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Professional development of scientists

Contents

Materials
Workshops
For Students

Materials

We have gathered scientist training materials shared by colleagues from exemplary scientist-education partnerships.

1. Community Resources for Science (CRS)

   "Community in the Classroom" is a program of Community Resources for Science that matches scientist volunteers with elementary classrooms to give standards-aligned, inquiry-based, science presentations. CRS has developed a training and placement process for its scientist volunteers and offers it here as a model to organizations that are developing similar programs. [ crscience.org ]

   The process of training and placement includes some thinking time for the scientist volunteer, an orientation session and useful materials, individual coaching, and support from CRS to match the scientist with classrooms and gather feedback from teachers and students.

   • Role Model Training and Placement Process [ PDF ]

   Volunteers need specific information about the nature and extent of the commitment before they decide to participate. In this handout, the answers are specific to CRS' program, but the questions are typical things volunteers need to know.

   • Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteering [ PDF ]

   In a two-hour orientation session, CRS coordinators offer basic information and provide work time for volunteer scientists to plan their presentation. Handouts provide information on children's development, essential elements of presentations, and planning tools.

   • Volunteer Role Model Orientation [ PDF ]
   • Lesson Plan [ PDF ]
   • The ABC’s of Classroom Science with Kids [ PDF ]
   • Essential Elements of a Presentation [ PDF ]

2. the UCSF Science & Health Education Partnership (SEP) [ ucsf.edu ]

   Materials links to come

Workshops

Workshops, conferences, and other opportunities

Working with education and outreach is a new role for many scientists, as well as for educators who transition into roles that involve them with scientists and science organizations. A workshop or conference can be a good way to gather knowledge, improve skills, and meet like-minded colleagues.

1. ReSciPE offers workshops that focus on scientific inquiry as a needed expertise that scientists can bring to their education work. We offer these at professional meetings and to interested scientific groups. For more information and for a current workshop schedule, see our workshops page.

2. The Space Science Institute in Boulder, CO, often offers professional development opportunities for scientists and E/PO leads involved with education. Check their web site for a current schedule and to see their collection of education resources for scientists. [ spacescience.org ]

For students

Especially for young scientists

Properly prepared, young scientists—undergraduate and graduate students—can be effective participants in outreach programs, especially in roles that take them into K-12 classrooms or after-school programs. Many students enjoy this, and children relate well to them as young and enthusiastic role models. Because education and outreach are becoming increasingly important professional roles for scientists, this is also a chance for young scientists to develop useful skills in teaching and communicating to the general public. The following programs are a few that offer high-quality training to young scientists for such work.

1. This innovative 30-hour course is designed to introduce undergraduates and graduate students in ocean science-related majors to inquiry-based instructional strategies for communicating their passion for their subject area. These strategies, combined with students' content knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing it, equip them to introduce ocean science to K-8 students and teachers in local schools.

   1. College course on "Communicating Ocean Science" developed by California COSEE [ cacosee.net ]

   2. California COSEE also offer an instructors' workshop, designed to share their model with other educators. [ cacosee.net ]

   3. Versions of "Communicating Science" tailored for chemistry, astronomy, and physics have been developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science. [ lawrencehallofscience.org ]

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