VISTA Professional Development

The Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) is a partnership among 47 school districts, six universities, and the Virginia Department of Education. VISTA plans to build an infrastructure to provide sustained and intensive science teacher professional development to increase student performance. The goals of VISTA are to improve science teaching and student learning throughout Virginia especially in high-need (high-poverty, high minority) schools. Awarded to George Mason University and its partners in 2010, the initiative is funded by a five-year, $28.5 million grant from the United States Department of Education through the Investing in Innovation (i3) program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

VISTA will build upon, and expand, prior research and active learning programs conducted within Mason’s College of Education and Human Development and the Center for Restructuring Education in Science and Technology (CREST).

VISTA is focused on:

• Providing upper elementary (grades 4-6) teachers experiences with scientific, problem-based learning and student-centered inquiry as they work in teams to conduct inquiry-based science for children.
• Providing uncertified, provisionally licensed, and first year licensed secondary (grades 6-12) science teachers just-in-time coaching and “big picture” research-based teaching coursework for two years.
• Honing the skills of school division science coordinators in teacher leadership in science teaching and learning.
• Networking and extending the knowledge of college science education faculty on current research in science teaching and learning.

Read the full grant narrative at The U.S. Department of Education's website

Objectives

• Increase student learning in science including students with special needs and LEP
• Enhance quality of elementary science teaching by including inquiry-based teaching
• Enhance the quality of teaching by new, underprepared secondary science teachers, including having students conduct inquiry-based laboratory activities
• Increase the number of certified middle school and high school science teachers
• Increase access for rural teachers to professional development
• Build the state infrastructure to support effective science teaching and learning
• Conduct research to determine what makes the most significant difference in helping teachers to help students learn

Expected outcomes for students are increased scores on statewide science tests. Expected outcomes for teachers are improved science teaching. The 83,700 students of teachers who received professional development will benefit directly. VISTA will ultimately affect 61% (760,000) of K-12 students through school district science coordinators.

School Divisions

Local Education Agencies (LEA) involved are: Albemarle County. Amherst County, Appomattox County, Arlington County, Bedford County, Buckingham County, Buena Vista City, Campbell County, Charlottesville City, Chesterfield County, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fairfax County, Floyd County, Fluvanna County, Frederick County, Fredericksburg City, Grayson County, Greene County, Hanover County, Hopewell City, Loudoun County, Louisa County, Lynchburg City, Madison County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Mecklenburg County, Nelson County, Newport News City. Orange County, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Prince William County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County, Russell County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Staunton City, Virginia Beach City, VA School for Deaf and Blind, Warren County, Waynesboro City, Williamsburg-James City County, Winchester City and York County.

Universities

Institution of Higher Education (IHE) involved are: George Mason University, College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic, and James Madison University.