UW-Madison Leads in Science Teacher Preparation

UW-Madison leads in science teacher preparation

MADISON -- Elementary-school teachers often report that they feel less well prepared to teach science than subjects such as reading and literature. The problem doesn't lie with their college coursework or background, they say, as much as the difficulties of learning to turn the subject into an exciting experience for students.

To help combat the problem, in 1995, the University of Wisconsin-Madison launched Science Education Scholars, a collaboration between the School of Education and the Center for Biology Education.

This weekend, the program will receive national recognition as an innovative teacher preparation method. Dean Charles Read of the School of Education and a team of science and education faculty members will travel to Cambridge, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 30 through Tuesday, Oct. 2, to participate in an Association of American Universities (AAU) invitational forum titled "Exemplary Practices and Challenges in Teacher Preparation."

UW-Madison faculty members will lead a session at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1., dealing with Science Education Scholars. Read will also participate in a panel discussion looking at the future of teacher preparation at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

As part of the scholars program, each summer, UW-Madison students team up with university biological sciences researchers and local teachers to conduct research and develop instructional materials based upon the research. Ultimately, the hands-on research experience is designed to help education students and elementary school teachers have more confidence in their science-teaching abilities.

The forum is being held in cooperation with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Other UW-Madison participants will be dean Paul Peercy of the College of Engineering, Kevin Niemi, director of the Science Education Scholars program, professor emeritus Paul Williams, developer of Science Education Scholars and Professor Kenneth Zeichner, associate dean for teacher education.

The general sessions and panel discussion will be Webcast: http://web.mit/webcast/aauforum.

For more information on Science Education Scholars, contact Dean Charles Read, (608) 262-6137, on Friday, Sept. 28; Ken Zeichner, (608) 262-6136, or at home, (608) 257-3382, through Sunday, Oct. 30; or Kevin Niemi, (608) 262-5480. The UW delegation may also be reached on a limited basis at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., (617)547-4800. Jim Stewart, professor of Science Education, (608) 263-4638, or Judy Holt in the School of Education, (608) 265-7875, will remain on campus and will be available all week.

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