QUEST stands for Questioning Underlies Effective Science Teaching. The Professional Development Summer Institutes have evolved over QUEST's 35+ year history and emphasize that science is a way of knowing about the world through a process of discovery. We want teachers to fully immerse themselves as learners and experience lifelong and lifewide learning. Lifewide- encompassing everyday “here and now” learning through informal experiences and formal education.
We offer innovative programming each summer for STEM teachers to build their data fluency with real world research and deepen their understanding of science topics while engaging with faculty, researchers, lead teachers, and other amazing campus collaborators. We approach professional learning at QUEST as an opportunity to help teachers engage as a student again and enjoy the learning experience as an adult. Educators can expect to experience field work, hands-on activities, simulations, interactive discussions, peer collaboration, and “Teacher Talk” time with a lead teacher to bring relevant ideas back to their own classrooms. Teachers will earn over 30 professional development hours as well as an honorarium for completing the week.
QUEST Program Goals:
- Serve as a partner to facilitate meaningful collaborations between Princeton faculty and K-12 NJ educators.
- Boost teachers’ confidence in STEM by deepening content knowledge, data fluency, and engaging in scientific practices.
- Provide teachers with a unique opportunity to “self-direct” their science learning through experiential and inquiry-based models of learning.
- Support teachers with integrating relevant ideas into their classroom that meet the needs of their unique context, student population, curricula, and district initiatives.
FAQs
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What happens at QUEST?
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Teachers come to campus each day for about ~6 hours during the week-long institute. Each day is filled with a variety of hands-on activities, interactive lectures, experiments, field trips, and field work led by Princeton University scientists and researchers. Time is allocated to working with a lead teacher. Lunch and snacks are provided daily.
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Who is the target audience?
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Local K-12 STEM Educators who want to deepen and broaden their understanding of STEM topics.
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When does QUEST occur?
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Each week-long QUEST institute is held annually during summer (July-August) with three different weeks of programming throughout the summer. The weeks include full day programming, which varies slightly from week to week.
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Where is QUEST held?
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Currently, most QUEST institutes are held on Princeton University campus with visits to Field Sites (e.g. Stony Ford, Pinelands, Watershed Institute, etc.). In the past, QUEST has been at off-site locations like Acadia National Park.
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Who helps develop the program?
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- Professors, Researchers, & Scientists collaborate to develop activities to share their current research, innovative science teaching, and build connections to the world around us.
- QUEST director (Jessica Monaghan, Teacher Preparation Program) and Lead Teachers (from local schools) provide insight and expertise on the target audience, needs of local educators, innovative pedagogy, and alignment to K-12 best practices