It's About Discovery

Posted August 26th, 2009 by dcristol
It’s About Discovery implements the new Ford Partnerships for Advanced Studies curriculum module called Working Toward Sustainability with a primary focus of engaging over 400 ninth grade students and 20 teachers from underserved schools in OH and NC in inquiry based science activities that encourage students to pursue science, engineering, and technology in high school and beyond, and secondly the project provides teachers with professional development activities to ensure quality teaching and understanding of the content.
Project Information
Cohort: 
7 (2009/2010-2012/2013)
Category: 
Strategies
Principal Investigator: 
Dean Cristol
Co-Principal Investigator(s): 
Christopher Andersen
Lynn Sametz
Sponsor: 
Ohio State University Research Foundation
Primary Focus: 
Environmental Science
Organization Location City: 
Columbus
Organization Location Region/State: 
East North Central
Ohio (OH)
Where project work happens: 
East North Central
Ohio (OH)
South Atlantic
North Carolina (NC)
Participant type: 
High School Students
High School Teachers
Middle School Students
Middle School Teachers
Target Area: 
Urban
Award Number: 
0833614
Overview Section

“It’s About Discovery” is a partnership between The Ohio State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Fayetteville State University that engages high school students and their teachers in critical thinking skills focusing on STEM content areas. The Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (PAS) new science curriculum is the foundation for the project that includes students and teachers from Ohio and North Carolina. We are implementing a new Ford PAS curriculum module, Working Towards Sustainability, which comprises of four modules: We All Run on Energy, Energy from the Sun, Is Hydrogen a Solution? and The Nuclear Revolution. While the primary focus is on students, throughout the life of the project all teachers will participate in professional development centered on the Ford PAS modules to ensure quality teaching and understanding of the content. Technology will be integrated throughout the program to enable students to create inquiry-based projects across state lines and for teachers to continue their professional development. Community partners will serve as mentors, host field trips, and engage in on-line conversations with students.

Activities Section

It’s About Discovery begins with a few introductory activities for 8th graders that focus on STEM careers, and then moves into the modules through 9th grade physical science and teachers and students will become engaged in different Ford PAS modules that relate to10th science and mathematics. Teachers across the two states will engage in a new professional development model that encourages inquiry based teaching and enables them to partner with teachers in different schools and states. Students will create projects through on-line conversations. These hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences engage students and prepare and encourage them to pursue science, engineering, and technology in high school and beyond. All Ford PAS curricula use real world experiences, open-ended problems and result in real world applications.