Release date: Aug. 18, 2003
Contact: Deb Hammacher, Associate Director, University Media Relations,
at 404-727-0644 or dhammac@emory.edu

Learning-by-Doing Leads Science Education Trends

Educators working to bring the excitement of science to students are turning to hands-on, problem-based teaching techniques, a growing trend in science education. To help teachers develop such lesson plans, a new program at Emory called PRISM (Problems and Research to Integrate Science and Mathematics) has paired graduate students in science with Atlanta-area middle and high school teachers to jointly develop innovative lessons focused on "big ideas" in science and math. The goal is to develop problem-based assignments with real-world applications to teach the basics of science to students. In the fall, the 10 pairs will put their ideas into practice at the teachers' schools.

"Problem- and investigation-based learning makes science come alive for students by demonstrating that science is real and integrated into our lives," says Pat Marsteller, director of Emory's Center for Science Education. The program, funded by a new three-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, is one of many the university has developed to improve science education in local schools.

For more, go to: www.prism.emory.edu

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