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The NC Quest Math and Science Professional Development Network
kicked off on Saturday September 20, 2003 with an Orientation
Day held at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
This session, the first of the NC Quest Fall Institute,
brought together math and science middle school teachers
and mentor teachers from Brunswick County Schools for an
exciting day of activities and collaboration.
NC Quest is a joint-sponsored, grant-funded program between
the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Watson
School of Education/College of Arts and Sciences, and coalition
partner school districts in southeastern North Carolina.
NC Quest is designed to help fulfill the mission of the
federal “No Child Left Behind” legislation by
assisting middle school math and science teachers in increasing
their knowledge in both content and instructional practice,
and by increasing the number of skilled mentor teachers
to promote teacher development and retention. The grant
focuses on professional development for lateral-entry teachers,
those teaching out of area, and mentor teachers.
Teachers who participate in NC Quest receive academic advising
and tuition assistance to help meet licensure requirements,
opportunities for special professional development activities
and conferences, free teaching/mentoring resources, and
a stipend. NC Quest is delivered through a cohort-based,
learner-centered model designed to provide participants
with an integrated learning experience that can easily be
applied in the classroom environment.
At the September 20 meeting, participants worked with NC
Quest instructional staff to develop their own professional
development goals through reflective activities, examine
national math and science standards, and participate in
team-based math and science experiments suitable for their
students. In the morning session, Ms. Diane Calhoun and
Dr. Nancy Hoffmann led participants through an activity
to explore the key capacities for increasing instructional
effectiveness in middle school math and science education.
The afternoon session focused on inquiry-based lab experiments
which tied science and math together in the same activity.
These experiments were led by Dr. Rich Huber, Dr. Catherine
Nesbit, Dr. Ron Sizemore, and Mr. Marty Sugerik.
Day 2 of the NC Quest Fall Institute took place October
13, 2003 at UNCW’s Center for Marine Science. Dr.
Ron Sizemore and his assistant Jennifer Arp led participants
through a series of team-based lab modules on Magnetism,
Density, DNA, and Acids and Bases. The labs gave participants
continued exposure to, and practice in, inquiry-based activities.
Math instructor Marty Sugerik highlighted the mathematics
components contained within the experiments to reinforce
the synergistic relationship of these two disciplines.
After the experiments were completed, Dr. Sizemore led the
group on a tour of UNCW’s Center for Marine Science.
The mission of the center is to promote basic and applied
research in the fields of oceanography, coastal and wetland
studies, marine biomedical and environmental physiology,
and marine biotechnology and aquaculture. The center fosters
research programs of the highest quality and thereby enhances
the educational experience provided by The University of
North Carolina at Wilmington for both undergraduate and
graduate students in marine science.
NC Quest continues UNCW’s proud tradition of partnership
with North Carolina public education. NC Quest Co-Director,
Dr. Karen Wetherill explains, “We are very excited
by the opportunity to continue working with school districts
in southeastern North Carolina through this grant. UNCW’s
Professional Development System has been a great success,
and we look forward to similar results for NC Quest.”
For more information, contact:
Marc Zolar
NC Quest Project/Instructional Leader
910.962.3881
zolarm@uncw.edu
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