Understanding Science

To support the most effective use of Making Sense of SCIENCE™ materials, Understanding Science for Teaching™ offers comprehensive Facilitation Academies for facilitators to engage in the materials as learners, explore facilitation strategies, and practice leading course sessions. In summer 2011, two Facilitation Academies will be offered (Force & Motion and Energy).

Download the registration flier (PDF, 846 KB)

The Making Sense of SCIENCE implementation model focuses on training and supporting facilitation teams, rather than providing direct service to teachers, therefore the effectiveness of facilitator support is key to successful replication. When the recent national randomized experiment was carried out, the experiment was conducted through dissemination to 20 staff developers who were trained in face-to-face Facilitation Academies to lead teacher courses in their regions. In addition, four course groups were led by the Understanding Science for Teaching course developers. Teacher and student gains on content tests did not differ when courses were led by trained facilitators versus the Understanding Science for Teaching course developers (Heller, et al., 2010). This is a strong test of the efficacy and feasibility of the Making Sense of SCIENCE materials and procedures for training facilitators.