Villa Julie College hosts teacher science camp

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - School’s out for summer — but not for the teachers.

This week, about 30 high school math and science teachers from across the country, including 10 Marylanders, are starting an intensive two-week course at Villa Julie College in Owings Mills.

Their goal? Learn to make numbers and equations fun for high schoolers.

“We are trying to open the eyes of the teachers,” said Susan Gorman, director of Villa Julie’s science and math division.

Villa Julie is one of two colleges in the country hosting this pilot biomedical sciences program, administered by the nonprofit organization Project Lead the Way, in an effort to address the national shortage of people trained in science, math, engineering and technology fields.

“It is really a cutting-edge national model for this type of curriculum — they are paying attention to what we need to do to move the country forward to address the issues that we hear constantly,” Gorman said.

Besides putting a twist on the classic math and science curriculum — in one lesson teachers use genetic evidence to solve a crime “CSI” style — Project Lead the Way also tries to expand teachers’ thoughts about what people trained in the biomedical science fields can do besides being a doctor — such as becoming lab technicians, genetic counselors or emergency medical technicians.

The teachers, funded by their state’s departments of education, will stay on the Villa Julie’s Owings Mills campus for two weeks, have seven hours of in-class instruction and then homework at night.

“These people are back in school,” Villa Julie College spokeswoman Glenda LeGendre said.

mmcilroy@baltimoreexaminer.com