Inquiry Training Equipping Teachers (ITET)
A partnership between
Space Florida
The Florida School Districts &
Florida Department of Education.
Background
Research has shown that one of the largest impacts on student achievements in science and math is dependent on the teacher's pedagogical style. Project-based learning and Inquiry-based instruction have been proven to improve students learning aptitudes by providing hands-on activities that require cognitive thinking skills to solve problems. The Inquiry-based process encourages students to ask themselves a series of questions that lead them to a logical conclusion. The National Science Teachers Association has made Inquiry instruction a best practice in teaching and it has been adopted as a teaching method in the national Science Education Standards.
Recognizing the need throughout the State of Florida to provide Inquiry training to Florida teachers, Space Florida has initiated ITET, a program that will extend to all 67 Counties with plans to impact 2,000 Florida teachers, plus many more students per year. Working partnerships between Space Florida, DOE, and the Florida School Districts may invite other interested parties to cooperate in this program as it grows.
Methodology for Inquiry Training Equipping Teachers (ITET):
Commencing late spring 2008, a cadre of Master Teachers were trained on how to teach the Inquiry Methodology, under the supervision of Dr. Larry Chew at the University of Central Florida. They will be trained in how to model activities that match the Florida State Sunshine Standards and subsequently conduct training workshops around the state. Following training, these Master Teachers will conduct eighteen five-day workshops throughout the state in summer 2008, to 540 Florida teachers. In addition to the Inquiry training, each participating teacher will receive a special Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Kit to reproduce the activities they learned in the classroom, for the benefit of their students. For more details on ITET and how you may participate in Fall 2008, please visit: http://inquiryinstitute.org/
