U Cincinnati Program Aims To Improve Elementary Science Education

##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

The University of Cincinnati's College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services is looking to improve elementary science instruction with a new program funded by a $1.5 million grant from the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.

The program will use technology and in-person instruction to provide professional development to teachers serving grades in which science does not usually receive a major emphasis. It will initially focus on "six elementary schools from a large urban school district in Utah, a district with a high Latino population and children from impoverished backgrounds," according to information released by the university.

Individual teachers participating in the program will receive six credit hours in science education and a $900 annual stipend. Schools participating are receiving videoconferencing systems that they will be able to keep after the program ends. The videoconferencing systems will be used twice per month during the program for followup between teachers and U Cincinnati researchers. There will also be additional followup three times per year, as researchers observe science classes via Web cam.

The program is launching this month, with professional development science institutes to be held this summer--one in July and one in August. The program is headed up by principal investigator Carla Johnson, director of the Furthering Urban STEMM Innovation, Outreach and New Research (FUSION) Center at U Cincinnati. (The extra "M" is for "medicine.")

Further information can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Introduces Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.