News :: Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach

January, 2008 marks the anniversary of the beginning of the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership (SCP) program, which started in 2000. Originally funded through a National Science Foundation (NSF) GK-12 Graduate Teaching Fellows grant, this partnership has placed over 87 graduate and postdoctoral scientists in 90 MNPS classrooms over the past seven years.

Jeanne Tuschl, Program Coordinator, maintains a busy schedule recruiting, training, and monitoring the work of each cohort of fellows. With Ms. Tuschl's tireless work, the SCP program has been recognized as a critical part of the MNPS school system.

Pedro Garcia, Superintendent of MNPS; Board Chairwoman, Marsha Warden; and the Nashville Alliance for Public Education Chair, Pam Garrett, have all committed support for the sustainability of the SCP program in MNPS middle schools. Dr. Virginia Shepherd, Director of the Center for Science Outreach, has also been recognized by the NSF as directing one of the most successful GK-12 programs in the country.

The Center for Science Outreach is proud to sponsor this program connecting Vanderbilt University, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University, and Fisk University scientists to MNPS classrooms.

The Center for Science Outreach will be offering two new and unique opportunities for science teacher professional development for the summer of 2008. See the "Summer Teacher Workshop " page to sign up today!

Research Tools for Secondary Science Educators

Research Tools for Secondary Science Educators invites secondary science teachers into Vanderbilt science laboratories for four, one-week sessions. These interconnected workshops, funded by Tennessee‘s Improving Teacher Quality program, will focus on science and technology content and tools for the classroom. Each of the first three weeks will focus on a different scientific discipline, with the fourth week covering technology tools. These workshops are open to 25 teachers, while the technology workshop will be open to only 15 teachers.

Managing yoUr Science Classroom Lab Efficiently (MUSCLE)

The Managing yoUr Science Classroom Lab Efficiently (MUSCLE) Workshop offered by the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach in June 2008 is designed by science teachers for science teachers. It provides instruction and modeling of management techniques specifically designed to improve science teaching at the secondary level. MUSCLE classroom and laboratory management strategies enable teachers to gain instructional time and to create improved learning conditions for all students so they will achieve at higher levels in science.

The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt debuted its new website design and released applications for its 2008-'09 freshman class today at http://theschool.vanderbilt.edu/. The website will continue to grow in the coming months as student projects and events from the current school year continue with 24 freshmen and 8 seniors enrolled in the School's inaugural year.

Applications for next year's freshman class will be accepted through 5:00pm on February 8. Applications for current high school juniors being released in mid-February along with the Center for Science Outreach's other summer program for rising high school seniors, the Research Internship Program (RIP).