2014 Institute for the Advancement of Inquiry Based Science Teaching

For the second summer, Mathematics and Science Education hosted the Institute for the Advancement of Inquiry Based Science Teaching (IAIBST) sponsored by Intel China and Beijing and Normal University. Twenty-nine exemplary and award-winning teachers from China visited IIT to share best practices in science curriculum and science teaching. IAIBST is an annual two-week workshop that focused on science subject matter and its interaction with engineering, using technology in science teaching, science inquiry, and nature of science. The participants are part of a national consortium of teachers from areas throughout China.

Distinguished Professor Norman Lederman and Associate Professor Judith Lederman organized the workshop and provided instruction. The science teachers worked from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. each day, but they also had an opportunity to experience Chicago. They visited the Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute and Navy Pier, attended a White Sox game, and even had a barbeque at the Ledermans' home.

Intel China has extended an invitation to the Ledermans to travel to Beijing in September to conduct a workshop for a group of science teacher educators. This will help increase the number of Chinese science educators while also building a knowledge base for these educators, who work on a continuing basis with science teachers throughout China.