Trajectory of Science Scholars (TOSS): A Mathematics and Science Education Partnership Professional Development Initiative
The Trajectory of Science Scholars (TOSS) Project is a professional development initiative designed to engage teachers in collaboratively examining the trajectory of student learning in the biological sciences from basic content knowledge to mastery of advanced concepts. This project involves schools with a high percentage of impoverished students that have been identified as some of the lowest performing in the district and the state (including two schools that are currently on Judge Manning’s list of the lowest performing high schools in North Carolina). The project is designed to target students in grades five, eight and high school biology. The goals of the project are to 1) increase teacher content expertise of the biological sciences, 2) increase student achievement in the biological sciences, 3) develop a meaningful partnership between Durham Public Schools (DPS), NC State University’s Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, and the Department of Biology, 5) increase embedded professional development through professional learning communities, and 6) increase the number of master teachers in the sciences.
These goals will be accomplished by the implementation of school-based Professional Learning Communities that will engage in collective inquiry. The sessions will use Curriculum Topic Study (CTS) as the vehicle for deepening the participants’ understanding of the important biological science topics they teach. Teachers will use state and national science standards documents and research on students’ ideas in science to study a curricular topic, analyze the findings and apply their new learning to improve their teaching practice.
The TOSS Project is funded by a Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant and is directed by Dr. Gail Jones (Science Education) and Dr. Herb Underwood (Department of Biology) from NCSU and Janet Scott and Linda Dimmick from The Durham Public Schools.
This project addresses the Friday Institute’s goals of developing innovative teacher professional development practices and resources and improving 21st century teaching and learning.
PROJECT TEAM
- Dr. Gail Jones
Principal Investigator - Herb Underwood
Co-Principal Investigator - Grant Gardner
Graduate Research Assistant - Denise Krebs
Graduate Research Assistant - Laura Robertson
Graduate Research Assistant
