IISME's main program, paid summer fellowships, places teachers into industry, lab, or government work sites for the summer.
IISME provides support, such as peer coaching, workshops, grants, and an electronic network, during the summer and school year, to help teachers transfer their summer experience back to their students and colleagues.
Studies show that IISME fellowships encourage teachers to remain in teaching at twice the rate of their peers and that they promote lasting relationships with their sponsor organization and a network of scientists.
IISME Teacher Retention and Program Impact 1985-2000: An IISME-commissioned study of the impact of IISME on teacher retention and long-term outcomes found that fellows stayed in teaching at higher rates than peers. Participants also reported the fellowship had a strong impact on their knowledge of their subject area.
Partners in Education: The IISME Experience 1985-1990: An IISME-sponsored review of the first six years of IISME found that over 90 percent of teacher fellows rated IISME among the top 10-20percent of their professional development experiences, and 80-90 percent of Teacher Fellows rank “increased self-confidence” as one of the most important outcomes of their IISME experience
Evaluation of Scientific Work Experience Programs for Teachers: Current Practice and Future Directions.