The Iowa Chemistry Education Alliance, ICEA: process and product

Abstract

<p>The Iowa Chemistry Education Alliance, ICEA, supported by Department of Education Star Schools funding (R203F5000198), was both a Process and a Product.;The Process included: (a) Design and support of high school teacher training sessions that incorporated distance learning techniques, cooperative learning and guided inquiry strategies, and a constructivist, student-centered classroom focus; (b) Design and incorporation of eight supplemental learning modules, corresponding assessment rubrics, and supporting videotapes into the existing Iowa high school chemistry curriculum; (c) Adaptation of the learning modules throughout the course of the academic year while the units were being integrated into the existing curriculum; (d) Modification and final editing of the curriculum modules and videotapes.;The Product consisted of eight supplemental ICEA learning modules with corresponding assessment rubrics, and three supporting videotapes.;To integrate ICEA materials into the existing curriculum, students at high schools around the state of Iowa conducted cooperative, guided-inquiry laboratory exercises. Via electronic mail and Iowa's two-way interactive audio-video system, the Iowa Communications Network (ICN), they discussed strategies for experimentation and shared results obtained. Invited guest experts also visited student groups via the ICN. Teachers conducted regular biannual on-site face-to-face planning meetings. These were augmented and supported by weekly or biweekly "staff" meetings conducted via the ICN.;From the original three hundred students in four central Iowa high schools (rural, urban, and suburban), by its third and fourth year, the Project evolved to include over 1500 students in twenty-five high schools statewide.</p>