Program Outline: This Institute, sponsored by Bryn Mawr College under a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will provide selected teachers with an intensive workshop aimed at developing inquiry-based, hands-on classroom "modules" which allow students to develop scientific understandings, both specific and general, themselves, with teachers acting as guides and consultants rather than as "instructors". A series of such modules, developed by College faculty, will be presented with appropriate background, and teachers will be asked to assist in conceiving of ways to adapt such modules to a variety of classroom settings, both in "science" and in non-science contexts. Attention will be given to both in class and web-based activities.

The Institute Director is Dr. Elizabeth McCormack, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Bryn Mawr College. In addition to teaching physics, Dr. McCormack teaches in the College Seminar program, a series of small courses aimed at providing freshman students with broad interdisciplinary experiences. An active research scientist, Dr. McCormack is also a member of the Faculty for the 21st Century Network of Project Kaleidoscope, a national organization working to strengthen college education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Dr. McCormack will be assisted by Paul Grobstein, Professor of Biology and organizer of the Summer Institute program, and colleagues from other College departments, both sciences and non-sciences.

Institute Requirements and Follow-up: Fellows will be expected to play an active role in the Institute, helping to develop effective ways to use exploration and hands-on experiences in their own classrooms, and in curriculum planning generally. In addition to active participation in discussion during the two week summer session, Fellows will be expected to prepare a written proposal describing plans to make use of Institute experiences in their own classrooms, to experiment with these during the following academic year, to participate in several follow up meetings during the year, and to prepare a report of the their year's activities which can be posted on a World Wide Web site so as to be available to other interested teachers.

Institute Schedules and Location: This Institute will take place at Bryn Mawr College from 9 July through 20 July. Sessions will be held from 9 am. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. Lunch will be provided.

Eligibility: High school and middle school teachers of science, including department heads and science supervisors, are eligible. Teachers interested in integrating science into other curricula are also eligible. Preference will be given to teams of teachers from high schools and middle schools which serve overlapping student populations; selected primary school teachers might be admitted as part of such teams (please indicate team memberships on the applications forms) . Enrollment will be limited to eighteen.

Incentives: All participants will receive a $500 stipend. An additional $300 per participant to purchase educational supplies and materials will be available to those submitting cogent curriculum proposals and agreeing to provide a written report on their experiences.

Principal's Commitment: Institute participation requires signature of principal.

Application procedures: Information and application forms are available on line at http://serendipstudio.org/local/suminst/application.html. See http://serendipstudio.org/local/suminst/ for information about the general program and other available Institutes.

For more information: Elizabeth McCormack, Department of Physics, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010. 610 526-5356 emccorma@brynmawr.edu FAX: 610 526-5086.