Rio Connection: Increasing Continuity throughout the Science Curricula [2016]
September 1, 2016
This report addresses the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs’ Year Three evaluation findings on the Rio Connection: Increasing Continuity throughout the Science Curricula project. The project is a three-year Math-Science Partnership among the University of Rio Grande (URG), The Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center (GVESC), Gallia County Local School District (GCLSD), and Wellston City School District (WCSD). The purpose of the partnership is to connect Kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers with math and science faculty at nearby colleges and universities in order to facilitate ongoing, highquality professional development in the math and science content areas required by Ohio’s New Learning Standards. Collaborating with faculty at URG and the GV-ESC and utilizing a coaching professional development model, GCLSD and WCSD science teachers were provided professional development and individual coaching in life science content knowledge, curriculum mapping and teaching pedagogy. Teachers had the opportunity to collaborate with Rio STEM faculty and science coaches throughout the school year, as well as with other teachers during the professional development workshop and through planned co-teaching lessons across grade bands, if desired.