Grant Category:	Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
Field of Specialization:	Biological Science
Name:	Mr. Jeffrey Peterson
Official Address:	Center Grove Middle School North Greenwood, Indiana
Indian Host Institution:	Bala Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec. School, Gandhinagar, Adyar Chennai, Tamil Nadu Kolkata, West Bengal
Duration of Grant & Start Date :	Duration: 6 months August 2011

Brief Bio:

Jeffrey Peterson teaches science to the 7th grade at the Centre Grove Middle School North, Greenwood, Indiana. Before becoming a teacher; he worked as an area manager at the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc (IZW). During the 10 years he worked at IZW, his work was highlighted by a trip to Africa to assist with the collection of White Rhinoceros and elephants, and participation on an international, collaborative research team resulting in the first birth of a captive African elephant though artificial insemination. As a classroom teacher, he strives to make his science lab a dynamic, 21st Century learning environment.  He was voted the Indiana Computer Educators Teacher of the Year for 2009 and was an IPL Golden Apple Award recipient in 2010. Jeffrey Peterson completed his Master's degree in educational technology at IUPUI. He uses technology to provide a new framework where he can rethink his instruction, assessments, and student learning  He was awarded the: Indiana University - Armstrong Teacher Educator Award 2009-2010; Center Grove Education Foundation 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award; Center Grove Education Foundation grant recipient 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009. As Fulbright scholar to India Mr. Paterson will teach science at the Bala Vidya Mandir School in Chennai. Through his work he is hoping to develop a better understanding of the education systems and the best practice teaching techniques used in other countries. Many countries have made strong gains in the teaching of math and science in recent years. He has a strong desire to experience their best practices via an extended stay in the host country and immersion into a foreign classroom. According to him this experience will go beyond the hype and politics that are often present in books and articles of best practice in other countries for teaching of math and science and therefore increase the global awareness of the students.