Information for Teachers Interested in Participating in CSIP

The Cornell Science Inquiry Partnership (CSIP) provides support for teachers and students conducting original research or inquiry-based projects in life and physical sciences and the social sciences. CSIP Fellows are Cornell graduate students who work with teachers to guide middle and high school students in open-ended research projects and inquiry-based activities. Fellows also teach new topics in science in which they have specific expertise.

CSIP is part of the Environmental Inquiry (EI) program at Cornell. Through EI, Cornell staff, scientists, students, and high school and middle school teachers have developed a number of curriculum resources that focus on enabling students to carry out authentic environmental science research projects. CSIP fellows can guide classroom projects using Environmental Inquiry curricula, as well as activities they develop based on their own research expertise.

Who are CSIP Fellows?
During the 2003-2004 academic year, eleven Cornell graduate students pursuing PhD or MS degrees in science, social science, or engineering are serving as CSIP Fellows. The Fellows are conducting scientific research, are interested in education, and have experience teaching. Meet our current Fellows.

Where do CSIP Fellows work?
CSIP Fellows work with teachers in schools within a commuting distance of Cornell. Our most distant partner school is in Rochester, NY. They work in science and social studies classes ranging from middle school through Advanced Plancement.

How does CSIP work?
Teachers can request a Fellow when they are planning units that include or could be enhanced by inquiry-based activities or open-ended research, or a particular expertise related to current research. How often a Fellow visits a classroom depends on how the teacher schedules the unit; some Fellows work in a classroom every day for a few weeks, other Fellows work in a classroom once or twice a week for the entire year.

The CSIP coordinator matches teacher requests with Fellows' areas of expertise and their Cornell course schedules. Once a Fellow has been matched with a teacher for a particular unit or class, the teacher and Fellow communicate directly about their goals and day-to-day scheduling. CSIP staff are available to teachers and Fellows should any questions or concerns arise.

What are the roles of the Fellows and the teachers?
CSIP Fellows are a resource to teachers and students but are not student teachers. Their roles and responsibilities vary depending on the teachers and students they are working with as well as their expertise and experience. The teacher and Fellow discuss how they will structure each curriculum unit. In general, Fellows and teachers assuming the following sorts of responsibilities:

Fellows:

• Work with teachers to plan the unit or project
• Develop curricular materials and activities related to doing research
• Introduce concepts about the practice of science
• Field student questions during laboratory sessions (guide development of research questions, methods, data interpretation and analysis, and presentation of results)
• Guide students in original research and inquiry projects
• Infuse classes with examples from their own and other Cornell research
• Access resources (materials, journals, and faculty) from Cornell

Teachers:

• Work with Fellows to plan the research unit
• Explain framework for the unit (communicate goals, set unit in larger school-year context)
• Review materials developed by the Fellow for classroom compatibility
• Provide educational and pedagogical expertise and advice
• Debrief with Fellow about strengths and weaknesses of lessons
• Maintain discipline in the classroom
• Have the opportunity to learn new science content and approaches to teaching inquiry
• Gain access to Cornell faculty, library, laboratories, and other resources