Calling all middle school teachers who instruct science classes. Jefferson Lab would like to help you refresh and hone your science knowledge and teaching skills over the summer.
The Department of Energy physics research lab, located at 12000 Jefferson Ave. in Newport News, is seeking applications for its four-week, summer physics enrichment program for science teachers.
The program consists of a mini-course in basic physics, guest lectures on current research at Jefferson Lab, and interactive activities designed to enhance physical science instruction at the middle school level, according to Jan Tyler, Education Program manager.
"The program is great for teachers who didn't major in science and now find themselves responsible for teaching middle school science classes. This program can help them become more comfortable with the material they are teaching and how they present it to their students," Tyler says.
"It's also a great refresher for science teachers who majored in biology and didn't receive as much physics instruction," Tyler adds, "or, to just update your knowledge on physics."
The program includes a discussion of the knowledge needed to meet Standards of Learning (SOL) requirements. And, in response to teachers' requests, workshops specifically for developing classroom activities are being added to this year's curriculum.
The course runs from July 9-August 2. Participants meet four hours a day, four days each week. Sixty-four hours of recertification points will be awarded to each teacher completing the program; and each participant receives a $700 stipend.
The program is open to middle school teachers employed fulltime in public, private or parochial schools whose teaching assignment includes science. U.S. citizenship or Permanent Resident Alien status is required. Application forms may be downloaded from Jefferson Lab's Education Web page http://education.jlab.org/pest/ and complete application packages must be received at the Lab by March 30, 2001.
For application forms or more information, contact Stacy Ring at (757)269-7560 or e-mail ring@jlab.org.
This is Jefferson Lab's second year of hosting Physics Enrichment for Science Teachers. Seventeen teachers from Hampton Roads and Tidewater participated in last year's program; however, geography shouldn't limit interested applicants.
Last year's participants felt the program was very worthwhile and time well spent. Eighth-grade physical science teacher Valerie Tuck, from Azalea Gardens Middle School in Norfolk, one of last year's participants says, "This program is a wonderful opportunity to increase a teacher's level of understanding of basic physics. Working with teachers from various cities and school settings allowed me the chance to collaborate with fellow science educators on a level that is difficult to achieve during the school year. The program was so informative that I am looking forward to a PEST 2 program in the future."
At the program's end, all 17 teachers rated it "excellent," and complimented the overall program, the information that was taught and how it was presented.