Building a Presence for Science

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Irving ISD Declares Feb. 4 “Focus on Science Education Day”
Classrooms Demonstrating Latest in Science Education Open to the Media

Irving, TX, February 4, 1997—Are Texas science teachers on the leading edge of science instruction? If you go into Sheryl Colley’s science class at Bowie Junior High School, you will find very little of the stereotypical science class. Colley's class is divided into six groups of four students each who are engaged in hands-on learning.

Instead of sitting and listening to Colley lecture from the front of the room, students move about the classroom as they discover, discuss and debate science principles. As part of the learning process, Colley encourages active exchanges among group members as they make observations, generate inquiries and record phenomena in their journals.

Colley is making use of some of the latest techniques and the newest thinking in science instruction. On Tuesday, February 4, as part of Irving Independent School District’s “Focus on Science Education Day,” Colley will open her classroom to local media and other groups so they may watch her students at work and experience firsthand these new approaches to K–12 science education.

“Focus on Science Education Day” is an outgrowth of a new nationwide program that is being launched in Texas called Building a Presence for Science. Sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) with funding from the ExxonMobil Foundation, Building a Presence for Science endeavors to bring to every school in the nation the best teaching practices as advocated in the National Science Education Standards.

In Texas, the program has the support of a number of education institutions and organizations including the Texas Statewide Systemic Initiative, the Science Teachers Association of Texas, the Texas Education Association, and the Texas Education Service Centers.

Richardson ISD has also declared February 4 “Focus on Science Education Day.” Other science education events taking place that day include classroom demonstrations in Richardson similar to the ones in Irving, a professional development program for K–6 teachers at a science exploration facility in Garland, and community science evenings at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Dallas Science Place.

Founded in 1944, the National Science Teachers Association is the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving science education at all levels-preschool through college. The Association’s membership of more than 53,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others actively involved in science education.

ExxonMobil Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the Building a Presence for Science program. Since 1955, ExxonMobil Foundation has provided more than $500 million in financial support to education organizations. The Foundation’s principal areas of interest in education are: K-12 science education; mathematics education with an emphasis on K-5; reform of undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics education; and increasing opportunities for minorities.