About ICaP: Institutes for Chemistry and Physics

Project Institutes of Chemistry and Physics (ICaP) represents a partnership between The University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, along with school systems in Jackson Madison County, Union City, and Weakley County.

Over the 3-year period, a total of 60 teachers from grades 5-9 will receive instruction during summer institutes with Dr. Rosemary Effiong, Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Lionel Crews, Professor of Physics, Dr. Patricia Hewitt, Professor of Educational Studies, Dr. Robert Hartshorn, Professor of Chemistry, and Mrs. Kim Crews ,Interm Director of UT Martin Reelfoot Lake Research and Teaching Center.  UT Martin facilities that will be used include laboratories, computers, as well as the resources at the Reelfoot Lake Research and Teaching Center.

ICaP will offer rigorous physical science content knowledge, modeling guided inquiry instructional methods designed to address the new curriculum standards for science.

Participating teachers will receive chemistry and physics materials, training and, possibly, graduate credit. Teachers will participate in a fall semester followup content workshop and presentations at the annual Tennessee Science Teachers Association (TSTA) conference.

Participants

Twelve participants will be selected for the institute. During early registration, teachers from partner school districts will be given preference. Beyond that, selection criteria will be based on demographics (minorities and those in rural schools are encouraged to apply), West Tennessee teachers teaching grades 5-9, teachers teaching grades 5-9 state wide, physical science high school teachers, and date of receipt of completed application.

Who Pays? (Funding)

Funding for ICaP is provided by the Tennessee Department of Education Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program. Participants will receive stipends to cover meals, lodging and travel for the workshop and also to attend Tennessee Science Teachers Association (TSTA) annual conference. For participants who choose the graduate credit path, ICaP will pay for three (3) hours of graduate credit.