Sept. 13, 2000
The U.S. Department of Education announced yesterday that the Modeling
Instruction Program at Arizona State University is one of seven K-12
educational technology programs designated as exemplary or promising, out
of 134 programs submitted to the agency's Expert Panel last year. The list
of the seven exemplary or promising programs can be found on the
Department's website <http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ORAD/LTD/panel.html>.
I copied and pasted the following from the website. I included the Maryland
CoreModels Project because it focuses on high school physics too.
The following seven programs were designated as exemplary or promising out
of a total of 134 educational technology programs submitted to the U.S.
Department of Education's Educational Technology Expert Panel. Selections
were based on the following criteria: (l) Quality of Program, (2)
Educational Significance, (3) Evidence of Effectiveness, and (4) Usefulness
to Others.
Promising Programs:
Maryland Virtual High School CoreModels Project
Montgomery Public Schools (MD)
Middle-School Mathematics through Applications Program
WestEd (CA)
Modeling Instruction in High School Physics
Arizona State University (AZ)
One Sky, Many Voices
The University of Michigan (MI)
The WEB Project
Montpelier School District (VT)
PROMISING:
Maryland Virtual High School CoreModels Project (MVHS CoreModels) has two
main goals: (1) to use computer modeling to help students achieve state and
national standards; and (2) to develop and refine a process of peer
leadership and support to help teachers implement modeling activities as
part of their regular classroom activities. Modeling packets, available in
biology and physics, are built around the content and process of Maryland
Science Core Learning goals and incorporate systems thinking and modeling
processes. Students practice their mathematics skills and build their own
understanding of scientific concepts involving equilibrium processes,
feedback, and causal relationships. Within a collaborative environment,
teachers reflect on teaching practices, facilitate change in science
education, and integrate theory and practice in school settings.
Contact:
Mary Ellen Verona
E-mail:mverona@mvhs.mbhs.edu
Phone: 301-649-2880
Web site:http://mvhs.mbhs.edu
Modeling Instruction in High School Physics uses computer models and
modeling as a focal point to develop the content and pedagogical knowledge
of physics teachers who then serve as local experts in the use of
technology in teaching and learning science. In eight weeks of modeling
workshops over two summers, teachers revamp their current high school
physics course to incorporate technology and insights of educational
research. In the revamped course, instruction is organized into modeling
cycles that engage students in all phases of model development, evaluation,
and application. Students collaborate in planning and conducting
experiments, use software to organize and analyze data, and present to the
class a summary of their group's experimental procedure, interpretation,
and findings.
Contact:
Jane Jackson
E-mail:jane.jackson@asu.edu
Phone: 480-965-8438,
Web site: http://modeling.la.asu.edu/modeling.html
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Jane Jackson, Director, Modeling Workshop Project
Box 871504, Dept.of Physics, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287
480-965-8438/fax:965-7331. http://modeling.la.asu.edu