2008 Fulcrum Institute

University of Massachusetts > STEM > 2008 Fulcrum Institute at Tufts University

Fulcrum Institute for Leadership in Science Education at Tufts University

This is a Tufts University NSF supported science education program for K-9 teachers.

Tufts University, in collaboration with TERC and the Malden Public Schools, is now recruiting teachers for the Fulcrum Institute for Leadership in Science Education, a National Science Foundation Math and Science Partnership (MSP) designed to build school and district capacity for quality science teaching.

The Fulcrum Institute, a series of three graduate level Tufts University courses plus a week-long, face-to-face summer institute, helps develop K-8 teacher leaders of science in their schools. Participating teachers are part-time graduate students at the University.

Tufts University currently offers the courses tuition-free to teachers accepted to the program and who agree to share their classroom practice with researchers, colleagues and Tufts pre-service teachers. The Fulcrum Institute also provides all books and required investigation materials. Cost to participants is the registration fee ($75.00) for each course. Participants are eligible to receive a stipend for their feedback, for participation in the project's research component, and for successful completion of the courses.

We are looking for school-based teams of three to five K-9 teachers. Our program is for teachers who are "new to science" and want to increase their confidence and skill in teaching it, as well as those who have extensive science backgrounds. We welcome the opportunity to work with interested communities to improve science learning and teaching in schools.

Courses are offered in a mixed online/face-to-face format and include meetings with scientists, science educators and researchers. The online coursework typically requires 6 - 9 hours per week but takes place in asynchronous time so that teachers can balance serious attention to coursework with their busy schedules. High levels of communication and collaboration with colleagues in and beyond their own school take place in structured online seminar-styled discussions.

The Institute's curriculum includes observing and making sense of scientific phenomena, learning how scientists and students grasp the same phenomena, sharing and gaining insights with Institute participants, and learning how to plan and support inquiry-based
learning experiences in classroom settings. The teachers' personal experiences are enriched by the reflections of practicing scientists.

School-based teams from Malden, Boston, Somerville, Natick, Shrewsbury, Pentucket Regional, Ashburnham/Westminster, Methuen, and Acton currently are participating in the program.

The Fulcrum Institute is currently recruiting teachers for the next institute that begins Jan 2009, and runs through May 2010. Applications are due October 15th, 2008. For more information or to obtain an application to the program call 617-627-3039 or visit the Fulcrum Institute website.

Click here to view a video highlighting one of our face-to-face events.

The PDF files on this page require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.