TOPS Staff Development Program 

The TOPS Biology Program is supported through a generous grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. 

The program is divided into three phases: 

Phase I: Staff Development Workshops

This hands-on workshop is designed to provide professional development for the concepts, equipment, procedure and curriculum integration of a series of seven biology labs. Recognizing the need for interdisciplinary materials at the high school level, TOPS developed these labs to extend or replace labs typically done in high school, but with a biochemistry emphasis and a technological approach. Teachers will update their skills on modern laboratory experiments, become familiar with the equipment used to carry out these experiments, discuss and plan inquiry-based, framework-specific implementation of these labs along with the safety and classroom management issues involved. 

Requirements: High School Classroom Biology Teacher 
Schedule: M - F, 16 - 20 July, 2012, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Workshop held at Occidental College)
Cost: $0 (All participants will receive a $1000 stipend).                                                                  

Application

Important Note: All application materials must be on file with TOPS by Monday 31 May 2012 in order for an applicant to be given priority consideration. Incomplete and/or late applications will only be considered at the discretion of the TOPS administration. Those accepted to the TOPS Program will be notified on or before Monday 4 June 2012.
 

Phase II: Van visits, with in-classroom mentoring and equipment use by students 

Recognizing that a one week workshop is insufficient to build confidence with new equipment and an obligation to maintain the equipment for continued use by all TOPS participants, the TOPS program provides mentored access to technological equipment with van visits. These visits will enable the trained teacher to carry out three of the TOPS labs with their students, with the assistance of an experienced TOPS resource teacher. On-going staff development in laboratory management and equipment use in the classroom environment will also be provided by the TOPS resource teacher.

Since the TOPS labs require two to four regular class periods to complete, this will involve several days of mentoring by the TOPS resource teacher. Working with the TOPS staff, teachers will schedule visits by the TOPS van, bringing any three of the labs a teacher has been trained on to the teacher's classroom. Up to five classes may participate and TOPS will supply the equipment, supplies, and chemicals needed to carry out the lab. The TOPS resource teacher will set up the labs, calibrate and troubleshoot the equipment, and prepare the chemicals for the lab.

Requirements: Completion of the Summer Staff Development Workshop, 
Schools within 25 miles (40 km) of Occidental College 
Schedule: M - F, 13 August 2012 through 14 June 2013.
Cost: $500.00
Application: To apply for Phase II please contact us directly at tops@oxy.edu.

Phase III: Lending Kits 

After the first year of mentored participation, the TOPS program makes available a lending kit, which provides the specialized equipment and hard to obtain chemicals for each of the labs. Up to five of these kits may be scheduled per year, supplied for up to five classes. These are scheduled with the TOPS staff, delivered to the classroom, and remain for approximately one week for student use. The TOPS resource teacher remains available for assistance and consultation, but is not in the classroom on a regular basis. 

Requirements: Completion of Phase I and Phase II 
Schedule: To be arranged, M - F, 13 August 2012 through 14 June 2013.
Cost: $700 per teacher.
Application: To request lending kits, click here.