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1. ExPERT Program Application 2012-2013

Thank you for your interest in the ExPERT Program.

The ExPERT Program (Extending Professional Experiences in Research to Teachers) is a 12-month professional development program offered by Towson University in partnership with Prince George's County Public School System (funded by the National Science Foundation) for high school science teachers in Prince George's County.

The ExPERT program is designed to allow science teachers to explore the nature of scientific knowledge and learn how to effectively teach nature of science (part of the Maryland State Curriculum) in their classrooms. Up to Twenty-two teachers will be accepted into this program in the 2012-2013 school year.

Teachers accepted into the ExPERT program will:

- Participate in a paid ($4,375 total) 5 week authentic summer research experience in the summer of 2012

- Participate in 7 paid ($875 total) learning community meetings (2.5 hours each) during the 2012-2013 school year

- Complete a classroom video project documenting their implementation of explicit nature of science instruction in the classroom

- Complete monthly homework and reflection assignments during the 2012-2013 school year

Successful completion of this program requires that participants are fully engaged in the professional development experience, actively reflecting on their experiences and teaching. Participation in this program requires teachers to commit to the full 12 month program.

As part of the application process, applicants are required to have their principals complete a recommendation form. Each applicant is responsible for asking their principal to fill-out the recommendation form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ExPERT_rec_2012.

Both the application and the principal recommendation form are due January 31, 2012.

Teachers who successfully complete the entire program will receive 4 MSDE Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

Please email expert@towson.edu or call 410 385-6318 if you have any questions about the ExPERT program or the application process.

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* 1. Teachers selected to participate in the ExPERT program are required to commit to, and agree to participate in, all of the following activities: - Participation in a paid 5-week summer research experience and learning community - Participation in 7 (2.5 hour) paid after school learning community meetings during the 2012-2013 school year - Participation in classroom visits by ExPERT program staff - Completion of student and teacher surveys - Completion of a classroom videotaping project - Completion of monthly reading and reflection assignments Checking yes below certifies acceptance of the requirements listed above.

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* 2. Please fill out the following:

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* 3. Please fill in the following information about the school where you are currently teaching:

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* 4. Please fill out the following:

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* 5. What grade levels and subjects have you taught?

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* 6. How many years have you been teaching?

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* 7. Academic Background

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* 8. Please list areas of research you are interested in working in this summer. You may choose more than one option.

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* 9. Please list any previous research lab experiences. Provide us with the name of the sponsoring organization, where and when the research took place and a brief description of the work you did.

If you do not have previous research experience (which is fine!) please describe qualities or other experiences (lab classes, other related professional development) that you will bring to a laboratory setting.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information will be shared with faculty members as they choose which teachers they would like to invite into their lab. As such, your response should be well-thought out and thorough.

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* 10. Please describe your reasons for wanting to participate in the ExPERT program. IMPORTANT: This information will be shared with faculty members as they choose which teachers they would like to invite into their lab. As such, your response should be well-thought out and thorough.

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* 11. Please briefly describe your two most recent OR most valuable professional development experiences. For each experience, explain what the experience was, why it was valuable and how it affected your teaching. Provide the title of the professional development experience, who sponsored the event, date(s) attended.

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* 12. The ExPERT program is a professional learning community and its success depends upon engaged and motivated members who will be active participants. Describe what unique qualities, skills and experience, etc. YOU would bring to the learning community.

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* 13. Successful participants in the ExPERT program are committed to their own professional development. This requires an ability and willingness to actively reflect on your current thoughts and ideas about science, the nature of scientific knowledge and how science is taught in the classroom. Please describe ways in which you are currently committed to active reflection on your teaching as well as your future commitment to active personal reflection on both the content you teach and the way that you teach in your classroom.

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* 14. Active participation in the learning community during the 2012-2013 school year is a vital part of the ExPERT program. Active participation includes 5-8 hours per month. This time includes attending a 2.5-hour monthly meeting after school, reading assigned literature, providing thoughtful responses to reflection questions and conducting a detailed analysis of how you are integrating the information you have gained on scientific knowledge during the learning community and research experience into your classes. Given the heavy demands on a teacher's time, please address how you will be able to meet the 5-8 hour/month time commitment needed for participation in the learning community during the school year.

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* 15. Possible research placement locations for the ExPERT program include:

- Bowie State University, Bowie, Maryland (1-2 placements available)

- University of Maryland, College Park, College Park Campus (10 placements available)

- Towson University, Towson Campus (0-1 placements available)

- Towson University, Inner Harbor, Baltimore City Campus (10 placements available)

- University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore City Campus, (0-1 placements available)

While every effort will be made to place you at a location nearest your residence (you will be assigned to the same location for the duration of the summer) we cannot guarantee a specific research placement location. Checking the "Yes" button below indicates you are willing and able to commute to ANY of the above locations for your summer research placement. Please note that all school year learning community meetings will take place at the H.B. Owens Science Center in Lanham, MD.

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* 16. All applicants are required to have their Principal complete a recommendation form. It is your responsibility to ask your principal to complete the recommendation form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ExPERT_rec_2012. Please note that applications without a completed principal recommendation form will be considered incomplete and not considered. You may email expert@towson.edu to inquire about whether or not your principal has completed a recommendation on your behalf. Principal recommendation forms must be completed by January 31, 2012. Checking the "Yes" box below indicates you understand you are required to have your principal submit a recommendation form on your behalf.

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