March 24, 2008, 12:26 AM Honolulu Timezone

Hawaii Teachers Who RIP at Scientific Inquiry to speak at 2008 National Conference on Science Education

All eight teachers from the RIP~ing @ Science in Kaimuki Complex education project who submitted abstracts to the refereed National Science Teachers Association 2008 National Conference on Science Education have been selected as presenters. They will describe how and show evidence that incorporating scientific inquiry into their instructional practices positively impacted student learning and critical thinking skills.       

Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) March 24, 2008 – Eight of Hawaii’s public school teachers will present the outcomes resulting from classroom implementations of the Research Investigation Process (RIP) scientific inquiry-based science education program this week at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) 2008 National Conference on Science Education in Boston.

The six classroom and two resource Honolulu District teachers accomplished this achievement with the support of a Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) federally funded project, RIP~ing @ Science in Kaimuki Complex (http://kaimukirip.k12.hi.us), that supports and encourages Kaimuki K-12 teachers to meet the National Science Education Standards (NSES) through attainment of conditions that involve changes in what is traditionally emphasized. Among these NSES-specified changes are the placing of “more emphasis” on “teacher as producer of knowledge about teaching,” “teacher as leader,” and “teacher as source and facilitator of change.”

“It is the ultimate confirmation that participants have 'arrived' when they are committed to the professional sharing in what is probably the most prestigious national arena — the NSTA National Conference,” mentioned resource teacher and MSP project principal investigator Pam Kohara.  “They were also committed to the RIP process and strived to refine their own practices as they pushed their students to apply critical thinking and 'true' scientific methodology.” Kaimuki/Kalani Complex Area Superintendent Estelle Wong stated, “…an added bonus to this professional development effort is seeing teachers exceed expectations of professionalism.  Two examples of this is having a RIP trained teacher win a Presidential Science Award as a result of a project she conducted with her sixth grade class and repeatedly seeing the RIP teachers’ willingness to share their learning and present at local and national conferences.” 

The RIP® is a research-based program that enables students to meet benchmarks and address standards as they engage in scientific investigations. “This process provides a framework for addressing standards in science which is perhaps one of the more challenging content areas for elementary teachers. It also serves as a tool that can be applied in content areas beyond science where students have the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of content and skills that may exceed standards in all academic arenas,” commented resource teacher Irene Kamimura.

The teacher presenters represent a wide range of grade levels across Kaimuki Complex schools.  Wendy Gonsalves from Lunalilo Elementary School and Chad Dela Cruz from Hokulani Elementary School will team to present how their students used scientific inquiry to solve a classroom dilemma while they attained standards-based scientific knowledge.  Their session, “Turn Up the Noise; Bring on the Sound: Science Building on Science,” describes how students studied the characteristics of noise in their school to improve learning and illustrates how scientific knowledge builds upon itself.  When asked what outcome she would like to see resulting from her presentation, Ms. Gonsalves stated, “I hope that the joy and excitement of implementing open inquiry in the classroom can be of help to other teachers and … they walk away with new ideas and excitement over this new and fresh way to engage students in scientific inquiry.” 

Hokulani Elementary School teacher Shari Kaneshiro will present how her sixth grade students used the RIP scientific inquiry model to challenge the accuracy of speed data obtained from a police laser gun in her presentation, “With RIP~ing Speed, Students Test the Physics of Law Enforcement Through Scientific Inquiry.”  In another session, “Investigating Termite Nature to Control Destructive Behaviors,” seventh grade Teacher Anne McKnight from Washington Middle School will discuss her students’ research investigations on Formosan subterranean termites and describe how students used their new learning to educate their families on how negative aspects of termite habits can be controlled in urban Hawaii. 

“RIP~ing @ Science in a K-12 Complex—Where Scientific Inquiry is Used as a Critical Thinking Tool for Learners” will describe how this complex-wide initiative targeting the improvement of science education has ignited the use of scientific inquiry from kindergarten through grade twelve, changing the learning and decision making perspective in science and other content areas. In this session, Teachers Carrie Bashaw of Kaimuki High School and Joyce Luka of Palolo Elementary school will discuss the implementation of the RIP program into their classrooms and share their students’ work.  Ms. Kamimura, Ms. Kohara, and Dr. Robert Landsman, President of ANOVA Science Education Corporation and developer of the RIP, will provide background information and present data to illustrate how the RIP~ing @ Science project has positively impacted teaching and learning at the Kaimuki Complex schools. 

