PROJECT PISCES PROFESSIONAL

Phase II developed a model for implementing microcomputers in science. ENLIST Micros: Phase I developed a set of training materials that present the knowledge and skills that science teachers need to use microcomputers in science teaching. The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), is conducting the third phase of ENLIST Micros. As PISCES enters its fifth year, it is evident that the combination of continuous support inside and outside of the classroom is successful in developing teacher engagement in science instruction. The students find themselves enjoying science and are deeply impacted by the presence of an actual scientist in their classroom. PISCES collects a variety of data including student work, science attitude surveys, interviews with students and teachers, video, as well as science content knowledge. San Diego and Alaska scientists travel to Barrow twice a year to participate in an intense, month-long science instruction partnership.

In addition to the work done in San Diego, the project has expanded to Barrow, Alaska with plans to expand to La Paz, Mexico where there are SDSU climate research stations.

PROJECT PISCES PROFESSIONAL

The San Diego Science Alliance and other community and industry supporters provide the additionalfunding necessary to provide this teacher professional development Currenty, PISCES is present in over 40 schools and is able to provide partnerships to over 100 classrooms each year. Teachers receive assistance outside of the classroom as well attending professional development institutes three times a year to establish and maintain effective science teaching methods. The teachers remain in the program for two years during which they have continuous access to the kit-based curriculum as well as two to three partnership cycles. This is accomplished during a 3 month partnership in which the scientist joins the teacher in the classroom a few days each week to complete professional kit-based curriculum such as that available from FOSS (Full Option Science System) and STC (Science and Technology for Children). Through this partnership, the scientist brings scientific expertise to the classroom while the teacher delivers the lesson using current pedagogic methods. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in science programs in San Diego area universities including San Diego State University, California State University San Marcos, and University of California San Diego partner with elementary school teachers. The project was designed and is administered through cooperation among faculty at San Diego State University and the Science Department of the San Diego County Office of Education.

The project is funded by the NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program.

The PISCES Project (Partnerships Involving the Scientific Community in Elementary Schools is an innovative program that brings high quality standards-based elementary science curriculum and hands-on laboratory materials into San Diego County's classrooms.