Chevron Summer Science Institute teaches the teachers

CMC expands science education program, nearly doubles enrollment

chevron summer science institute
Teachers at the Chevron Summer Science Institute at Colorado Mountain College in Rifle, June 2014. Photo Ed Kosmicki

While many of their students were enjoying summer break this past June, more than 40 regional elementary and middle school teachers were at Colorado Mountain College in Rifle, learning how to keep those same students engaged and excited about science.

The Chevron Summer Science Institute has nearly doubled in size since it began in the summer of 2013. Last year, funded by Chevron, two dozen K-8 science teachers gathered at Colorado Mountain College for a week to learn how to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math, also known as STEM subjects. They built sundials, tested water and explored planetary movement.

The institute had a waiting list, and was deemed a success: A test given before and after the institute showed that participating teachers scored 16 percentage points higher after attending the session.

This summer, at each of two sessions – during the weeks of June 2 and June 9 – Nephi Thompson, CMC associate professor of science, led 21 teachers from Garfield School District Re-2, District 16 in Parachute and DeBeque School District as they discovered how to create hands-on, science-immersion activities.

Thompson said that based on feedback he received, he added geology components to the curriculum this past summer. Additionally, teachers learned new ways to teach subjects like population growth, temperature and precipitation, as well as how to conduct activities outside the classroom such as field trips to nearby rivers and nature walks.

The institute was again funded by a grant from Chevron, which over two years has totaled more than $264,000. Besides covering the cost of the two week-long sessions, the funds go toward teacher stipends, classroom equipment and paying for substitute teachers while participating educators take part in professional development throughout the school year.

“I really admire the work that our local K-8 teachers do to help our children learn literacy, math, science and social studies,” said Thompson.

Teachers get time, support to continue learning, too

“The partnership between Chevron and Colorado Mountain College provides access for our teachers to rich professional development in science right here in their backyard,” said Garfield Re-2 School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Birdsey. “These experiences help our teachers broaden their knowledge and become better at their craft.”

“Research tells us that knowledgeable, confident and passionate teachers are essential for students to explore their own curiosity about science,” said Michael DeBerry, manager of Chevron’s Rocky Mountain Area. “We are delighted to partner with Colorado Mountain College and the local school districts to help educators teach science in fun and relevant ways. Working together, we can improve student learning and help our schools excel.”

Thompson said although some of the same teachers attended this summer as in 2013, most of the teachers were new participants, all of whom completed anonymous feedback forms at the end of each session.

“Wearing the ‘student hat’ with projects and working in teams helped me as an educator form ideas of how to teach science in my class,” wrote one participating teacher.

And like last year, teachers showed improvement in a test that they took after the sessions, as compared to their pre-test scores. The first session’s scores rose from 80 to 90 percent; the second session scores rose from 80 to 95 percent.

“My goal with the institute was to increase teachers’ knowledge of science and their confidence in teaching science,” said Thompson. “My hope is that their students learn more science, are more excited about science and ultimately choose careers in math and science.”

In addition to the Chevron Summer Science Institute, the company has been a CMC partner for several years, sponsoring Chevron Community Cinema and other cultural offerings, supporting a student fees fund and underwriting scholarships for nontraditional students.