Wildlife Conservation Society

The Wildlife Conservation Society proposes a project, at its Bronx Zoo site, to offer professional development for educators at small, informal science institutions, such as zoos, nature centers, aquariums, botanical gardens, and other museums with a life-science focus. As part of this professional development, these informal science institutions will work with local school districts to offer teacher training that enhances teaching of the life sciences. The project consists of two components. First, the grantee will offer an intensive training institute for educators from small science museums that will prepare them to implement professional development programs for middle-school teachers. Then, will offer technical assistance, centering on program planning, as the educators implement the teacher development activities. The project provides a national model for the involvement of small, but resource-rich science museums in science education.