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The Goals 2000 Project at MSU made great strides towards the development of improved preservice training in the teaching of science during 1997-98. Curricula were redesigned for elementary/middle school certification in science and mathematics, as well as Unified Science at the secondary level. Early and continuous teaching experiences were given to a number of preservice students. The use of instructional technology by both faculty and students was promoted in a number of ways throughout the year. Teleconferencing systems were purchased, installed, and used. Laptop computers were evaluated, selected, and ordered for use by an elementary/middle cohort of students started in 1998-99. MSU faculty and grades 1-12 teachers from partner schools participated in a number of professional development activities. Consultants were employed to provide further justification, motivation and hands-on training in the type of teaching activities the project promotes. A road trip with faculty and students was made to the St. Louis area to examine state resources that teachers can use in their science teaching. Data collection for a baseline study was begun to document the starting profile of current programs and students. Additionally, efforts were made to advertise the existence of the exciting project. Progress Reports on Goals/Objectives/Outcomes
Elementary/Middle School – curriculum goals and objectives, and instructional
goals and objectives, have been designed in detail. Innovations include: a
combined certification program for elementary (1-6) and middle school in science
and mathematics, education courses starting in the first semester of the
freshman year, early teaching experiences, integrating the use of technology,
and comprehensive performance-based assessment. An elementary/middle cohort of
students was selected.
Several instructional activities for beginning preservice majors were developed and implemented. These ranged from assisting in the instructional process to actually initiating instruction to students. Preservice students used these activities at the Springfield Discovery Center (a hands-on teaching museum), Strafford elementary and middle school, Nixa science club, Greene County Public Library’s Science Odyssey, home school presentations, Springfield YMCA’s Adventure Club, Greenwood Laboratory School, Interface, several conference Science Fairs, Ozarks Science and Engineering Fair, Science Olympiad, Junior Academy of Science, and Expanding Your Horizons.
Integrating current and emerging applications of technology to the instructional process were promoted to faculty and students. Faculty and students have increased the use of technology by the evaluation, observation, participation, and use of palmtop computers, laptop computers (30 now purchased for student use), videoconferencing (with systems purchased for MSU , Strafford, and Lebanon), PowerPoint presentations, and a digital camera for students to use in their classrooms and to document project activities. In addition, a combined math/computer literacy class was conducted for preservice students.
Development activities in technology sponsored for faculty and students included the use of videoconferencing, web page construction, and image processing analysis. Additional professional development activities for the faculty included attendance at the following conferences: Science Teachers of Missouri (STOM), Conference on Environmental Education, DESE Technology Conference, Interface, Southwest Regional Consortium for Educational Technology (RCET), National Science Educator Leadership Association (NSELA), National ASTC Conference, Developing Critical Thinking Workshop, National Image Processing Workshop, the NSF-sponsored Shaping the Future Conference, the Salish Chautauqua, and re-scoring the new state MAP Test.
Consultants were brought in for the following activities: a technology evening with Al November (a nationally recognized speaker), University of Arkansas’ 5-year MAT program that could serve as a model for this project, a model elementary science inquiry activity by Dr. Dean Zollman from Kansas State University, a model science inquiry activity by Dr. Jonathon Mills from the University of Indiana, Missouri’s mentoring programs for new teachers by Dr. Jim Joliff from MSU ’s College of Education, a model science inquiry activity by Frank Lojko who is the Science Supervisor for the Springfield School System, and a presentation, defining the role of a teacher of science, by Dr. John Northrip, who is a professor of Physics at MSU .
An initial group of students and faculty took a trip to St. Louis to discover, first hand, a few of the many science resources that exist in Missouri. Visits were made to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the St. Louis Science Center, the Wolf Preserve, Cahokia Mounds, Locks and Dams at Alton, FFA Weather Service, and Shaw’s Arboretum.
A number of activities were conducted during
the year to improve the collaboration between teacher preparation programs in science and
institutions offering K-12 education. These involved students, faculty, and teachers and
included: a number of visits to schools; teleconferencing between teacher groups; working
with the Springfield Discovery Center, YMCA Adventure Club, and Greene County Public
Library; and working with partner schools on technology.
An outside evaluation of the program as of August, 1998, was made by Dr. Lloyd Barrow, Professor of Science Education at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
Early in the project, a number
of dissemination efforts were made to publicize this activity. These included
presentations describing our Goals 2000 project to:
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Results: Pilots of both areas were initiated in the Fall of 1998.
Area Professional
Development Committees at Fair Grove, Strafford, Nixa, and Lebanon; 
