Institute for Science Integration

Dr. Miguel M. Licona - PI

This website was developed by and for science educators that are interested in understanding curriculum from a perspective of lived contexts.  An attempt has been made to develop meaningful learning experiences for students and teachers through representations of Constructivism.  Although the journey of transformation can be extensive, many smaller steps have been taken to pave that road.  Here, you may find pre- and in-service teacher's versions of integrated science curriculums.  Many had little background in web page design, digital picture manipulation and innovative curriculum understanding.  These suggested activities serve as a suggestion, practice and launching point for others to follow.  As this web site develops, you will find other resources to support this initiative.  Look for a bibliography, useful links and theoretical support in the near future. 

During the Summer of 2003, fourteen local teachers met on weekends to experience and develop a Problem-Based Learning unit using Problems as Possibilities: Problem-Based Learning for k-16 Education (2nd Ed.) by Torp & Sage (2002) ASCD.  The first weekend was spent with the program director for Project del Rio where they were presented the PBL foundations.  The second week took the group to the Ft. Davis, Texas area where the first day was spent touring the McDonald Observatory research area.  A star party was the event for the evening where astronomers pointed out celestial bodies and allowed everyone to view them through telescopes.  Constellations were pointed out and the event ended as time approached the midnight hour.  The ISI participants then traveled to their resting place at historic Prude Ranch.  The next day had an Entomology presentation included and then students returned to UTEP for rest and processing time.  During the next week, students were to continue their research, use of FrontPage and Inspiration software, and begin framing a PBL unit on a topic and grade level of their interest.  The third meeting took us to UTEP's geology department where three scientists shared their research on the Rio Grande Rift and we all went to the volcanic areas of Kilbourne Hole and Aden Crater.  We observed many geological features, but not without noticing other interesting aspects of the desert ecology.  We returned to the university and proceeded to the science education lab where a we took leaves of the Rainbush (Larrea tridentata) and created the unguent of rainbush.  This concluded the activities and experiences in developing a foundation for PBL and students returned home to continue developing their curriculum units.  Below are samples of "finished" units and works in progress that serve to continue the dialogue and growth of teachers attempting to make meaningful learning experiences happen for their students.http://www.prude-ranch.com/prude2do.html

Institute for Science Integration Summer 2003