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UCSF SEP leads a range of programs for SFUSD K-12 teachers. These programs include classroom-based partnerships, courses and seminars, and school site-based professional learning communities. Supporting all of this work are the Daly Ralston Resource Center, a lending library of materials to support hands-on science learning, and SEPLessons, an online database of lessons developed by SEP staff and participants.
Classroom-based Partnerships
The majority of SEP’s classroom-based partnerships require about a 20 hour commitment in the spring semester. SFUSD K-12 teachers are partnered with two to four UCSF scientist volunteers. Teachers and UCSF volunteers meet at an Orientation in January, hosted by SEP. At the Orientation, SEP reviews the program’s expectations, shares tips for a successful partnership, and provides time for teams to schedule lessons and begin planning. Between January and April, each team co-plans and co-teaches a minimum of four lessons.
Teachers and volunteers are partnered on the basis of school site characteristics, volunteer backgrounds and language proficiencies, and scheduling constraints. UCSF volunteers are a diverse group consisting of doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, students from the professional schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and physical therapy, research assistants, and faculty. Your scientist partners will have a strong general science background as well as detailed expertise in a particular field of science. In addition, they will have first-hand experience with science process skills and investigative approaches to science, therefore making them an excellent resource for planning hands-on lessons.
Teachers in our partnership programs are mentors to the scientist volunteers, providing guidance about many aspects of teaching, such as the age-appropriateness and accessibility of the lessons, strategies to engage students, as well as classroom and materials management. After a lesson, teachers can provide constructive feedback and help facilitate reflection about the teaching.
Elementary school teachers can learn more about these programs: STAT, HealthTeach, MedTeach. Elementary school teachers may also be interested in SEP's newest program City Science Curriculum Support (CS2) which serves as a supporting partnership for teachers who participated in the 2012 City Science Summer Institute. Each team will have one teacher paired with one UCSF scientist to co-plan and co-teach the FOSS curriculum learned during the City Science Summer Institute week.
For middle and high school teachers, see Bio&ChemTeach.
High school teachers may also be interested in SEP’s year-long partnership program, Pathways. This program is specifically designed to promote access to and engagement in science learning among students traditionally underrepresented in the sciences. For more info, see Pathways.
Apply for Spring Programs!
The application deadline for spring 2012-2013 programs has passed. Please visit our website in the fall of 2013 for the 2013-2014 program information and application.
Courses
Elementary teachers can learn more about their grade level FOSS kits in City Science, a week-long institute co-taught by an experienced SFUSD teacher and a UCSF scientist.
Elementary and middle school teachers can deepen their biology and/or chemistry knowledge through content-rich, inquiry-based courses, the Architecture of Life and Chemistry of Life.
Internships for High School Students
Each summer, SEP hosts 20 SFUSD rising seniors in UCSF research labs. SFUSD high school science teachers are asked to nominate up to three students for this program each December. Learn more at High School Internship Program.
Summary of Program Opportunities for Teachers & Their Students
| Classroom-based Partnerships |
Courses & Seminars | Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School | STAT HealthTeach CS2 |
City Science Architecture of Life Chemistry of Life |
|
| Middle School | Bio&ChemTeach | Architecture of Life Chemistry of Life |
|
| High School | Bio&ChemTeach Pathways |
High School Intern Program |