ICSRC Programs

ICSRC coordinates a number of programs and activities, including:

• Developing the National Consortium for Connecting Science Research to the Classroom
• Providing professional development for superintendents and principals in Virginia through the VITAL Program (Virginia Initiative for Technology and Administrative Leadership) with partners Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Educational Technology Alliance and the University of Virginia
• Maintaining professional development for K-12 teachers using TILT Programs (Teaching Inquiry with the Latest Technologies)
• Assisting in the on-going development of the VT-STEM Outreach Initiative
• Providing statewide leadership in Internet2 applications for K-12

Research
The central purpose of the Institute is to provide ways for K-12 students to participate actively in the research process, using as closely as possible the actual protocols and technologies that practicing scientists use in their inquiries. To that end the Institute created the award winning TILT Program as a framework for initiating a variety of research-based projects that emphasize teaching inquiry with the latest technologies. Each project is developed by a collaborative team of university researchers and K-12 teachers. Projects generally focus on the “new” sciences (biotechnology, bioinformatics), engineering concepts and technology and are grounded in state and national standards. Most projects are either related to the data collection of on-going research at Virginia Tech or other agencies or are simulation spin-offs of specific research. In either case, participating students are involved in authentic problem-solving, with results going to “real” audiences.

Education
The Institute provides professional development for teachers who wish to implement TILT research projects. In addition, the Institute partners with the University of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education, and the Virginia Educational Technology Alliance to provide professional development for all superintendents and principals in Virginia through the VITAL Program (Virginia Initiative for Technology and Administrative Leadership). The emphasis in the VITAL Program is on building the capacity of school leaders to apply systems thinking to the management of technologies essential to active, inquiry-based teaching and learning. and Virginia standards of learning for students and on professional development standards for teachers.