Announcing our Third HESIT professional development project!

A new Hollins Elementary Science Institute for Teachers (HESIT) for June, 2010 will be sponsored by Hollins University and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia through an Improving Teacher Quality grant. The HESIT program is a two week summer institute (tentatively schedule for June 17-30, 2008), with two follow-up meetings in August and September. The program for 2010 will focus on SOLs in Science for grades 4-6.

The good news is that we will be able to offer a $100 per day stipend to participating teachers ($1,100 total for the 10 days and 2 half-days).

Eligible to apply are teachers in Roanoke City and County, Salem City, and Botetourt, Henry, Floyd, Franklin and Craig Counties (Superintendent's Region VI). Teachers from private schools in the region are also invited to participate.

Institute themes:
Active learning —  Inquiry —  Differentiating instruction —  Using the outdoors & community resources —  Integrating curriculum  —  Understanding and teaching about the nature of science

•  PHOTOS OF 2008 INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES
  
•  THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE FOR EDUCATORS BY P. MACHAMER
  
•  MYTHS ABOUT THE NATURE OF SCIENCE BY WILLIAM McCOMAS
  
•  MAPS OF GRADE 3, 4, 5 & 6 SOLs (VA)
•  2008 INSTITUTE SCHEDULE   
  
•  LINKS
  
• CONTACTS
  
• 2008 PARTICIPANT WORK & PROJECTS
•  2008 PROJECT EVALUATION       

The Institute program will include presentations to illuminate the content, workshop-type hands-on activities andinvestigations, and field trips.

Our text: Teaching Constructivist Science K-8  (2007, Corwin).

Institute leadership:
Michael L. Bentley, EdD, Director
Renee Godard, PhD, Co-Director, Life Science
Dan Derringer, PhD, Physical Science, Chemistry
Joseph Ametepe, PhD, Physical Science, Astronomy
Teresa Auldridge, Integrating Curriculum through Investigations

Program Overview

Project activities will assist participants in developing both teaching skills and "pedagogical content knowledge" related to implementing inquiry-oriented and differentiated instruction in their classrooms. In addition to stipends for attendance, participants will receive instructional materials and together explore some of the many community resources of Southwestern Virginia.

Our content focus will be science as specified for Grades 4-6 in the Virginia Standards of  Learning and the National Science Education Standards. This content includes the nature of science itself, inquiry processes, and key concepts in physical science, earth-space science, and life science.