Project Description: The Vermont Science Initiative (VSI) is a partnership among Learning Innovations (LI) at WestEd, the Vermont State Colleges, the Vermont Department of Education, the University of Vermont, and the Vermont Institutes, through which elementary and middle grade teachers earn a Masters of Arts in Science degree.
VSI prepares teachers to expand their understanding and practice of science content, pedagogy, assessment, and leadership skills. LI provides mentoring services to the teacher participants of VSI during the school year following the summer courses. The services provided are:
- Support to teachers as they practice research-based instructional practices for science teaching
- Support to teachers as they reflect on student learning/student work to inform instruction
- Support to teachers as they examine and refine instructional practices
- Support to teachers as they apply their understanding of leadership to school science initiatives.
This project uses a variety of strategies including phone and e-mail consultation, on-site meetings, visits to classrooms, and group meetings. The mentors provide monthly reports and ongoing communication to the VSI Director and staff. VSI is funded by the federal government through Vermont's Math Science Partnership grant.
WestEd staff involved with this project:
|
|