The RIP ® science education program, distributed and supported by ANOVA Science Education Corporation (ANOVA Science; http://www.ScientificInquiry.com; http://www.anovascience.com), is at the core of the RIP~ing @ Science in Kaimuki project which has enabled these teachers to excel in their application of scientific inquiry to science instruction.  As a result, according to Ms. Kohara, “Teachers became even more confident and knowledgeable about the application of the RIP to learning and thinking.”

“Now I have more of a pulse on how to focus students on the scientific process…,” stated Anne McKnight. “It has impacted how I looked at the expectations of my classroom. I really looked at, and pushed for a higher degree and standard of expectations for both the class and myself with respect to meeting scientific pursuits.” A hallmark of the RIP scientific inquiry program is its focus on placing the students at the center of the learning experience by providing them the opportunity to investigate topics that are interesting and relevant to their own lives.  “…the doors we open today will offer them the process and thinking that is going to lead them to make an impact in science in the future,” added McKnight.

According to Dr. Landsman, “The selection process for the NSTA National Conference is notoriously competitive. These teachers exemplify the NSES emphasis on teachers as leaders and contributors of knowledge to their field. The dedication and commitment that these teachers put forth in implementing inquiry as part of their instructional strategy and composing and submitting their proposals to this highly competitive refereed meeting is commendable and I congratulate them on their achievement.” Ms. Kohara stated, “There is no truer assessment of success than to see eight presenters enter submissions and have all eight selected for presentations.”

When asked how he felt about the opportunity to present at this national event, Mr. Dela Cruz stated, “I feel excited and honored to be sharing at a national conference. It is the first time for me and probably the only opportunity to do something like this. Presenting at this kind of setting is a great professional experience for me.”

RIP is a trademark or registered trademark and service mark or registered service mark, of ANOVA Science Education Corporation, ANOVA Science Publishing, and Dr. Robert Landsman in the U.S. and/or other countries. ANOVA Science Education Corporation assists schools in implementing scientific research-based science education programs, providing students with critical thinking and decision-making tools for life-long learning skills that support economic growth and the maintenance of security in the USA. As sole distributor of products and services associated with the Research Investigation Process (RIP®) inquiry-based science education program for K-12 schools, the contribution of ANOVA Science's vision, services and products toward the nation's movement for science education reform has been recognized and is well received by national and state education organizations. ANOVA Science's activities and services include professional development workshops, seminars and projects; teacher coaching and mentoring; curriculum development addressing state and national standards; and publishing education materials available online at http://www.anovascience.com or http://www.ScientificInquiry.com.

For more information about the RIP or to speak with Dr. Landsman directly, please call 808-741-8512.

March 21, 2008, 12:03 AM Honolulu Timezone

Scientific Inquiry a RIP~ing Success at Hawaii’s Kaimuki Complex K-12 Schools

One year after a scientific inquiry-based science education program, the “Research Investigation Process” (RIP), was introduced into the Kaimuki Complex of schools in Honolulu, Hawaii, evaluative data indicate a profoundly positive impact on teacher instruction and student learning of K-12 science. 

Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) March 21, 2008 -- The Research Investigation Process ( RIP ® ), a research-based science education program for kindergarten through high school, changes the way teachers and students think and learn about science. The RIP was introduced to teachers and their students during the initial year (2006-2007) of “RIP~ing @ Science in Kaimuki Complex,” a federally-funded initiative supported through a competitive Title II Federal Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Grant targeting improvements in science and mathematics instruction in K-12 schools.

The RIP, distributed and supported in schools by ANOVA Science Education Corporation (ANOVA Science; http://www.ScientificInquiry.com; http://www.anovascience.com), emphasizes the thinking processes that scientists use to engage in their inquiries about the world. “Through our program, students learn standards-based science concepts by testing hypotheses related to objects and events that are interesting and important to them,” stated Dr. Landsman, developer of the program and president of ANOVA Science. “The design of the RIP invites relevance into the learning experience as students initiate investigations based on their own interests, thus becoming participants in the development of the science curriculum aligned to standards.”

