Department of Energy Academies Creating Teacher Scientists

TAI Program Descriptions

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Educators as Investigators Program
June 23 - July 18, 2008

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is hosting the U. S. Department of Energy Academies Creating Teacher Scientists (DOE ACTS), a teacher professional
development program. This program is based upon research and best practices in teacher professional development and is aligned with the National Standards for Science Education, the National Teaching Standards, and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Instruction is offered to middle and high school teachers in three
content areas:

1. Biotechnology
2. Fusion-Astrophysics
3. Energy Technologies

Each of these programs teaches knowledge and skills derived from science research at LLNL and provides a context that when shared with students can help them understand how classroom science is linked to the big science at LLNL. Teachers will have access to a wealth of mentoring talent that will guide and enrich their understanding of the scientific and technological world. Participants and mentors will create supportive relationships that can follow them into their classrooms.

Teachers selected to participate in ACTS at LLNL will participate in a three-year blended Teachers as Investigator (TI) - Teachers as Researchers (TR) program. In year one, teachers will participate in a TI program involving four-weeks of intensive classroom instruction. In years 2 and 3, these ACTS participants will participate in a TR program involving a 6 to 8 week mentored research internship. Here the participants will apply their skills and knowledge gained in the TI experience as a member of an active research team.

The four-week, 2008 program begins on June 23 and ends on July 18, 2008. The start and end dates of the TR program in 2009 and 2010 are flexible and will be negotiated with each teacher to best fit their school schedule and the availability of LLNL research mentors.