2007 SUMMER INSTITUTES
FOR PHILADELPHIA AREA K-12 TEACHERS

Sponsored by Bryn Mawr College
and the Bryn Mawr/Haverford K-16 Collaborations in Science and Mathematics Education
with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Program Outline: This Institute will provide selected teachers with an intensive exposure to recent advances in understanding the brain, with particular reference to those that provide new insights into behavior and its development, and an opportunity to participate in discussion and evaluation of the implications of these advances for science education and for education generally.

The Institute Director is Paul Grobstein, Professor in the Department of Biology at Bryn Mawr College. Grobstein teaches a popular undergraduate course on Neurobiology and Behavior, and has directed nine prior summer institutes like the current one (cf. http://serendipstudio.org/local/suminst/bbi06). An active research scientist, Grobstein is also interested in ways of making science a more appealing and significant part of the educational process at all levels, and has helped to organize a World Wide Web site (http://serendipstudio.org) as a resource for people interested in brain and behavior, in science education, and in education generally. It includes a resource base for brain and education, which institute participants will assist in further developing.

The Institute will consist of lectures and demonstrations, together with discussion periods aimed at exploring ways in which recent advances in brain research might be incorporated into science and other curricula, and the implications of these advances for educational theory and practice. The intent of the latter is to encourage increased interaction among those concerned with teaching at all levels of the educational system. In addition to Dr. Grobstein, other College faculty, staff, and students will participate in these discussions, providing distinctive expertise in such areas as computer modelling, animal behavior, child development and drug addiction. Special attention will be paid to hands on activities which might be of use in pre-college classrooms and laboratories, as well as ways to make use of computers and the internet and web.

Institute Requirements and Follow-up: Fellows will be expected to play an active role in the Institute, including participation in public on-line discussion so as to help others as well to develop effective ways to translate recent advances in brain research into significant components of the precollege curricula. Fellows will also 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 to be published on the web 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, middle, and elementary school teachers, as well as department heads and science supervisors, are eligible. Teachers interested in integrating science with other curricula are particularly welcome. Enrollment will be limited to eighteen.

Incentives: Participants will receive 60 hours of Act 48 credit, and a $500 stipend. An additional $200 per participant to purchase educational supplies and materials will be available to teachers 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/bbi07/application.html. See http://serendipstudio.org/local/suminst/ for information about the general program and other available Institutes.

For more information: Paul Grobstein, Department of Biology, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010. 610 526-5098. pgrobste@brynmawr.edu