York University Awarded $1 Million to Build on its Strength in Science Education/ Focus on Improving Teaching and Literacy in Math, Technology and Science Among School Children Across Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 1999 -- With a $1 million grant from The Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation, York University's Faculties of Education and Pure & Applied Science are kickstarting a series of ambitious joint initiatives that will equip top-notch teachers with the knowledge, tools and methods they need to provide elementary and secondary school students with a solid -- and increasingly essential -- foundation in science, math and technology.

Imperial Oil announced today that York is one of three recipients -- the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto are the others -- to receive $1 million to establish programs aimed at developing curriculum and enhancing teaching practices among kindergarten to grade 12 teachers. Bolstering an already strong science education program at York University, the grant will fund four initiatives, spanning five years, that build on work already being done at York.

"The Imperial Oil Science Education Program establishes a clear, cohesive, pan-Canadian foundation from which science education can build for the new Millennium," said Stan Shapson, the former Dean of Education and now York's Associate Vice-President of Strategic Academic Initiatives. "We are delighted with Imperial Oil's commitment to science education and its recognition of York's leading work with our partner schools in developing science curriculum and in turning out educators superbly suited to helping elementary and secondary students become highly literate in science, math and technology," said Shapson.

The demand for a highly qualified workforce in specialized fields and the need for a public capable of coping with the growing impacts of science and technology have increased dramatically in the 15 years since the Science Council landmark report, Science for Every Student: Educating Canadians for Tomorrow's World.

The Dean of the Faculty of Pure & Applied Science, Robert Prince, said Imperial Oil and York University's collaboration will significantly improve science education in Canada. "Imperial Oil's lead participation in this program will guarantee that the next generation of Canadians will be scientifically and technologically literate, fit for the future social and economic challenges. The Imperial Oil Science Education Programme will equip Canadians for leadership in the technologically and scientifically advanced environments of tomorrow," said Prince.

The York projects include:

Enhancing curriculum support and development for science in elementary and secondary schools through the Pan-Canadian Science Curriculum Project, an Internet-based planning resource for teachers across Canada. In September, 1998, this Internet resource project moved to York and began a plan of diversification and growth which includes the addition of hundreds of new lesson plans, increased resources, and further teaching assistance.

Expanding pre-service and in-service teacher education for science in elementary and secondary schools through the York-Seneca Institute for Science, Technology and Education The Institute, which will bring together the resources of York's Faculty of Education, York's Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, and Seneca College's Technology School, is dedicated to enhancing science and technology education at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels. Approximately 90 new pre-service teachers will be qualified annually. The Institute will become a national focus for science education throughout Canada.

Advancing the assessment support for science and technology in elementary and secondary schools through the Assessment of Science and Technology Achievement Project (ASAP) Grades 1-12 Science Curriculum Development & Learning Assessment: ASAP is a multi-year project designed to improve the assessment of student learning by classroom teachers from Grades 1 through 12, beginning in Ontario with the potential for nation-wide dissemination. Through leadership in curriculum development and early work on assessment, York has established a unique position as a provincial leader in science education, particularly at the elementary school level. Prof. Graham Orpwood, who teaches science education at York, led the ASAP project which produced the Ontario curriculum for science and technology for grades 1-8. It was the result of collaboration among York University faculty members, 17 Ontario school boards, and the Ministry of Education. Among the initiatives: expanding ASAP to include Grades 9 through 12, as the new secondary school curriculum is phased in from 1999 through 2003 and disseminating the overall products of ASAP nation-wide.

"Ontario's citizens need more than an accumulation of scientific information. They require a mastery of the skills and habits of mind of scientific inquiry. They also must be able to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. These are the fundamental aims of the new curriculum; they are consistent with the Pan-Canadian framework for science education adopted by most provinces a year ago; they build on the foundation of the Grade 1 to 8 curriculum released earlier this year, and 1999 is none too soon to start teaching science this way," said Orpwood.

Enriching and expanding science teaching in secondary schools through the Secondary Science Teaching Enrichment: Examples include: bringing new technologies into classrooms; expanding the Science Speakers Bureau through which York Science faculty can share their expertise in recent research advances with schools and general public; expanding the York observatory hours; providing lab tours and conducting scientific demonstrations at York to students of all ages; expanding the e-mail information service for teachers called NUCLEUS (nucleus@science.yorku.ca) -- a no-cost service for teachers who submit scientific questions which are answered by York's Science faculty.

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/002/99