Abilene Christian University continually works to support the sciences in area schools through support and information for teachers. This summer, as part of the Teacher Quality Grant, ACU is able to offer high school chemistry teachers and middle school earth science teachers unique summer workshops.
ACU has received 25 Teacher Quality Grants since 1990, allowing faculty experts from eight different academic departments to help rural area teachers from 40 school districts and four private schools by improving their understanding of their subject, connecting them with peers and providing them with innovative classroom technology.
"I don't try to tell them how to do their jobs," said Dr. Kim Pamplin, chair of the ACU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "But I can help with their understanding of chemistry and other sciences."
The workshops, which began on June 8, will continue through June 25 and include field trips and learning experiences. High school teachers will go to the Abilene Environmental Lab, the waste water treatment plant, and the water treatment plant. Another will travel to Pecos and Carlsbad Caverns and study geological formations along the way.
Along with Pamplin, the co-project directors are Dr. Lloyd Goldsmith and Dr. Donnie Snider, both associate professors of education. Dr. Eric Hardegree, professor in the Department of Chemistry, is another instructor for the high school teachers workshop.
All teachers participating in the workshop will receive a Flip video camera and tripod, which can be used to record lesson segments, short lab procedures, demonstrations and other educational videos. Teachers can also record sessions during the school year where they use something learned in the workshop, then self-critique and discuss the lesson with ACU faculty.
"Many teachers find it difficult during the school year to spend time learning about new technologies and incorporating them into their classes," said Pamplin. "One thing we try to do each year is spend some time presenting new learning technologies and provide time now for them to build lessons that they can use later during the school year."
Beyond the technology and instruction, teachers who participate in the workshops are able to connect with a support network they are not able to develop during the school year.
"What we have found is that these grants provide an invaluable opportunity for professionally isolated teachers from rural districts to build relationships with peers who face the same challenges they do," said Pamplin. "As these teachers work and learn together during the summer workshops, they become a community of learners who learn from each other. For the rest of the academic year, they share tips, questions, and concerns."
If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office or call (325) 674-2696.
