Q. I've created (or I've found) a very good SMT web site. How can I share it with other SMT interested users?
A. Please email us at smt@bwfund.org with a short description of the site and how you found it useful. We will create a link to the site under "Resources" and "Links" on the SMT Center's main page drop-down menu. Thank you for your interest.

Q. Do you accept advertising on your web site?
A. Yes and no: The SMT Center is a neutral, non-profit center, so pure advertising will not be found on this site – no pop ups or flashing banners. At the same time, we want to share with our users appropriate information related to products and services that enhance the quality of instruction and student performance. If we find good materials or products that we think you should know about, we will guide you to them.

Q. How do I get permission to link to a page on the SMT Center web site?
A. By contacting us at smt@bwfund.org with your request.

Q. How did you decide which school systems would be the first to work with the Teacher Link Program?
A. The Teacher Link Program (TLP) is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant awarded to the Duke University Center for Inquiry-Based Learning (CIBL). The school districts selected for TLP had either participated in the North Carolina Infrastructure for Science Education program (NCISE) or heard by word-of-mouth about the CIBL's grant proposal to NSF. Four school districts were initially selected and three others were added later to participate in the first phase of the TLP. If we are as successful as we expect to be with this program, we will expand each year until the program is available to all teachers in North Carolina. The NSF grant to CIBL is titled "Teachers and Scientists Collaborating" and is closely linked to the NCISE program (http://www.nc-ise.org). TLP should soon be available in your district.

Q. How can my school participate in the Teacher Link Program?
A. The Teacher Link Program (TLP) will eventually be statewide. At the present time, we are working on building the program. If you are not in one of the districts currently in the program, your time will come. Visit our site often; we will update you regularly about the progress of the TLP.

Q. Even though my school isn't participating in the Teacher Link Program, can I sign up to have a Teacher Link Fellow work with me?
A. Not at this time. We are continuing to recruit scientists and will train them on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for science at each grade level as well as on the National Science Foundation-supported curriculum units or kits that support inquiry-based instruction. As we continue to build the program, we plan to link scientists and teachers statewide so that all 117 school districts can take advantage of this wonderful resource.

Q. Is there a place teachers can go to get more materials and support for science teaching?
A. You are already at the best "one stop site" for support. Your question describes precisely what the Center is all about: helping teachers do a better job in the classroom and improving student performance. Send us an e-mail at shouston@bwfund.org telling us what your needs are, and we will do our best to help you.

Q. Where do you get your funding?
A. The SMT Center is a non-profit private foundation. The Burroughs Welcome Fund provided start-up dollars to launch the Center. We will seek future funding from other sources including foundations, business/industry, government, and individuals.

Q. How does the SMT Center support the national No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation?
A. The SMT Center will draw attention to NCLB because federal legislation is focused on science, mathematics, and technology education. The Center will support research activities and the development of assessment tools as we prepare for NCLB. For the first time in years, our state will test science in grades five and eight and will continue to test biology in order to meet the demands imposed by the new statutes. We will provide the support needed to help North Carolina make yearly progress on SMT assessments.

Q. How will you measure the success of the SMT Center?
A. We will consistently seek input from people like you who can let us know if the SMT Center is effectively providing support and information. We will also work with the Department of Public Instruction to determine if student interest in science has improved across our state. Test scores and SMT program development and advancements across the state are just two measures. The true measure of our success will be the rising numbers of graduates who pursue college degrees and careers in SMT and related fields of study and/or employment.