• "The Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) was established at Colorado State University to promote those instructional improvements and innovations which can enhance student engagement and deepen learning" (CTL website).

Colorado Technology in Teacher Education Consortium

• "CTTEC has been designed to address an acute and extremely relevant problem in Colorado and nationwide: New technology standards for teacher licensure (TL) candidates. This website offers training documents, methods for successful integration of technology into the classroom, and resources for successful technology integration" (CTTEC website).

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

• "ENC's mission is to identify effective curriculum resources, create high-quality professional development materials, and disseminate useful information and products to improve K-12 mathematics and science teaching and learning" (ENC.Org).

Center for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education

• The mission of the CSMATE is to "foster improvements, innovations, and reforms in science, mathematics, and technology instruction and curriculum at all levels, K-16" (CSMATE website).

American Institute of Biological Sciences

• "AIBS facilitates communication and interactions among biologists, biological societies, and biological disciplines in order to serve and advance the interests of organismal and integrative biology in the broader scientific community and other components of society on issues related to research, education, and public policy" (AIBS website).
• http://www.aibs.org/evolution/index.htm

Mid-continent Research for Education & Learning (McREL)

• "McREL, located in Aurora, Colorado, is a private, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to improve education through applied research and development. McREL provides products and services, primarily for K-12 educators, to promote the best instructional practices in the classroom. Established in 1966, McREL maintains a staff of some 100 employees" (McREL website).

Physics Teaching Experience. A Service-Learning Class (at CO State Univ.)

• "About the Class: Physics Teaching Experience is a new class offered by the Physics Department with the assistance (in all ways) of the Office of Service Learning and Volunteer Programs. Students in the class will learn about hands-on science instruction and will, as their final project in the class, work with a local school to present a science lesson. This will be a very valuable learning experience for everyone involved" (Class website)!

NASA Explores

• NASAexplores (http://www.nasaexplores.com) is a online resource for the K-12 community. Each week, they post two new articles, which are geared towards teachers. Then, their staff educators take those articles and adapt them for three reading levels: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. The educators also develop lessons that reinforce concepts in the articles, and these materials support national education standards. NASAexplores materials are absolutely free of charge. Materials are in print-to-use format--either PDF or web format.
  

Importance of the Earth and Space Sciences in Primary and Secondary Education

Integrated Lesson Plans from Colorado
K-14 and ABE Teachers

• "The Mountain Plains Distance Learning Partnership in Colorado was awarded Star Schools funding for 2001-2002 to train up to forty teachers in the skills required to teach effectively using technology. Of those, twenty are being awarded laptops loaded with all of the software required to implement lesson plans in their environment. Instructors are being required to create and implement lesson plans that integrate technology while using project-based objectives" (project website).

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)

• "ABC's of Nuclear Science" introduces the object that contains almost all of the mass in the universe, the atomic nucleus. Antimatter, beta rays, fission & fusion, the structure of the atomic nucleus, how elements on the earth were produced, how we use the nucleus in every day life, & the effects of radiation in the environment are among the topics. The site includes nearly a dozen experiments that can be done in chemistry & physics classes, along with "A Teacher's Guide to the Nuclear Science Wall Chart." (DOE) http://www.lbl.gov/abc/
  
  
• "Ask a Scientist" answers more than 7,000 science questions. Search the database or view answers by topic area -- astronomy,biology, botany, chemistry, computer science, engineering,environmental science, mathematics, molecular biology, physics,zoology, & others. (DOE)
  http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov:70/archive.htm
  
  
• "Biotechnology Education Program" offers lessons & learning activities on acids & bases, diffraction, DNA fingerprinting & criminal evidence, electrophoresis (a tool molecular geneticists use to separate DNA, proteins, & other molecules), & other topics related to genetic engineering & testing. (DOE) http://ep.llnl.gov/bep/
  
  
• "The Brain's Inner Workings" introduces the physical, chemical, & electrical events that occur in the normal brain & provides clues to what goes awry in mental illness. A video, narrated by Leonard Nimoy, shows how cells of the brain function, how messages pass through a cell neuron, & more. The video is accompanied by a guide for teachers & one for students. (NIMH, NIH)
  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/braincd.cfm
  
  
• "Fermilab Education Office" offers materials for learning about particle physics & the pursuit of questions such as "What is the smallest piece of matter? How did the universe begin?" It includes streamed lectures by distinguished scientists & teachers, a newspaper for middle school students, classroom units & projects, physics data, games, & more. (Fermilab is a high-energy physics laboratory, home of the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Tevatron.) (DOE, NSF, ED)
  http://www-ed.fnal.gov/trc/projects/index_all.html
  
  
• "Fusion: Physics of a Fundamental Energy Source" provides introductory educational materials on fusion, the process that powers the sun & other stars; & plasmas, known as the "fourth state of matter." (DOE) http://fusedweb.pppl.gov/CPEP/Chart.html
  
  
• "Genomics & Its Impact on Medicine & Society: A 2001 Primer"examines the human genome project -- what's been learned so far, anticipated benefits, & societal concerns. This site also provides information about genomics (the study of genes) & the genome (the exact instructions required to create a particular organism). (DOE) http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/primer2001/index.html
  
  
• "The National Marine Mammal Laboratory's Education" website examines whales, dolphins, porpoises,and other marine mammals. The site also offers a quiz & explores careers in marine mammal science. (NOAA) http://nmml01.afsc.noaa.gov/education/
  
  
• "The Particle Adventure" offers a timeline & background on particle physics, student worksheets, & other resources to help students explore the world of fundamental particles & forces. (DOE) http://particleadventure.org/particleadventure/index.html
  
  
• "QuarkNet" is the website for a professional development program in which teachers work on particle physics experiments over the summer & join a cadre of scientists & teachers introducing their research into high school classrooms. (DOE, NSF) http://quarknet.fnal.gov/
  
  
• "Turning Water into Energy" presents facts & research about hydropower, a history of hydropower, & diagrams of different types of hydropower facilities. (DOE) http://hydropower.inel.gov/index.html
  

Promising Practices for Improving Instruction

• In its News Release of October 25, 2001, the Council for Basic Education (CBE) includes "The Eye of the Storm: Promising Practices for Improving Instruction" report with findings from the Wingspread Conference.
  
  Eye of the Storm concentrates on "improving instruction" as the next critical step towards ensuring student learning. The report is a practical guide for classroom teachers, as well as an information bank for all educators, policimakers and parents. The document Highlights teacher instruction as instrumental on student learning, and cites evidences that high academic standards affect classroom practices and student achievement. It includes research on why teaching matters, professional development, lesson study, the use of student work, and how assessment practices can change teaching practices. It also provides useful profiles of the teaching practices.

Center for Science Education

• The most exciting addition to our site is TIPs (Translating Ideas into Practice): A Toolkit for Science Education Reform. TIPS is an ever-expanding gathering of information and materials to help support the work of teachers and district administrators engaged in the
  complex process of K-12 science education reform. These materials can be used in conjunction with your own materials.
  
  Each Tips topic offers an overview, action plan, downloadable tools, and additional resources (including a list of related readings and Web sites). The topics are as follows:
  * Setting Goals and Planning
  * Leadership
  * Curriculum
  * Professional Development
  * Assessing Program Status
  * Community and Partnerships
  * Testing and Assessment
  * Financial Consideration

• Science Monthly is e-mailed on the third Wednesday of every month and is available free to teachers who sign up at http://www.teachervision.com/tv/lounge/newsletter/science-signup.html.

eSchool News Online

• "The nation's single best source for school technology news and information... written especially for K-12 teachers" (eSchool News listserv document).