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Van Allen Science Teaching Center
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Mission
The Van Allen Science Teaching Center provides leadership and support for exemplary science teaching to ensure success for all learners.
Vision
| We envision a community where people understand and use basic scientific principles to: |
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experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world; |
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use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions; |
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engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; |
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increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understanding, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers. |
Center Name
The center was named the Van Allen Science Teaching Center, in honor of
Dr. James Van Allen, based on several factors: |
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His prominence as a scientist in the field of astrophysics. |
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He was an Iowan by birth. |
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He was a lifelong learner. |
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His life and career embodied many of the values of the center. |
The vision emphasizes the concept of scientific literacy: a broad and deep understanding of science that pervades all aspects of life as citizen, individual, employee, and lifelong learner. Implicit in the vision is the belief that the way children learn science affects the degree to which they are able to understand and use its principles as adults.
The mission explains that the quality of the learning environment is critical to children's meaningful learning of scientific content, concepts, and methods of inquiry. Creating high-quality science learning environments through the provision of well-designed curriculum, professional development for teachers and administrators, classroom materials, assessment strategies, and development of multiple networks of support is a strong match for the talents and resources of the AEA.
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