The TOPS Chemistry Program includes a Summer Institute, first year mentored van visits, and subsequent use of the equipment (lending kits) for a week at a time for each of five experiments.

     The TOPS Summer Institute is a full time, one week professional development program to familiarize teachers with the concepts, equipment, procedures, and curriculum integration for a series of seven biology [or chemistry] labs.  Teachers update their skills on modern laboratory experiments and the concepts they illustrate, become familiar with the equipment used to carry out these experiments, and discuss and plan inquiry-based, framework-specific implementation of the experiments along with the safety and classroom management issues involved.  In light of the recent emphasis on technology in the classroom, some schools have acquired the equipment to carry out labs similar to the TOPS labs.  The TOPS Summer Institute will provide teachers with the knowledge to use that equipment and successfully integrate it into their classroom laboratory activities.

      For many schools, however, the investment necessary to provide this equipment to their classrooms is not possible at this time.  To overcome this problem, the TOPS program makes equipment available to trained, interested teachers.   Upon completion of the Summer Institute, teachers are eligible to participate in a second phase of the program, during which the TOPS resource teacher, an experienced, credentialed, mentor teacher, brings the TOPS equipment in our specially outfitted van to the participant's classroom and assists in carrying out the TOPS labs with students.  During these TOPS van visits, laboratory management and equipment usage in the classroom environment are modeled and discussed, and the presentation of advanced science concepts through laboratory experiences is made possible.

     Follow-up support in the form of seminars, a newsletter, training for student TAs and access to the TOPS lending kits make this a long-term program.

     Since the inception of the TOPS program in 1992, more than 60,000 students have had the opportunity to participate in these advanced lab experiments.  Our studies have shown that students who have access to modern scientific technology in the classroom show a statistically significant increase in interest in science classes and science in general*.

 *See Craney, C.L. et.al., J. Chem. Ed. 1996, 73, 646-650.