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Boeing Middle School Science Institute

Educator-designed graduate certificate program for teachers of grades 4-8

Education theory meets practice

Science is among the most difficult of subjects to teach successfully.

Demanding local and national science standards, plus high stakes testing in grades 4-8, means that helping all students achieve is more important that ever. However, district in-service workshops only begin to address the need for deeper science content and broader teaching strategies. Many teachers take graduate courses on their own, but their innovations often remain in a single classroom.

In partnership with area science education leaders, WUSTL faculty created the Boeing Middle School Science Institute to address the demands of challenging science standards and the need for system-wide professional development. The Boeing Institute is a unique combination of rigorous graduate level coursework and flexible in-service professional development. While individual teachers may register for Boeing Institute courses, WUSTL faculty recommend that school or district teams apply in order to build collaboration and encourage vertical articulation.

 

Program of Study

The Boeing Institute leads to a 15-credit hour graduate certificate in science education. All teachers/graduate students are required to start with an introductory course, which provides a practical overview to inquiry science and project based learning. To complete the certificate, a capstone course allows graduate students to demonstrate how they have applied institute principles to their teaching practice.

Each elective course is designed to blend content and pedagogy in relevant ways. Teams may choose to concentrate on science content or pedagogy. Depending on grade level, subject, or district priorities, participants may choose the topics of the elective courses. Each course in the series carries three graduate credits in education.

Required courses

Content based electives

  • Teaching Life Science in Intermediate and Middle School
  • Teaching Physical Science in Intermediate and Middle School
  • Teaching Earth Science in Intermediate and Middle School 
  • Teaching Engineering Concepts in Intermediate and Middle School

Pedagogy based electives

  • Assessment Strategies for Intermediate and Middle School Science
  • Differentiated Instruction for Intermediate and Middle School Science 
  • Science Education Leadership and Advocacy for Teachers

 

Custom options

The Boeing Middle School Science Institute is an intensive professional development program for school systems seeking to advance science teaching and learning. For districts that can identify groups of teachers to engage in the program, options for customization are available. These can include:

  • Courses taught using district initiatives and/or curriculum as a contextual frame for science content and teaching methods
  • Alternative location to the WUSTL campus, including on-site classes or classes held at a location close to participating schools
  • Classroom coaching and implementation support by WUSTL faculty and local master teachers
  • Courses tailored to school or district needs, e.g., if most participating teachers are new, WUSTL faculty can weave supports for induction years into institute curriculum.
  • Establishing professional learning communities for science teachers from the same school or district
  • Professional development for schools that are adopting a departmental model or lead science teachers for grades 4-5

Program advisors

Phyllis Balcerzak, Ph.D., leads WUSTL Science Outreach programs for teachers. She is a former member of the department of education faculty, where she taught courses for undergraduates and graduate students, and mentored preservice teachers. Balcerzak has worked as an ecologist, environmental chemist, and middle and high school biology teacher.

Paul Markovits, Ph.D., brings the perspectives of a teacher, administrator, and science education leader to the Boeing Middle School Science Institute. He is the former mathematics and science coordinator for the Pattonville School District. Markovits served as the director of the Mathematics and Science Education Center, a branch of Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis.

 

Faculty

WUSTL faculty in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and education from the schools of Arts & Science, Engineering, and Medicine bring their expertise and latest research developments to Boeing Institute courses. Only at WUSTL can teachers study life sciences from leading researchers in genetics, or learn basic chemistry investigations that incorporate nanotechnology.

Master educators from local school districts serve as co-instructors for each course. These teachers have completed master’s degrees, and have special expertise in science education. Their perspective ensures that cutting-edge research remains relevant to the classroom, and to multiple needs of different learners.  

 

Admission and fees

Admission to the Boeing Institute is by individual or school/district team application. Teams must submit a cover letter from an administrator describing the school’s plan for system wide science education. For districts with teams of teachers who wish to complete the program, custom options are available; contact the program director.

WUSTL waives tuition for practicing teachers, but does charge an administrative registration fee. The fall 2010 fee is $450 per teacher per three credit course. Districts that send teacher teams may lock in the rate for subsequent semesters.