Skills Boost For Teachers
Too many science teachers in the U.S. — especially at the elementary and middle school levels — aren’t fully qualified to teach the subject. For instance, more than 70 percent of middle school science teachers in Chicago schools do not have a degree or endorsement in science. To address that problem, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) have teamed up to offer what they say is a first of its kind program to bolster the skills of middle school science teachers, according to an Education Week blog.
Teachers who complete the program will earn either a Master’s in science education or a middle school science endorsement, EW reports. The partnership plays to the strengths of each institution, and classes will be held at both locations. The museum courses are designed to help teachers develop a broad background in science that’s in keeping with national standards and local curricula. Meanwhile, IIT will utilize its research in the effective delivery of science content to give the program a foundation and structure. It will also provide courses on curriculum and adolescent psychology.
David Mosena, the museum’s CEO, says, in a news release, that research shows that under-qualified science teachers can’t help create the next generation of scientists and engineers that America so badly needs. “This groundbreaking partnership serves teachers whose students are most in need of improved science instruction.”
Filed under: K-12 Education News
Tags: Museums, Research on Learning, Science Teachers, Teacher Training
