Science Fellows Supporting Teachers

Department of Chemistry
www.gk-12.osu.edu
Susan Olesik, Principal Investigator
olesik@chemistry.ohio-state.edu

The National Science Foundation recently funded Science Fellows Supporting Teachers (SFST), part of the Graduate Fellow-K-12 program that partners science graduate students with teachers in K-12 classrooms in an effort to improve science education. At Ohio State, SFST fellows are partnered with Columbus Public Schools teachers and work with them to teach inquiry-based science to students in grades 3 through 5. This mutually beneficial program allows fellows and teachers to develop outstanding communication skills, and enables them to become better science instructors for the rest of their careers.

The GK-12 program has been actively involved in enhancing science instruction in CPS elementary schools since 1999. By generating enthusiasm for teaching and learning science, the program has been instrumental in improving 4th grade science proficiency test passing rates in many schools. Participating teachers have developed stronger interest in science instruction and have greatly improved their comfort with a wide range of science content. Teachers have also learned how to make use of a variety of resources to create more engaging science lessons. Elementary school students involved with GK-12 have not only improved their science testing, they have formed a foundation of keen interest in understanding the world through scientific experimentation. The GK-12 program looks for the future leaders in science and engineering. The overarching goal of this NSF program is to transform the interactions between scientists and K-12 education.