Application Deadline April 15, 2004
(Applications will be accepted after the deadline only if all slots are not filled)

The Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program (administered by the Missouri Division of Higher Education, DHE) has provided funds to the University of Missouri-Columbia to conduct summer programs to improve hands-on education at the 6-9 grade level. A summer institute on Electricity, Magnetism, Atoms and Molecules will be offered from July 5 to 23, 2004. Twentyfour teachers who teach science at the 6-9 grade level in the state of Missouri will be selected for the institute. Teachers must be from schools designated as eligible by the DHE.  Teachers from other schools will be placed on an alternate list and will be accepted on a space-available basis. Successful applicants will come to Columbia, MO for the 15-day institute. Each teacher will return with a kit containing equipment, supplies and printed materials to implement activities in the classroom. Three day-long follow up sessions will be held during the academic year, one of which will consist of a site-visit.  Participants are expected to teach some of the content learned at the institute in their classes the following academic year.

The Institute will be taught by Profs. Meera Chandrasekhar (Physics), Bruce McClure (Biochemistry), Steven Keller (Chemistry), Mark Volkmann (Science Education), and teaching assistants from MU physics and chemistry departments.

Content of the Summer Institute

The Institute will explore physics and chemistry concepts of static electricity, simple circuits, batteries, capacitors, magnetism, atoms, elements, compounds, and chemical reactions (see detailed content list i below).  The Institute is success-oreinted, based on hands-on techniques, and geared to the 6-9 grade level. Other features include:

• Content correlated to Missouri Science Frameworks.
• Six-hour daily sessions (morning and afternoon) focus on structured hands-on activities, discussions for concept development, quantitative applications, math reviews, and building small equipment.
• Periodic homework assignments.
• Pre and post-tests. 
• Course grades based on the post-test,  participation and homework.
• Evaluation of content learning of teachers and their students is required by the grant.  Schools of teachers selected for the institute are expected to agree to the evaluation required. A detailed list will be posted shortly.

Participant support:
Applicants selected will receive:

• Three hours of tuition-free graduate credit in Physics.
• Partial travel support for participants who live outside Columbia.
• An air conditioned dormitory room and meals for those who live on campus.
• A stipend of $1,296 ($12/hr) for participation in the institute.
• A kit containing equipment and supplies to implement the activities. The grant will pay for the costs of the kit. The kit provides one set of almost all the materials needed to do all the activities in the classroom. For example, an electroscope, digital multimeter, magnaprobe, liquid compass, switches, capacitors, and equipment assembled by the participants are included.
  

Selection criteria

• Experience teaching science at the 6-9 grade level
• Recommendations from applicant's administration
• Eligibility of school based on DHE list
• Priority will be given to teams (two or more teachers from the same school district)
  

Application Procedure

Please complete the electronic application form and return it asap.  Our deadine is  April 15, 2004. Successful applicants will be notified by May 1. Please submit:

• A completed application form (electronic or hard copy).
• A list of college courses in science and mathematics.
• A list of the content areas learned at this institute that you expect to teach next academic year.
• A statement of your reasons for applying and how you would benefit from the institute (200 words)
• A letter from the your administration indicating commitment to evaluation required (please use the designated form).
• Two letters of recommendation.
  

Mail all material to:

Prof. Meera Chandrasekhar
Department of Physics
University of Missouri
Columbia MO 65211
Phone:(573)-882-2619   Fax: (573)-882=4195
email: meerac@missouri.edu

Electronic Application Form for Physical Science Institute
Please note:  If you do not get an e-mail confirmation within a week, please contact Prof. Chandrasekhar for a hard copy of the brochure.

Questions?? Please call or email Prof. Meera Chandrasekhar (info above) or Prof. Mark Volkmann (573-884-9738).

Updated November 1, 2005