schools where he served as science department chair as well as Science Olympiad and U.S. First Robotics coach.
“I’m ready to pass on what I know about effective science instruction,” said Schregardus. “I’m eager to get into the classroom and help teachers move from a teacher-centered classroom to one that is and should be student-centered.”
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Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing and expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education and the learning process.