Institute evolution

August 20 closed out our 2010 Teacher Institute season. We shook things up this summer, took some risks, and moved our professional development approach many steps forward. I'm putting these good ideas right here in a safe place.

1. Marrying Ready, Set, Science! and Vital Signs is a really good idea. By August we got the mix of theory and practice juuust right.

2. Post-institute data collection practice really works (so do incentives for doing your homework!). Comfort level with the field methods, species, and online data entry process are at an all-time high. We expect to see this trickle into the student experience this fall.

3. Species Expert panels build important context and relationships. Sometimes you just have to hear it straight from the experts to know what you're up to is important.

4. Institutes are way easier to pull off with a fully functioning website and curriculum resources! Who knew?!

More coming as the clutter disappears, the leftovers get eaten, and the debrief continues....