Research Experience for Teachers

Tricia Spada8th Grade Science TeacherVandenberg Middle SchoolVandenberg Air Force Base, CA

Summer 2000

Research on Amphiphilic Monolayerswith Yufang HuDepartment of Chemical Engineering

Impact on Teaching

•Connection between research and education•Great strides are made with very small steps•Keep the “big picture” in sight•Collaboration is essential

Focus on Standards-Based Instruction

In the Lompoc Unified School District, it has been mandated that by the year2003, District Assessments in Science will become part of the Multiple Measure Matrix that determines a student’s promotion or retention.

Opportunity for Collaboration

•Science teachers meet to write the assessments•Assessments are given and data is collected•Analysis of data leads to discussion of curriculum and sharing of teaching strategies

Forces Assessment - Dec.2001

F o rc e s A s s e s s m e n t ( D ec . 2 0 0 1 )

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Q u es tio n N u m b er

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Conclusions from Data Analysis• Laboratory experiences enhance

comprehension• Practice improves the students’ ability to

perform calculations and to apply these functions to new situations.

• Repetition of new vocabulary such as in “Warm-Up” activities helps students to recognize and remember these new terms.

• Material that is not learned well is quickly forgotten.

Questions and Concerns

How do we write a test that is fair and accurate?What about science inquiry skills?How do we define “mastery?”