Summer Science Immersion
An intensive science education workshop for teachers, along with select students and parents.
June 14-18, 2004

Hosted on the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) campus and at Duke University Medical Center, the weeklong Summer Science Immersion program is an exciting opportunity for fifth and sixth grade teachers to gain intensive experience in teaching through inquiry, direct exposure to latest biomedical research and applications of science, and discussion of effective strategies for working with minority, underserved, and other hard-to-engage students. A small group of specially selected students and parents will also get to participate in this program, which will combine with breakout sessions solely for teachers and group projects and field trips.

Each morning of the program, NCSSM education specialists will share science education methods and skills designed to nurture science project investigations. These techniques, which meet North Carolina state science standards, will address specific interests expressed by participating teachers and their principals. Since its founding in 1980, NCSSM has conducted workshops for more than 4,000 teachers, including these events the "Science is a Verb" workshop for middle school teachers, funded by Eisenhower Funds, and "WINNERS," funded by Burroughs-Wellcome.

Each afternoon, program participants will meet with prominent Duke scientists, who will share their latest cutting-edge research, host tours of their laboratories, or lead hands-on experiments for the group. Afternoon sessions will focus on emerging areas of inquiry such as genomics and the application of new genetic interventions, the structure and applications of lasers, leading-edge imaging technology (MRI, ultra-fast CT), and biomedical engineering developments such as pacemakers, surgical devices, cardiology instruments, and prosthetics.

For educators, the Summer Science Immersion will also focus on improving vertical integration between the Ecosystems units taught in both fifth and sixth grades, and increasing knowledge on the importance of Ecosystems as a unifying strand through all of the fifth and sixth grade curriculum units. The involvement of students and parents in the Summer Science Immersion program is intended to enhance support for teachers when they return to the classroom to implement what they have learned.

Participants will receive a stipend of $750 and 3.0 CEUs for attending the one-week program. Program activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 14 through June 18, 2004. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day.

Applications by sixth grade science teachers at Durham's Rogers-Herr and Githens Middle Schools, and fifth grade teachers at Lakewood, E.K. Powe, and Forest View Elementary Schools will be considered on a rolling basis. For more information, please contact:

David Stein
BOOST Project Coordinator
668-6271
david.stein@duke.edu

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