Carcieri announced a $1.2-million grant from the National Science Foundation that will train 100 high school science teachers to use computer simulations like this one as tools in the classroom, advancing the Governor’s “Physics First” initiative...

...The training will take place at Rhode Island College, which established a professional development center for science and technology teachers last year, Carcieri said...

...In addition, the grant will allow 50 students from six Physics First high schools to participate in a summer camp at Rhode Island College that will incorporate the computerized molecular modeling approach not only in physics but in chemistry and biology...

...The grant is “putting us on the map. It’s a key to the future of our state,” the governor said...

...The Concord Consortium developed the molecular modeling software that will be used in implementing the new curriculum. Through computer simulation, it conveys an intuitive understanding of principles that are so abstract that they are generally not taught at the high school level, he said.