VCU news

By Ahmed Asraf

Local elementary school teachers and students will gather on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus beginning June 23 for the annual Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) camp in the School of Education.

VISTA is a partnership between six universities, the U.S. Department of Education and more than 80 school districts to improve science teaching and student learning in central Virginia. This year’s theme is “The Impact of Global Climate Change in Virginia.”

The camp runs for four weeks. Teachers study science with VISTA science educators during the first week, spend the next two weeks teaching rising fifth- and sixth-graders what they have learned, and then during the last week, develop a problem-based learning unit for implementation during the school year. 

“The camp provides the teachers with the opportunity to try new instructional approaches in a supportive environment,” said Elizabeth Edmondson, VISTA director at VCU. “[It also] provides students with the opportunity to learn science concepts in an engaging problem-based learning format.” 

At the end of camp, parents of the students are invited to learn more about how they can support their children to excel in school and prepare for college. 

In 2010, George Mason University received a $32 million award for the U.S. Department i3 Program.  VCU School of Education received a $5.1 million subaward to implement the program for the central Virginia region. 

The VCU School of Education develops programs to research today’s educational issues. It hosts more than 1,700 students pursuing graduate degrees.