Sacramento Area Science Project

Recruitment for Cohort 2 now under way!
The ISIM program explores a new way to engage students in rigorous scientific thinking and authentic scientific problem solving. The ISIM program focuses on Model-Based Reasoning (MBR). Model-Based Reasoning is what cognitive scientists describe as the way scientists think when doing science. We can define inquiry as a purposeful, systematic exploration of how some aspect of the natural world works. The purpose of inquiry is to develop explanations and in order to explain something one must have a set of ideas to draw on for the explanation. In science, sets of ideas about how something works are often called models. Thus, Model-Based Reasoning - the act of developing or applying ideas or sets of ideas to account for phenomena and create explanations (this is the hallmark of scientific thinking and the essence of inquiry).

Cohort 2 of the ISIM program began in the spring of 2009. In the first year, teachers develop a perspective on science learning based on the MBR framework, translate that perspective into teaching practices, and explore the effectiveness of the approach in their classroom. During the second year, teachers have a chance to refine their understanding of MBR and further explore what it means in their classroom with their students. Throughout the program, participating teachers are aided by the Sacramento Area Science Project team (SASP), consulting scientists, and teacher leaders.

This program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. ISIM teachers are eligible for a stipend of at least $4,000 ($2,000/year).

For more information contact Arthur Beauchamp at (530) 752-5876