SPIRIT - The Program for Teachers: July 7-18, 2008

If you are a high school teacher, the SPIRIT program will show you how you can enhance the delivery of your classroom lessons using a software tool that has been proven to engage student interest. Additionally, you will learn about the wide-ranging opportunities that exist for students who pursue IT careers, including those that support your discipline.

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Description

This year's two-week, residential, professional development institute for teachers starts on Monday, July 7, 2008. During the first week, you will learn to use the basic and advanced features of a software tool, Alice, to enhance instruction in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) disciplines. During the institute, you will have the opportunity to develop Alice-based lessons for a specific unit that you teach. Then, during the second week, you will practice delivering your lesson(s) to a small group of high school students in order to collect feedback and further refine your lesson(s). You'll have the opportunity to work with other teachers and SPIRIT staff to polish the lesson so it will be ready for use when the school year begins. During the school year when you implement your enhanced, Alice-based lessons into your classes, you will have more opportunities to further refine your lesson. Finally, in the spring semester, you will return to campus to share your experience and lessons learned with SPIRIT staff and other teachers.

Benefits

Teachers selected for SPIRIT receive the following benefits:

  1. Educational credit available (CRUs or graduate college course credit)
  2. $100 honorarium per day of on-campus participation
  3. Support to hire substitute teachers so you can attend the quarterly in-service conferences
  4. No-cost lodging in air-conditioned single units
  5. Breakfast and lunch are provided
  6. Opportunity to be considered for a paid internship with a SPIRIT partner
  7. Opportunity to return as a paid SPIRIT instructor the following year
  8. Opportunity to present your results at teacher conferences with partial travel support from SPIRIT
  9. Instructional design support for your Alice-based lesson throughout the school year
  10. Technical support, as needed, to install software in your school labs
  11. Certificate of completion
  12. software on CD, textbook, and sample lesson plans

Expectations

Teachers who apply to SPIRIT should meet the following requirements, if selected:

  1. Attend the entire two-weeks of the on-campus institute and complete all activities
  2. Bring three or more sample lessons that may be converted to Alice during the institute
  3. Create at least two Alice-based lessons during the institute for possible implementation during the school year
  4. During the school year, maintain contact with SPIRIT staff. The minimal communication includes reporting done each quarter that involves the following activities:
    • Submit reflective logs and lesson plans to SPIRIT staff.
    • Meet individually with SPIRIT staff
    • Attend in-service conference at Purdue
  5. Make your Alice-based lesson plans available to SPIRIT staff and other teachers via the SPIRIT website
  6. Notify SPIRIT staff by early spring of interest in paid internships
  7. Notify SPIRIT staff by early spring of interest in serving as a paid SPIRIT instructor for future program offerings
  8. Agree to allow SPIRIT to use your likeness in promotional materials

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Brochures | Contact
National Science Foundation Purdue University College of Technology
College of Science