Inquiry Science Institute
Engaging Chicago’s students in 21st century science instruction
Science Instruction in Chicago Public Schools: A Critical Gap
For 10 years, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has focused on improving student achievement in reading and math. Principals acknowledge that science has not received adequate attention during this time. In schools across Chicago, science scores have either remained stagnant (at undesirable levels) or have declined precipitously, as much as 20 percentage points year-to-year in some schools. CPS elementary teachers often do not have the requisite background in science content or content delivery. They also cite current methods of science instruction for the declines in student performance — how students are learning science does not follow how practitioners, like engineers, are doing science.
In a recent speech (January 2010), President Obama stated, “We have to admit we are right now being outpaced by our competitors. One assessment shows American 15-year-olds now ranked 21st in science...That’s not acceptable. And year after year the gap between the number of teachers we have and the number of teachers we need in [science] is widening. This shortfall is projected to climb past a quarter of a million teachers in the next five years — and that gap is most pronounced in predominantly poor and minority schools.”
The National Research Council has made the following challenge to principals and teachers: “Professional development is key to supporting effective science instruction. We call for a dramatic departure from current professional development practice, both in scope and kind. Teachers need opportunities to deepen their knowledge of the science content of the K-8 curriculum. They also need opportunities to learn how students learn science and how to teach it.”
The Solution: The Inquiry Science Institute, Golden Apple’s new professional development initiative,
seeks to answer this challenge by working with existing CPS science teachers to improve
their ability to engage students in doing science using the inquiry approach endorsed
by the National Science Teachers Association and other leading science organizations.
Inquiry Science Institute: The Program
Since 1989, Golden Apple has provided professional development for over 5,000 Chicago-area teachers in science instruction through its science workshop, traditionally held for one week each summer. ISI represents Golden Apple’s strategic intent to take 20 years of science workshop success to scale:
Pilot cohort of 18 CPS schools located on Chicago’s South and Southwest Sides in 2010-11- 90 total teachers - five per school - leading their respective faculty through whole-school professional development and use of the inquiry approach to science instruction (a "teachers-teaching-teachers" model)
- Two-year relationship with each school, including two science workshops (one in each summer) and ongoing, in-school coaching, facilitated professional work sessions and team-building throughout the school year
- Expert faculty, including Golden Apple Fellows, providing content and instruction
- Web 2.0 technology facilitating exchange of learning between participating teachers, including the use of Facebook, Twitter, and a blog, iTeamchicago.
Our Partners
Golden Apple will continue to partner with several important organizations and Institutions critical to ISI program content and delivery:
- Chicago Public Schools
- Museum of Science & Industry
- Adler Planetarium & Science Museum
- Antarctic Geological Drilling (ANDRILL)
- Benedictine University
- John G. Shedd Aquarium
- Partnership for 21st Century Skills
The Outcomes
IS3 seeks to increase student science performance in each partner CPS school five to 10 percentage points over two years, as aligned with each school’s School Improvement Plan for Advancing Academic Achievement (SIPAAA). Golden Apple will measure progress using:
- Student achievement data in science
- Teacher surveys (pre-, mid-, and post-)
- Principal observation
- Classroom and lesson analysis via protocols and videotapes of instruction
- Survey of Enacted Curriculum (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
Support the Inquiry Science Institute
ISI is a public/private partnership, in which individual CPS schools contribute financially for participation in the program, and Golden Apple seeks support from corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and major individual gifts. Please consider a charitable investment in the ISI program. You can help change science instruction for thousands of children in Chicago.
Contact Golden Apple at (312) 407-0006 x131 or johnson@goldenapple.org to learn more.