Teacher Professional Development Program

About the Program

ISMD aims to enhance teacher professional skills in the field of sciences. We hope to bring world class training to public school teachers through partnerships with educators worldwide. This training focuses on inquiry-based learning and strengthening scientific knowledge within the teaching methods. It centers its efforts on diverse and talented students making knowledge relevant and practical in the modern world.

ISMD’s vision is to create STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) learning programs in local public schools with local science teachers in different regions throughout Mongolia.

Teachers examine a Protoceratops model

Objectives

  • To enrich STEAM content for classrooms in Mongolia.
  • To improve teachers’ methodological knowledge and skills.
  • To build international connections between scientists and teachers.
  • To build natural science focused STEM education.

 

The Project So Far

To meet these goals, ISMD launched a teacher training program to help our wonderful teachers to grow in their professional field. We started our first professional training in 2019 in Bulgan in Ömnögovi Province and 16 teachers attended. 

ISMD Two Years-Teacher Development Program aims to enhance the public school teachers skills in the science education field. Our very first training program was organized in 2019 summer for 10 days. (from August 28th to September 6th)

Our next program is coming in this spring term. Stay tuned!

 

Program Team in 2019-2020

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The 2019-2020 Program

The program in 2019-2020 was implemented with three phases at the Public School of Bulgan sum in Ömnögovi Province. We had 16 teachers, one school manager and one social manager in total 18 participants from the school.

Phase 1

Goal: Building the primary knowledge and practice with 3 days of classroom learning activities, 1 day of field study activity and 1 day of practicing at the Dinosaur Moveable Museum of ISMD 

During this training session teachers were introduced to science content and educational practices that will empower them to bring paleontology into the classroom. They were presented with resources including a set of fossilization cards, meant to be used as a formative assessment probe, as well as replica dinosaur teeth made from plaster. The teachers first engaged with these resources as learners and then returned to them from the educator’s perspective to think about how they might be used in the classroom.

Through the classroom activities, the participants studied geologic time scales, identifying fossils, learning about Mongolian dinosaurs and it’s diet.  

The lesson topics of the program:

  • What is a Fossil?
  • What is a Dinosaur?
  • Field Note lessons
  • What Did Dinosaurs Eat?
  • Estimating Dinosaur Body Mass

Teachers working together in the classroom

Phase 2

On the field study day instructors and scientists taught us how to work in the field, how to look for fossils and identify them, and how to take field notes when you find a fossil in the natural environment.  

A small group of teachers seated on the ground

Last but not least in our 1st stage of the program, teachers got an opportunity to visit and receive training in the Dinosaur Moveable Museum which has specially equipped and designed to deliver the modern discoveries of paleontology science for the public. Our education fellows gave training for the participants then our participants gave educational tours for their students based on what they have learned from the program.  

Three women taking a selfie

Phase 3

After the Stage 1 training, teachers were assigned with a mission to organize classroom activities to teach about paleontology science education. 

All the participant teachers paired together and conducted 3 lessons for a total of 209 students in 2nd to 9th grade who are studying in the public school of Bulgan soum. 

Through the program, students learned about ‘What Is Dinosaur?’, ‘What Did Dinosaurs Eat?’, and ‘What Is a Fossil?’

A teacher holding a dinosaur model in front of a classroom

Meet Our Teachers

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Partner Organizations

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Sponsors

Gerry Ohrstrom

Thomas Jackson

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