Quality Elementary Science Teaching

The Quality Elementary Science Teaching (QuEST) program was funded from 2008-2013 by the Missouri Department of Higher Education's Improving Teacher Quality grants program. QuEST is a partnership among the MU College of Education, the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and the MU Partnership for Educational Renewal (MPER). A series of summer teachers institutes, a K6 program for students, and academic year follow-up sessions in schools were offered in partnership with Columbia Public School, St. Louis Public Schools, Hazelwood School District, Independence Schools District, Hallsville Schools, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Hannibal School District. .

In August 2014, we received funding from the National Science Foundation to conduct research on this innovative practicum-based professional development model through the Discovery Research K12 program. We expanded our partnership to include North Callway, Fulton, and Normandy school districts. Workshops targetd NGSS-aligned topics in physical sciences for grades 3-4-5. Though our project concluded in 2019, we have continued to disseminate materials and products from this work. Please use the links above to learn more about our program and associated research.