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Michael Mewhinney                   April 4, 2003
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650/604-3937 or 650/604-9000
E-mail: Michael.Mewhinney{at}nasa.gov

Nancy Bussani
Collaborative for Higher Education, San Jose, Calif.
Phone: 408/924-2612
E-mail: Nancy.Bussani{at}sjsu.edu

RELEASE: 03-22AR

NASA TO PARTNER WITH COLLABORATIVE TEACHER INSTITUTE


The House Family Foundation has awarded a $402,000 grant to the 
Collaborative for Higher Education's Teacher Institute in Santa Clara 
County, Calif. 

Under the terms of the grant, the Collaborative Teacher Institute 
will partner with NASA Ames Research Center, located in California's 
Silicon Valley, to provide professional development for elementary 
school teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
(STEM).

"A key NASA objective is to enhance science and mathematics 
instruction with unique teaching tools and experiences that only NASA 
can provide," said Donald G. James, NASA Ames' education director. 
"The Teacher Institute, supported by this House grant, is an 
important component in support of NASA's objective."

The primary intent of the project is to boost the math and science 
content knowledge of teachers in Grades 3 through 5, many of whom 
have had limited exposure to these subjects. "If we want children to 
be excited about learning and pursuing careers in STEM, then it is 
imperative for teachers to understand and be enthusiastic about the 
science and math they are teaching," said Miriam Landesman, the 
Teacher Institute's education director.

The science content will be based upon the four key content areas of 
the California grades 3 through 5 science standards, and some 
applications will be drawn from NASA science curriculum already 
available. The Teacher Institute will begin this summer with an 
intensive two-week institute for teacher participants and will 
continue throughout the school year with monthly reinforcement 
sessions, classroom visits and an on-line interactive Web site.

Participating teachers will share what they learn by training other 
third through fifth grade teachers in their districts.  A 
project-based curriculum approach will be used to help teachers learn 
science, mathematics and technology while engaged in hands-on 
projects. The goal will be to increase teachers' STEM content 
knowledge and pedagogical skills and at the same time, ignite a 
passion and inquisitiveness in teachers about science and 
mathematics. 

The Teacher Institute is implemented by the Collaborative for Higher 
Education, a partnership of public higher education institutions in 
Silicon Valley - San Jose State University, the University of 
California at Santa Cruz and the Foothill De Anza community colleges. 
The collaborative works closely with NASA Ames and ultimately will be 
located in NASA Research Park, a world-class, shared-use research and 
development campus in association with academia, industry and 
non-profit organizations.

The collaborative's vision is to create a statewide model of higher 
education institutions working together with a seamless delivery of 
educational services in math, science, engineering and technology. 
The collaborative is committed to addressing workforce development 
and filling the student pipeline in science, technology, engineering 
and mathematics.

"During the two-year project, it is estimated that over 3,500 
students will benefit from the new STEM knowledge acquired by the 
teachers in this program.  As these teachers continue to teach, 
thousands of additional students will be impacted as well," said 
Nancy Bussani, executive director, Collaborative for Higher 
Education.  "We're delighted the House Family Foundation has chosen 
to support this program."

For more information about the NASA education program, please visit:

            http://education.nasa.gov/

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