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Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS)
The Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS) is a program that is preparing rural Illinois chemistry teachers for the 21st Century through content, computational tools, and teaching methodology by building a virtual professional learning community among researchers, faculty and students. Our goals are to:


1. Strengthen high school teachers' and students' chemistry content by infusing computational tools and resources into the curriculum;

2. Increase students' and teachers' understanding of the application of chemistry to the world around them;

3. Build a learning community among research faculty and high school teacher participants to reduce teacher isolation and promote learning; and

4. Create a cadre of leaders (Institute Fellows) who will become advocates for excellence in mathematics and science.

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Featured Content

Teachers discuss the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science
In this 6-minute video, teachers discuss their experiences in the ICLCS and its relevance to teaching in rural Illinois schools. They address the context of rural schools, use of computational…

Project Contributions

ICLCS presents at STEM Smart
Posted by: Dave Mattson . Director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and Principal Investigator Thom Dunning, Jr., co-Principal Investigators, Edee Norman Wiziecki (NCSA) and Rebecca Canty, Superintendent of A-C Central School District…
Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science: Measuring teacher effectiveness in using computational tools and student-centered methods in high school chemistry.
Posted by: Dave Mattson . The Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS) provides and evaluates the effectiveness of professional development in computational chemistry education for rural Illinois high school chemistry teachers. Teachers receive…
Facilitating Changes in Teaching Practice Through Science Teachers' Vicarious Experiences in a Professional Learning Environment
Posted by: Dave Mattson . Researchers examine the relationship between changes in teaching practice and the number of vicarious experiences gained by reading peer accounts of implementing…
A First Attempt at Examining the Relationship between Student Success and Teachers' Participation in a Virtual Professional Learning Environment (PLE)
In this presentation, authors examine innovative ways to understand if there is a relationship between student success and their teachers' yearlong participation in a technology-mediated professional learning environment (PLE). Initial…
Student Achievement and the Participation of Rural High School Chemistry Teachers in a Multi-Year Professional Development Program with Special Emphasis on the Use of Computational Tools
"The ICLCS program for rural high school chemistry teachers provides professional development in content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and computational science teaching tools. It is provided over the course of three…
A First Attempt at Examining the Relationship Between Student Success and Teachers' Participation in a Virtual Learning Environment (PLE)
Posted by: Cathy McEver . This documentation of the 2011 Math and Science Partnership Learning Network Conference offers a brief summary of the ICLCS presentation that took place during…
Using WebMO to Investigate Fluorescence in the Ingredients of Energy Drinks
Posted by: Dave Mattson . With computers gaining more powerful processors, computational modeling can be introduced gradually to secondary students allowing them to visualize complex topics and gather data in the different scientific fields. In…
Chemistry Simulations
Posted by: Christine Bartell . Using a research-grade simulation package, Dr. Robert J. Mashl has developed several simulations illustrating fundamental physical chemical principles, such as dissolving of salt in water, the melting of ice, the…
ICLCS unveils new Web site
Posted by: Christine Bartell . The Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computation Science program launches new Web site.
Building bridges from research to education
Posted by: Christine Bartell . The cybereducation team at NCSA helps bridge the gap between research and education by conducting activities and programs to disseminate advanced technologies to new-as well as established-communities, encouraging them to…
Edee Wiziecki, Jay Mashl give talk on ICLCS to Monash University, Australia
Posted by: Christine Bartell . On Sept. 2, NSCA staffers Edee Wiziecki and Jay Mashl gave a presentation on the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science to Monash University in Austrailia via videoconference. Edee…
NCSA Funded to Build Community of Science Education Advocates
Posted by: Christine Bartell . NCSA recently received $599,965 from the National Science Foundation to create a community of science education advocates who are expert in 21st century science and pedagogy and who will be well prepared to teach in today's rural high school classroom…
Ed-tech Showcase Inspires Lawmakers
Posted by: Christine Bartell . Projects on Capitol Hill underscore how federal funding pays off, with robots, earthquake simulations, math programs, and more
Using Technology to Teach Chemistry
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . High School chemistry teacher Jeff Heinrich spent two weeks of his summer learning about ways technology can help his students learn more about chemistry...
Hamilton chemistry students can access U of I resources, professors
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . Chemistry students at Hamilton High School can link with professors and researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. High school teacher Darwin Smith has partnered Hamilton with a fairly…
Chemistry Class Celebrates Lincoln's 200th Birthday
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . School website features Fellows of the ICLCS and their chemistry students
ICLCS members present at US House of Representatives
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . Members of the ICLCS presented the program on Capitol Hill on January 28, 2010 at the Rayburn House Office.
Assessing Institutional Transformation and Sustainability: Lessons Learned from the ICLCS Project
This paper addresses the following claim(s): "This presentation will examine the feasibility and utility of developing a conceptual framework and set of indicators, metrics, and instruments for assessing institutional transformation…
Transforming Chemistry Education through Computational Science
An ongoing US National Science Foundation-funded project, the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS), involves instructing rural Illinois high school chemistry teachers in…
Modern Science Modules
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . These modules are created by ICLCS MDPhd Students who serve as instructors and mentors in the ICLCS. Each modules uses computational tools to demonstrate key concepts.
The Impact of Early Positive Results on a Mathematics and Science Partnership: The Experience of the Institute for Chemistry Literacy Through Computational Science
"After one year of implementation, the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science, an NSF Mathematics and Science Partnership Institute Project led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Department…
Science teacher uses new methods
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . This is an article in the Commercial News paper from Danville, IL highlighting the work that an ICLCS Fellow plans to do in the program.
National Science Foundation Takes Part in Education Technology Showcase
Posted by: Edee Wiziecki . The ICLCS presented at the US Senate Showcase as one of only 17 projects demonstrating uses of educational technology.
Teachers discuss the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science
Posted by: Dave Mattson . In this 6-minute video, teachers discuss their experiences in the ICLCS and its relevance to teaching in rural Illinois schools. They address the context of rural schools, use of computational…
ICLCS Hosts Virtual Workshop
Posted by: Jane Couture. The Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS) hosted a Virtual Workshop for Cadre I Fellows on Monday, April 21, 2008. The 48 Cadre I Fellows gathered at one of four remote locations throughout the state of Illinois and used Access Grid (AG) technology to connect virtually.
ICLCS Doubles its Effort by Kicking Off a New Cadre of Chemistry Fellows
Posted by: Jane Couture. On Saturday, April 19, 2008, the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS) welcomed and introduced a second cadre of high school chemistry teachers to the ICLCS program. ICLCS has been actively working with 51 Cadre I Fellows since the summer Institute in June of 2007...
UIUC Chemistry Professors Mentor High School Teachers
Posted by: Jane Couture. On Monday, February 11, 2008, ICLCS held their first mentor workshop with faculty members of the Chemistry Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to discuss the role of...
Illinois educators gain skills through summer institute at NCSA
Posted by: Jane Couture. More than 50 educators from rural school districts across Illinois will gather at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for a two-week...
Creating the next generation of researchers
Posted by: Jane Couture. Funded by a $5 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, NCSA, the College of Medicine and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, A-C...
Mattoon High School chemistry classes integrate computer sims with hands-on lab work
Posted by: Dave Mattson . "Thanks in part to a Mattoon High School teacher's participation in the ICLCS, chemistry classes at MHS are mixing traditional lab experiments with potent Web-based simulations and computer analysis tools,...
ICLCS Fellows Presents at Illinois Science Teachers Association
Posted by: Dave Mattson . November 9, 2007 - Selected fellows in the National Science Foundation funded Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS), presented recently developed curriculum modules to...