Science: It’s Elementary

ASSET Inc.and

Introduction

Located in Pittsburgh

Part of National Science Education reform through NSRC as a LASER site

Brief History

1992 Bayer convened group to initiate science education reform

1994 ASSET becomes independent nonprofit

1995-98 NSF grant sfor Professional Development serving 30 School Districts

2001 Transition to fee for service

2006 Pending legislative approval expanding through Science: It’s Elementary

Current Status

48 school districts, charter and private schools

2,500+ prepaid professional development participants

6,000 kits delivered per year

125,000 students impacted per year

Growing number of university and community partners

National Model for Science Reform

Quality hands-on curriculum materials

Materials Support Center

Effective Professional Development

Assessment

Community Support

Beliefs for Teaching of Science

Children need to experience science

Children need to engage in hands-on activities

Children need to be problem solvers

Children need to be THINKERS

ASSET Provides Curriculum Materials for grades K-8 Professional Development

More than 100 opportunities in the form of courses, institutes, and colloquia

R&D to develop new products and services, eg Science Notebooks, Environment & Ecology toolboxes

Partnerships Universities Regional resources Corporations

Characteristics of Ongoing PD

Teachers teaching teachers

Directly related to standards-based curriculum

Driven by research-based effective classroom practices

Materials Support Center

Insights

FOSS

STC

Insights

FOSS

STC

Science: It’s Elementary

Expansion of the K-6 ASSET Model

Introductory Institutes in partnership with NSRC

Up to 150 School Districts/Schools or + 1,400 teachers

Evaluation by Horizon Research Inc.