One year of participation in this Kaimuki project has led to enthusiastic and scientifically-literate teachers and student learners across all grade and skill levels. Assessments administered throughout the year to the teachers and students involved in the project indicated that both showed increases in confidence in using scientific inquiry to learn about science. Both also showed sharp increases in their knowledge and understanding of how scientists conduct their investigations, especially the mathematics that are involved in the decision-making process in scientific inquiry. According to Dr. Alan Ramos, Complex Area School Renewal Specialist for Kaimuki Complex, “The students' writing and reports indicate more use of critical thinking, and their methods for conducting experiments are rigorous due to their understanding of data gathering and organizing, as well as their interpretations made from the data.”

The Kaimuki Complex schools are prevalently Title I schools containing a high number of ELL and academically-challenged students. According to MSP project evaluator Dr. Bob Pergolizzi, “This is a highly successful program with regard to science education as evidenced by an impressive display of benchmark improvements in a traditionally difficult-to-reach population.”  Special Education students have also gained in their knowledge and skill in scientific inquiry evidenced by measures of performance on assessments administered periodically throughout the school year according to Dr. Pergolizzi’s evaluation report for year one of the project.

When asked what he observed to be the impact of the RIP professional development on the teachers who had participated in the project, Dr. Ramos stated, “Many of our elementary teachers do not have formal training in the content of science.  In self-assessments conducted prior to the RIP Program, many of the teachers indicated their knowledge level, competence and confidence level in teaching science in their classrooms was not very high.  In the past year, since the inception of the RIP Program, our teachers who received training in the RIP Program have increased their understanding of Hawaii’s science standards and their skills level in science has increased tremendously. This is evidenced by the observations made in their classrooms and the products of their students in science projects last year and this year.” 

According to Ramos, “Monthly walk-through of all classrooms has revealed a definite improvement: more student work is being displayed and there is an increased excitement for learning.” “This partnership raised the enthusiasm of the teachers in our complex and also enabled them to have a ‘can do’ attitude about teaching science to students because of their increased knowledge, competence and confidence.”

Teachers also expressed positive attitudes regarding the relevance and rigor that the RIP is bringing into their classrooms. For example, National Board Certified and Hawaii's 2007 State Teacher of the Year, 10th grade Kaimuki High School science teacher Jami Muranaka stated, "Many of my students have never had the opportunity to participate in open inquiries before coming to my class. When asked to make observations and formulate a research question, they are dumbfounded because in the past they have always been told what the research question was and how to investigate it. I think the fact that my students can actually formulate a research question and construct a testable hypothesis on their own is evidence that they are being challenged to think critically.”

Based on his analysis and overall review of the combined quantitative and qualitative data generated by both teachers and students, Dr. Pergolizzi concluded that “The primary goals of the MSP ‘to increase the academic achievement of students in mathematics and science by enhancing the content knowledge and teaching skills of classroom teachers’ are clearly being met by the RIP~ing @ Science in Kaimuki Complex program. As an individual with concerns about the future of science education in America and around the world, I would like to see the RIP program broadly implemented elsewhere without delay.”

RIP is a trademark or registered trademark and service mark or registered service mark, of ANOVA Science Education Corporation, ANOVA Science Publishing, and Dr. Robert Landsman in the U.S. and/or other countries. ANOVA Science Education Corporation assists schools in implementing scientific research-based science education programs, providing students with critical thinking and decision-making tools for life-long learning skills that support economic growth and the maintenance of security in the USA. As sole distributor of products and services associated with the Research Investigation Process (RIP ®) inquiry-based science education program for K-12 schools, the contribution of ANOVA Science's vision, services and products toward the nation's movement for science education reform has been recognized and is well received by national and state education organizations. ANOVA Science's activities and services include professional development workshops, seminars and projects; teacher coaching and mentoring; curriculum development addressing state and national standards; and publishing education materials available online at http://www.anovascience.com or http://www.ScientificInquiry.com.

For more information about the RIP or to speak with Dr. Landsman directly, please call 808-741-8512.

