About QUEST

One of the most important elements in effective science education-- creative, engaging and demanding elementary science — is often undervalued and overlooked according to educators across the nation. In order to enhance science teaching K-6 in Missouri, MU teacher educators have teamed up with school districts to provide professional development that supports quality elementary science teaching (QUEST).

QUEST is funded by the Missouri Department of Higher Education's Improving Teacher Quality Grants Program and supports both a professional development program for elementary teachers and summer science academy for elementary-age students. Dr. Deborah Hanuscin, assistant professor of science education and physics, serves as the project director. Dr. Delinda van Garderen, assistant professor of special education, is the project co-director.

The project focuses on best practices in inquiry-based instruction, formative assessment, and applying principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support success for ALL students in science. The primary goals of QUEST include:

1. Strengthening teachers’ conceptual understanding of physical science content appropriate to the K-6 curriculum (Year 1; Electrical Circuits; Year 2: Magnetism; Year 3: Light and Energy)
2. Assisting teachers in successfully utilizing inquiry-based instruction, formative assessment to guide instruction , and principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support the success of all students

QUEST is a collaboration of the Department of Physics & Astronomy in the MU College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Special Education in the MU College of Education, and is supported through the MU Science Education Center and MU Partnership for Educational Renewal. Partner districts include St. Louis Public Schools, Hazelwood School District, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.