Professional development for teachers through training, curricula and lab kits

Overview

ScienceBridge Labs interface world-class scientists, leading technology companies, high school students and science educators to develop innovative laboratory activities based on current research. Opportunities include supporting ScienceBridge staff at training sessions, supporting teachers in the classroom. Experienced Science Leaders can also offer one-on-one lab consultations and reviews.

ScienceBridge is a Science Outreach Initiative based at UCSD (University of California, San Diego) that serves secondary school teachers and students by connecting students to current and relevant scientific research through classroom activities, university experiences and community events. The foundation of the ScienceBridge program is our Professional Development and Curriculum program, from which the following activity was developed at UCSD in collaboration with local science teachers and is now offered as a training and implementation package for the high school classroom.

One primary goal of ScienceBridge is to create very affordable and accessible labs that engage students with authentic science experiences. We work to optimize each activity to minimize the dependency on expensive equipment and other resources sometimes lacking at a school site. In doing so, we have created activities that can be implemented in virtually ANY classroom, but are also able to be “ramped up” or have added complexity to challenge more advanced students or to utilize available classroom resources. ScienceBridge also supports and is helping to optimize student-run biotechnology sites within specific school districts that will allow materials to available and sustainable over time, eliminating dependency on external resources.

Professional development & curricula

ScienceBridge’s unique phase training model strives to create connections between teachers and scientists, increase teachers’ and students’ access to current scientific information and resources, as well as encourages the engagement of students as leaders in the classroom. Each ScienceBridge teacher is trained to use the materials and lab protocol created at UCSD and also brings with them a handful of students from their science classrooms that will also learn to use the resources and will serve as teaching assistants and resident “experts” in the classroom during activity implementation. All student and teacher input is encouraged and considered at all times, such that our training sessions, curriculum, and resources are the most effective and useful to the audience.

We are very pleased to offer these resources to you and hope you have a great experience with these activities!

Video about our work