RESEARCH-TEAM CONFERENCES FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS ROBERT H. CARLETON ~ - -- - - National Science Teachers Association, Washington, D. C. ~
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H o w would you go about the design of new ideas for science teaching is laboratory-type activity in which school science laboratory activities? How would you students find out by doing; (2) there is altogether too seek to help high-school teachers overcome the math much "cookbook activity" in the repertoire of couvenhazards to student success in learning science? How tional laboratory work; (3) good examples of problemwould you try t o help teachers who wish to encourage solving type laboratory activities would be welcomed by science students to do projects as stepping stones t o many teachers who try to help their students have more realistic experiences with methods of scientific careers in science? One way to tackle these difficult problems of high- inquiry. school science teaching would be "the armchair quarterThe 32 teachers selected for the 1954 conference by back" approach--sit down and work out some "an- the Future Scientists of America Foundation of NSTA swers." At least one other possibility is the "re- assembled a t Oregon State College. Acting as a search-team" approach, in which experienced and research team, these teachers visited and interviewed capable teachers meet in a conference atmosphere with more than 30 research scientists regarding projects in the problem and a promising hypothesis clearly in progress in their laboratories. Observations of subject focus, and then hammer out suggested guiding prin- matter and methods acquired during these interviews ciples and good examples. It is the latter plan which were given a sharp look from the point of view of the is being tested as a fruitful avenue t o the improvement years of successful experience represented among the of high-school science teaching. The National Science teachers. The conference Fellows then poured in Teachers Association, the Crown Zellerbach Founda- hours of discussion among themselves and with special tion, and a series of host colleges on the West Coast are consultants brought into the conference. The goal cooperating in the experiment. Two research-team was to define implications which are within the potential summer conferences for high-school science teachers of school science laboratories. Next, implications were translated into recommendahave already been held; the third is scheduled for the tions. I n turn, all recommendations had t o be excoming summer. The research-team conference idea is very simple: pressed in examples of modified laboratory exercises, (1) a persistent or perplexing problem in science teach- or where necessary or desirable, in sketches of new-type ing is identified as the target of a two-weeks summer exercises. When the conference turned in its final conference; (2) 32 teachers selected on the basis of report, there were 18 specific, carefully-worded recomcompetitive applications are chosen to receive confer- mendations; the group had also produced suggestions ence fellowships; (3) the teachers are assembled on the and directions for 27 new-type laboratory exercises campus of a leading college or university accessible to suitable for high-school general science, biology, collegiate, industrial, and governmental research scien- chemistry, and physics. These were published in the tists and activities; (4) with the help of the conference February, 1955, issue of The Science Teacher of which directors and through the medium of laboratory visita- 10,000 copies have been distributed reaching at least tions and interviews with scientists, the conference 20,000 readers. "comes up with a report" designed to be stimulating Apparently satisfied that its dollars had been well and helpful to thousands of other teachers. The con- invested, the Crown Zellerbach Foundation decided to ference Fellows personally gain all the benefits of the sponsor a second West Coast Conference in 1955. more conventional science-teachers' summer confer- The hypothesis accepted for exploration was stated this e n c e n e w information and new ideas, the exchange of way: "New exercises emphasizing the use of mathesuccessful teaching techniques among the group, the matics in today's science will help teachers keep more new enthusiasm that comes from scholarly effort in an of their capable students on the way toward scientific, atmosphere of fellowship and fun. I n addition, they engineering, and technical careers." The National have the satisfaction that they are serving the pro- Council of Teachers of Mathematics joined as a cosponfession by producing a report beneficial to their col- sor of the conference, which was held a t San Jose State College. Once again the Fellows (this time about equally leagues all over the country. Target of the first conference in 1954 was "New divided between science and mathematics teachers) Ideas for School Science Laboratory Activities." backed up their training and experience by interviews This problem was selected because our advisory com- with more than 50 research scientists and engineers in mittee agreed that: (1) the solid foundation of good 33 industrial, government, and university laboratories. 2132
VOLUME 33, NO. 6, JUNE, 1956
These visitations produced a new perspective of the opportunities which await young people today in mathematics, science, engineering, and related fields. The teachers saw old scientific principles being used to solve new problems, and new principles being explored in the hope they would lead to solutions of old problems. The team then prepared 15 statements on how they thought more boys and girls can receive the kind of instruction which will cause them to continue toward science-related careers. More than 100 new sciencerelated mathematics exercises were included in the final report. Some of these simply put familiar skills in a new setting, others involved new adaptations of old skills, and some tried to introduce mathematics or science concepts that have not, as yet, appeared in textbooks. Once more, the report of the conference has been published in the February, 1956, issue of The Seienee Teacher (single copies of a reprint free on request while the supply lasts). And come next June 17, the Third West Coast Summer Conference for Science Teachers will get under way. This time the target will be: how t o improve student science projects as stepping stones to careers in science. Data will again be gathered by visiting research laboratories and interviewing biologists, chemists, physicists, geologists, engineers, and other scientists. The teachers will be looking to see and inquire how successful scientists identify projects, design lines of attack, carry through, and report the results of their
efforts. By combining their observations with their own experiences, the teachers will then formulate promising guiding principles and example projects for use by any and all who wish to capitalize on the outcomes of the conference. The "research-team conference" Reems to be catching on. As of this writing, another 1956 summer conference which will involve similar features has just been approved. Designed specifically for teachers of chemistry in a rather limited region of one state, it will he cosponsored by the Marathon Corporation and the Future Scientists of America Foundation of the National Science Teachers Association. Low in cost (about $350-$400 per teacher), high in productivity for the conference Fellows, and with widely extended influence through reporting in The Science Teacher, these conferences appear well designed t o wring maximum mileage out of every dollar invested by businessindustry sponsors. With 60,000 science teachers in the nation's 28,000 high schools, there is need and room for many more such summer opportunities. The National Science Teachers Association and its Future Scientists of America Foundation-with its resources of talent, experience and "know-how," and its connections with both the educational and scientific w o r l d s stands ready, willing, and able t o assist any and all potential sponsors who may wish to join Crown Zellerbach and Marathon in providing more summer conferences for science teachers.
