Addiction Research and Investigation for Science Educators (ARISE)
Product to be Developed: a one week summer program followed by a year-long program in which science teachers learn science, and pedagogical skills as well as develop laboratory-based lessons in neuroscience structured to reach English Learners
Goal: This ongoing project targets teachers of English language learners in grades 7-12 to assist them in improving science achievement. English learners are students who report a primary language other than English and who have been determined to lack the clearly defined English language skills necessary to succeed in regular instruction programs. The number of English learners in the US has increased dramatically between 1970 (8.5% English Learners) and 2004 (18.5% English Learners). In California, 33% of children ages 5-17 speak Spanish as their primary language and another 8% speak languages other than English. This program will target science teachers who currently lack pedagogical strategies and materials that would assist them in teaching science to English learners. It will use drug abuse and addiction as an interest approach to improve the ability of teachers to implement research-based strategies that enable English Learners to master science content. It will do this through a summer training program followed by a year-long program for teachers in which they will not only learn the science, but will also develop lab-based lessons specifically targeted for English Learners. In addition, the teachers will be partnered with researchers as they progress through the program. This program will provide culturally appropriate materials and pedagogical approaches for teaching English Learners who speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong, Punjabi and Khmer.
Alignment with Standards: California and National Science Education Standards
Contact: Adela de la Torre, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis
adelatorre@ucdavis.edu