Pilot-Testing Teachers

     Tim Purnell and Lynn Tarant

     at an Advisory Board Meeting

Lynn Tarant, science teacher at Charles J. Riley Middle School, pilot-tested each of the investigations in Modules 1-3 with her two 7th grade classes. In addition, Ms. Tarant helped create and revise Detectives' investigations, co-led professional development workshops, co-presented at professional meetings, and is the first author of an article describing the evolution of the Detectives' concept mapping investigations.

Tim Purnell, science teacher at Renaissance Middle School, pilot-tested each of the investigations in Modules 1 and 2 with his four 7th grade classes. In addition, Mr. Purnell helped create and revise Detectives' investigations, co-led professional development workshops, co-presented at professional meetings, and facilitated the publication of articles in the Newark Star Ledger and The New York Times about Detectives' Backpacks and Back Pain investigation.

The pilot-testing of Detectives in the Classroom was also supported by the principals at the two schools; Dr. Linda Crescione (Charles J. Riley Middle School, Paterson, NJ) and Mr. Charles Cobb (Renaissance Middle School, Montclair, NJ).