Pre-service Teacher Program. The COMETS Program Director will spend two weeks (30 hours) with all new pre-service educators on their professional development learning about COMETS teaching strategies, the GLOBE program, the Scott Foresman Science Companion curricula, and the vision and mission of COMETS. During COMETS each week, all teams of pre-service teachers will spend 12 hours during the academic year and 20 hours during the summer a week to prepare, implement, and meet with the COMETS Program Director to ensure innovative implementation of weekly activities. COMETS will create a “Train the trainer program” where pre-service teachers will undergo embedded inquiry instruction that they will then transfer to informal educators in the informal setting. They will be the daily connection that students will see in their community center and will help Out-of-School staff successfully implement COMETS.

Tentative Schedule for COMETS
Year 1
  Summer 2007 – 9 weeks at 20 hours per week
  Fall 2007 – 14 weeks at 12 hours per week
Year 2
  Spring 2008 – 14 weeks at 12 hours per week
  Summer 2008 – 9 weeks at 20 hours per week
  Fall 2008 – 14 weeks at 12 hours per week
Year 3
  Spring 2009 – 14 weeks at 12 hours per week