Nuzum Project - UW Madison
Curriculum Development and Staff Professional Programs
Driven by a new understanding of how students learn, the technological revolution, and the need for an educated, creative, problem-solving workforce, a large number of private, state and national reports have called for school curricular reform. At UW-Madison, faculty and staff provide unique curriculum development and continuing education programs that bring the latest research on teaching and learning to the attention of professionals in area schools. Rapid changes in the field of education - driven by demands for improved student performance, significant technological advancements and calls for school curricular reform - have sparked debate about the content and delivery of professional development programs for school staff. Traditionally, the professional development programs have involved special summer workshops, conferences, internships, special courses and attendance at professional lecture series. At UW-Madison, a diverse mix of faculty, academic staff and graduate students also provide a wide spectrum of new, challenging professional development programs.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program is based at UW-Madison under the direction of plant pathologist, Professor Paul Williams. Professor Williams initially developed the plants to speed up his genetic research. Today more than 1,000 scientists in 45 countries utilize these rapid cycling brassicas in their research. The program provides instructional materials and workshops to teachers and scientists. Regional teams of master teachers and scientists spread the Fast Plants story and provide scientific expertise. The program fosters networking among teachers at all levels and encourages curriculum adaptations of Fast Plants materials.
70. Teachers and Students Investigating Plants in Science
A component of the Wisconsin Fast Plants Program, the Teachers and Students
Investigating Plants in Science, funded by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration and a component of the Wisconsin Fast Plants project,
is a collaborative effort between UW-Madison and the National Academy of
Sciences of Ukraine. In October 1997, the United States and Ukraine will fly
aboard a Space Shuttle mission, which will include 12 separate experiments
as part of the science payload. Several plant biology experiments will run
in an environmentally controlled Plant Growth Facility. During the same time
as the joint Space Shuttle flight, students throughout the United States and
Ukraine will be undertaking experiments to determine what is normal for
biological events or stages in the life cycle of AstroPlants under the
Earth's gravity. The information that students gather will help them
understand a number of biological phenomena and principles. Students can
compare their observations with those made by the researchers.
81. Bionet
The Center for Biology Education program offers biology teachers in-service
activities throughout the state. Educators meet with biology resource people
from local colleges, universities, businesses and industry. The program,
initially targeting the Dane County area, has expanded statewide.
84. Kickapoo Valley Education Project
The Center for Biology Education program administers this environmental
education initiative for the School of Natural Resources, with additional
funding from Nuzum, Inc. This model project, which is constructed as a
partnership among UW-Madison, eight school districts, and several community
and governmental agencies, is located in the Kickapoo Valley because of its
unique natural resources and environment. An area biology teacher serves as
liaison to the school districts and CBE staff coordinate activities at
UW-Madison.
