Chemistry professor receives $1 million grant for Target Inquiry

Deborah Herrington, principal investigator and associate professor of chemistry, has received a grant to expand and further study the Target Inquiry (TI) program. TI is an innovative professional development program designed to improve the quality and frequency of inquiry-based instruction in middle and high school science classes.

The $1.1 million National Science Foundation DRK-12 award is a five-year grant to support science teachers working through the intensive, two-year TI program, along with an in-depth study of the effects of TI on its teachers and their students.
 
“The initial implementation of the program for high school chemistry teachers has been successful beyond what we had originally envisioned,” said Herrington. “Not only have teachers been able to more successfully implement inquiry instruction into their chemistry classes, but we also have evidence that suggests students better understand chemistry as a result of these instructional changes.”

Herrington said teachers and students report increased student confidence and engagement as well as improved retention of concepts. “Instructional change is difficult and requires adequate time and support if it is to be achieved and sustained,” she said. “TI is a long-term, coherent program that helps teachers develop a solid understanding of inquiry instruction and supports them through the development and implementation of inquiry activities.” 
 
The grant, along with support from Grand Valley and a collaboration between the College of Education and science education faculty from chemistry, physics, biology and geology, will help expand the program to all middle and high school science teachers.

Herrington is a co-creator of the TI model and began its implementation and study at Grand Valley in 2006. For more information, contact Deborah Herrington at (616) 331-3809 or visit www.gvsu.edu/targetinquiry.