FIST-FIELD INVESTIGATIONS FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS

FIST is a semi-annual 8-10 day in-depth summer field experience for science teachers to provide: a. investigations and inquiry-based instruction (students spend substantial time doing investigations, gathering data, analyzing data and forming conclusions) b. applications of basic concepts of science which can be inter-related to teachersí classrooms and courses they regularly teach. c. in-depth connections with the California Science Standards d. collegial linkages between university faculty and k-12 science teachers. The Mammoth Lakes area is the center of our outdoor investigations. The opportunities for field investigations in this area are exceptional and include the following additional experiences which can not be provided in southern California: geothermal energy; an interesting hydrogeology region and source region of one of California’s aqueduct systems; the Mono Lake ecosystem; the High Sierra and Yosemite National Park; an incredible record of evidence for glaciation; the Long Valley Caldera. Journals are required and workshops are given by teacher-leaders in the field and in the evening to provide ways of integrating experiences into k-12 classrooms. Several teaching strategies are utilized. Three units of credit may be earned and this is applicable toward a MATS (Master of Teaching-Science). This requires work beyond the field experience.