Overview | Participants | Objectives | Expected Results | Major Issues | Context for Success | Grant Resources | Planning Grant Timeline | Additional Info


Overview

The intent of this planning grant is to build a collaborative among West Alabama stakeholders for the enhancement of science literacy. The collaborative will develop a long term plan aimed at teachers, K-8, and their students. The partners will develop strategies for bringing resources and expertise to the planning process. The proposed project will promote a scientifically literate citizenry and provide skills needed for meaningful jobs and careers for the 21st century.


Participants

• Bibb County, Greene County, Hale County, Sumter County and Tuscaloosa City Schools
• K - 8 teachers
• Faculty at the University of Alabama and Stillman College
• Parents, community and business leaders

Objectives

• Build a collaborative partnership among key stakeholders in West Alabama for the enhancement of science literacy
• Use resources and expertise to expand and deepen understanding of problems and solutions for effective change
• Target K-8 teachers and students in key schools
• Develop a long term plan for local systemic change aimed at enhancing science literacy in the region
• Write and submit a multi-year proposal to fund professional development required for systemic change

Expected Results

• Common vision among stakeholders in West Alabama
• Extend an interest in science education reform now underway in the nation
• Build a foundation for higher science achievement for all students
• Develop a priority for teacher science content knowledge & effective science teaching
• Create inertia for using technology in science in K- 8 classrooms
• Identify resources needed for change and sustaining the change process
• Seek funding from several sources

Major Issues

These include: professional development alternatives, selection and funding of appropriate science program textbooks and materials, effective use of technology resources, changes in school organization, parent and community role, needs of business and industry, and policy and staff development implications to ensure equity.


NSF Context for Success

• Extend and deepen knowledge in fewer basic ideas in all of the sciences
• Use of hands-on, minds-on inquiry learning and teaching practices embedded in the State & National Science Standards
• Use research supported science programs
• Make interconnections with other content areas in the school curriculum
• Use of technology to facilitate learning

NSF ALSTEP Grant Resources

• People - consultant services & travel
• Substitute salary for teacher involvement
• Materials, supplies and reproduction costs for staff meetings & workshops

ALSTEP Planning Grant Timeline

1	Determine needs of West Alabama in science and technology education	Fall, 1996
2	Teacher and administrator needs assessment	Winter,1997
3	Completion of Planning Proposal for National Science Foundation	Summer 1997
4	Notification of award of NSF Planning Grant	Fall 1997
5	NSTA regional conference fact finding trip	December, 1997
6	Planning meeting of stakeholders	January, 1998
7	Professional activities leading to a shared goals for the 21st Century local focus group meetings study of innovative collaborative models in other school systems study of innovative science curricula	February - March, 1998
8	report, share and develop common direction for science for 21st century	March 1998
9	Submission of preproposal to National Science Foundation	April 1, 1998
10	Completion of professional activities for science literacy	April - May, 1998
11	Develop plan for systemic change in K-8 science in West Alabama	March - August, 1998
12	Planning and writing of full NSF proposal	June - August, 1998
13	Complete NSF planning grant report	August 1, 1998
14	Submission of full proposal for NSF Local Systemic Change Program	September 1, 1998

ALSTEP Leadership Schools

Bibb County Schools

• Bibb County Junior High , 7-8
• Brent Elementary School, 4-6
• Centreville Elementary , K-3
• Randolph Elementary , K-6
• West Blocton Elementary , K-6
• Woodstock Elementary , K-6
• West Blocton High, 7-8

Greene County Schools

• Birdine Elementary School, K-6
• Eutaw High School, 7-12
• Carver Junior High School, K-6
• Paramount High School, K-12

Hale County Schools

• Greensboro Public East Elementary, K-5
• Greensboro Public West Elementary, K-5
• Moundville Elementary, K-5
• Sunshine High, K-5
• Akron Community School West , K-5
• Sumter County Schools
• Kinterbish Junior High, K-8
• North Sumter Junior High, K-8
• Livingston Junior High, K-8
• York West End Junior High, K-8

Tuscaloosa City Schools

• Martin Luther King Elementary, K-5
• Rock Quary Elementary , K-5

For information contact:

Dennis Sunal, Coralee Smith, Cynthia Sunal, or Carol Donovan

Alabama Science Teaching & Learning Center
302 Graves Hall
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

Phone: (205) 348-7010
Fax: (205) 348-9863

e-mail: dsunal@bamaed.ua.edu
web: University of Alabama Science Teacher Education



This project was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation.
Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

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