Feb. 20, 2008 04:57 AM Honolulu Timezone

"Scientific Inquiry Starts Here! ™ ";

ANOVA Science Education Corporation Purchases ScientificInquiry.com and

Launches RIP Awareness

Campaign

ANOVA Science Education Corporation announces its recently acquired domain name to the education world using the slogan, " Scientific inquiry starts here! ™ "  This announce-ment coincides with the company's promotional campaign for raising the awareness of its successful Research Investigation Process (RIP) science education program among kindergarten through high school educators.

Honolulu, HI (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- ANOVA Science Education Corporation (ANOVA Science; http://www.anovascience.com or http://www.ScientificInquiry.com) ANOVA Science Education Corporation announced today that it has purchased the domain name ScientificInquiry.com. This domain will help to establish the company as the premier leader in kindergarten through high school level scientific inquiry professional development services and products, including its Research Investigation Process (RIP®) books and wall posters published by its subsidiary, ANOVA Science Publishing. According to ANOVA Science Board member Mr. Gordon Schaubhut, “This is a milestone in our current thrust to begin a nation-wide advertising campaign that will make elementary through high school teachers and administrators, and colleges and universities across the nation take notice of our proprietary and very successful science education program.”

According to the company, the awareness initiative will target the community of elementary school teachers and secondary school teachers through print media, including professional science education and general education journals and newsletters; dispersement of promotional materials at science, science education, and general education conventions and conferences; and through company sponsored promotional seminars and workshops.

The RIP, a scientifically-research-based science education program that incorporates scientific inquiry and critical thinking in an instructional model, is at the center of the professional development services and education products marketed by ANOVA Science. "ScientificInquiry.com is the most appropriate domain name for development of a marketing website for our products and 'Scientific Inquiry Starts Here! ™ ' a fitting slogan for the support services we provide to teachers and schools," said ANOVA Science president and neuroscientist, Dr. Robert Landsman. “Research in the fields of education, learning, and motivation provides convincing evidence that students who learn science in the context of scientific inquiry are more motivated learners, do better in science, and are more likely to pursue science in higher education and as careers than students who learn in more traditional manners. The mission of our company is to use scientific inquiry to foster more positive student attitudes toward science and to promote higher student achievement in the learning of science across the country.”

Included in its advertising initiative, ANOVA Science has begun to offer brief hour to two-hour, as well as half-day and full-day, informational sessions designed to provide a taste of the RIP program professional development experience for educators. These sessions are typically hosted by education organizations such as a college, university, or school district, and attended by a wide variety of participants, ranging from teachers to superintendents. According to Dr. Landsman, “These mini-workshops demonstrate to educators that scientific inquiry really does starts here. They raise awareness about our company’s mission in education and provide participants with a sampling of our professional development activities focusing on scientific inquiry and critical thinking. Most importantly, they have consistently resulted in extremely positive reviews.”  One such session, hosted last December by the Professional Resources in Science & Mathematics (PRISM) center at Montclair State University in New Jersey, was attended by approximately 30 educators from 12 school districts covering Northern New Jersey. Following the session, PRISM Director Dr. Jackie Willis commented, “Before the end of the RIP program, the teachers and administrators were having many ‘Aha!’ moments and were asking how they could bring the RIP training and materials into their own classrooms.  Clearly, the Research Investigation Process program and products have broad application for the improvement of science and mathematics teaching.”

RIP is a trademark or registered trademark and service mark or registered service mark, of ANOVA Science Education Corporation, ANOVA Science Publishing, and Dr. Robert Landsman in the U.S. and/or other countries. ANOVA Science Education Corporation assists schools in implementing scientific research-based science education programs, providing students with critical thinking and decision-making tools for life-long learning skills that support economic growth and the maintenance of security in the USA. As sole distributor of products and services associated with the Research Investigation Process (RIP ®) inquiry-based science education program for K-12 schools, the contribution of ANOVA Science's vision, services and products toward the nation's movement for science education reform has been recognized and is well received by national and state education organizations. ANOVA Science's activities and services include professional development workshops, seminars and projects; teacher coaching and mentoring; curriculum development addressing state and national standards; and publishing education materials available online at http://www.anovascience.com or http://www.ScientificInquiry.com.

For more information about the RIP or to speak with Dr. Landsman directly, please call 808-741-8512.