Follow-up visits should be scheduled for the scientist/mentors to visit the teachers' schools during the academic year subsequent to the research experience. The purpose of these visits will be to assist the translation process (which may include direct interaction with the teachers' students) and to help assess the effects of the new exercises. We are hopeful that these follow-up visits will continue after the first post-experience year and will evolve into a long-term professional association. The SMTEI will assist in arranging these visits upon the request of participating teachers.
Research Meetings - Funds will be provided for the teachers to attend a relevant, research-oriented, national or international-level meeting with their scientist/mentor during the academic year following the research experience. Travel funds are budgeted for this purpose. As a condition of acceptance of the teachers into this program, commitments are obtained from the teachers' administrators to provide substitute teachers and release time to enable the teachers to attend such a meeting. Attendance at this meeting is not intended to replace attendance at educational conferences such as CAST or NABT, which science teachers normally attend. The SMTEI expects the teacher-mentor teams to agree on an appropriate meeting and take the initiative in planning attendance.
One Year Later - The Project Staff will hold a meeting at the end of each year of the program (in June) for the participants from the previous year(s). This meeting will serve to provide quantitative as well as anecdotal assessment of the program. Attendance at this meeting will not be limited to only the previous year's participants; all participating teachers will be encouraged to attend each year. This will allow long-term assessment of the program and the students affected by it.
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