September 28 - Rider SELECT Program - A National Case Study

Rider University's Science Education and Literacy Center (SELECT) was chosen as one of four case studies at the 2005 National Symposium of Science Education for Business Leaders held at the National Academy of Sciences, September 7-9, in Washington, D.C.

The conference was sponsored by the National Science Resources Center of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academy of Science with generous support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

Dr. Kathleen Browne, director of Rider's SELECT program, and Miriam Robin, grade 4-8 science supervisor for the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District science coordinator, presented the Rider SELECT case study.

The symposium focused on ways of leveraging the involvement of business and industry in the education of the nation's youth - and thereby reinforcing the science and engineering workforce pipeline. Session topics include: the state of science education in the United States, what does a quality science program look like, what research informs this way of teaching science, case studies of how others have done it, and science education reform.

This marks the second time Rider SELECT has been chosen as a case study at a national conference. In January 2001, the Rider SELECT model was discussed as a case study at the National Teacher Preparation Institute, also sponsored by the National Science Resource Center (NSRC).

The NSRC - jointly operated by the National Academy and the Smithsonian Institution - collects and disseminates information about exemplary science teaching resources, develops innovate science curriculum materials, and offers leadership programs to help school districts develop and sustain hands-on, inquiry-centered programs.

SELECT is dedicated to the preparation and career-long professional development of K-16 teachers of science and mathematics. SELECT, a collaboration of Rider's School of Education and science departments, has four major components: pre service teacher preparation, in service professional development of teachers in the workforce, research in science and math teaching and learning, and community outreach.