Location
Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Start Date
29-4-1999 1:00 PM
Description
Collaborative partnerships between teacher education colleges and business concerns in nearby communities may help to strengthen education programs and the teachers of the next century. Practicums in real-world situations allow students to expand their knowledge in subject areas as well as knowledge of working with different types of people. In a time when public science literacy is so low, and when curriculum which involves the space program is minimized in our schools, a new approach has been established to help pre-service teachers gain a better understanding and knowledge base about the Space Progam. No longer is the college-level teacher education program an isolated entity that produces teachers who are "out of touch" with reality. Programs around the country are beginning or have offered their students field experiences in a variety of authentic situations (David, C., 1995; Mackin, J., 1994). Yeager (1993) suggests that partnerships are one of four factors which might be considered to speed up authentic reform in science education. This article describes the process of implementing a new pilot project involving hands-on, minds-on science experiences in teacher education preparation involving a partnership between U. S. Space Camp, an internationally recognized organization and the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Paper Session III-C - Partnerships for Learning: U.S. Space Camp and the University of Central Florida
Radisson Resort at the Port, Martinique Room
Collaborative partnerships between teacher education colleges and business concerns in nearby communities may help to strengthen education programs and the teachers of the next century. Practicums in real-world situations allow students to expand their knowledge in subject areas as well as knowledge of working with different types of people. In a time when public science literacy is so low, and when curriculum which involves the space program is minimized in our schools, a new approach has been established to help pre-service teachers gain a better understanding and knowledge base about the Space Progam. No longer is the college-level teacher education program an isolated entity that produces teachers who are "out of touch" with reality. Programs around the country are beginning or have offered their students field experiences in a variety of authentic situations (David, C., 1995; Mackin, J., 1994). Yeager (1993) suggests that partnerships are one of four factors which might be considered to speed up authentic reform in science education. This article describes the process of implementing a new pilot project involving hands-on, minds-on science experiences in teacher education preparation involving a partnership between U. S. Space Camp, an internationally recognized organization and the University of Central Florida (UCF).
