Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers Touchstones for Teacher Professional Learning

• In Event: Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Professional Development in Secondary Science

Abstract

The Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers (CREST) is a five-day professional development program whereby science and mathematics teachers (grade 7-12) participate in ongoing research about the Lake Champlain Basin ecosystem alongside scientists, mathematicians, STEM graduate and undergraduate students, and teacher educators with follow-up support and mentorship during the academic year. Coupled with these research experiences are opportunities for teachers to reflect upon ways to meaningfully integrate project-based and place-based principles or “touchstones” into their teaching practice. In this roundtable presentation the successes and challenges of touchstone development and implementation from the standpoints of project-based and place-based education will be addressed.

Authors

• Regina E. Toolin, The University of Vermont

• Alan Scott Tinkler, The University of Vermont

• Amy Demarest, Our Curriculum Matters