Pacific Crystal Centre for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Literacy: Lessons Learned

The University of Victoria Pacific Centre for Scientific and Technological Literacy is one of five Centres for Research into Youth, Science Teaching and Learning (CRYSTAL) funded for 5 years (2005―2010) by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada (NSERC). Pacific CRYSTAL intended to promote scientific, mathematical, and technological literacy for responsible citizenship through research partnerships with university and educational communities. Pacific CRYSTAL’s functional structure consisted of 3 research and development nodes connected to a leadership and administrative node, which was charged with facilitating the activities of 19 projects and 42 principal investigators, partners, and research associates. Node 1, an incubation centre, involved extracurricular authentic science, mathematics, and technology experiences; Node 2, a classroom testing environment, field-tested instructional ideas and strategies to develop evidence-based practices; and Node 3, lighthouse schools, involved systemic change and leadership opportunities that adapted, demonstrated, and disseminated tested ideas, resources, and strategies to a much broader education community and attempted to influence public policy. This book provides descriptions of the target goals, research and development projects, and lessons learned.

Eileen Van der Flier-Keller is a geologist and Associate Professor in Earth Sciences at the University of Victoria. She is passionate about rocks, beaches and teaching students and teachers about the stories rocks tell us about our Earth's history. She is the author of the South Vancouver Island Earth Science Fun Guide and lives in Victoria with her family, Peter, Connor and Alison.

David W. Blades is Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Teacher Education at the University of Victora. He holds a Ph.D. in secondary education (science education) from the University of Alberta and a M.Ed. in curriculum studies from the University of Victoria. He has been a director of two centers for excellence in science education. Dr. Blades has published widely on citizenship education, multiculturalism, poststructuralism, and issues in curriculum reform, including Procedures of Power & Curriculum Change (Peter Lang, 1997).