Goal. The APS's TSAI is focused
on promoting systemic reform of elementary science
education and getting scientists (and engineers and other
technical professionals) involved.
History and Scope. The TSAI was launched in
October, 1994; Lead-Scientist Institutes have been held
in 1995, 1996, and 1997, with 117 participants from 38
different geographic areas. Two Regional Leadership
Institutes have been held in 1996 and 1997, with 169
participants from 25 individual school districts or
consortia and one state represented by a National Science
Foundation-supported Statewide Systemic Initiative.
Regional Leadership
Institutes are held each spring at a site
within a 2-3-state region for 12-14 teams. The purpose is
to launch new systemic reform efforts or to strengthen
fledgling efforts. Participating teams are expected to
bolster each other's efforts after the Institute.
Details
Five-Day
Lead Scientist Institutes take place each
year in January in Washington, D.C. The purpose is to
train teams of 2-4 scientists, often augmented by a local
educator, for the following leadership roles in school
districts undergoing systemic reform of their science
education programs: planning systemic reform, advocating
the reform program to the community, and recruiting and
training other scientists in the community to become
involved, primarily with the professional development of
teachers.
Details
One-Day
Scientist Workshops are organized by lead scientists
and their school districts to train other scientists for
a modest (2-3 days per year) level of involvement in
local systemic reform.
Details
Half-Day Community
Workshops are organized primarily by school personnel
for community leaders to build an understanding of and
support for hands-on, inquiry-centered approaches to K-6
science education. Attendees usually include school board
members, representatives of area businesses,
representatives of institutions of higher learning
affiliated with scientist advocates, and parent
activists.
Details
Sites with
TSAI Involvement. The American Physical Society
maintains a current list of school districts and
consortia where the TSAI has been involved. The list
provides names of school districts or consortia,
institute attended, names of team members and contact
information. Also provided is a short description of the
current status of reform for each school district or
consortium.
Details
Montgomery
County, MD, Public Schools as a Test Site.
The TSAI has been heavily involved in the systemic reform
efforts of the MCPS, a system with some 126 elementary
schools, which is nearby and in an area with an abundance
of scientists. This collaboration has allowed the TSAI to
explore several differenct roles for scientists.
Details
Organizational Information. The TSAI is an
outreach activity of the APS, the one professional
American society of physicists that embraces all areas of
physics with about 40,000 members. It is funded by the
"Campaign for Physics," a joint effort with the
American Association of Physics Teachers to raise $5
million for several educational goals. The TSAI, which
focuses on science education in grades K-6, is the
largest of the programs funded by the campaign.
Contact. For general information
about TSAI go to the TSAI homepage
or contact
Kevin Aylesworth, phone: 301-209-3245, fax:
301-209-0835
e-mail: ayleswor@aps.org
To apply for admission to the Five-Day Institutes,
contact
Tara McLoughlin, phone: 301-209-3231
e-mail: mcloughl@aps.org