They have access to the university's libraries and databases. They are trained in new classroom technology and have the chance to design and conduct classroom research projects, in consultation with UCR faculty. This continuing education aspect drew Dick Slivka, a social studies teacher at Rubidoux High School to sign on as a collaborating teacher the year after the institute began a program in his school. Slivka, who has been teaching for 30 years, was coordinator of staff development at the high school at that time and was interested in the opportunities to improve the system that the institute presented. The institute's program has proven beneficial to his school's staff in many ways since then, he said.
Isolation is the greatest obstacle to good teaching.
Pace said she learns a great deal from the student teachers at Mission Middle School. It allows me to be in contact with younger members of the science community who have more current information. Slivka believes that participating in the teacher education program forces veteran teachers to reexamine their own teaching methods and rationales. Cooperating teachers at his school are working now to expand the beneficial impact to the entire faculty.