What is CIPS?
Constructing Ideas in Physical Science is a yearlong physical science course. It is inquiry-based, which means it is designed to engage students in building understanding of basic concepts and skills. Students perform hands-on, minds-on activities, which follow a learning cycle of four phases:

1. Finding out students’ initial ideas about a topic

2. Development of new or changed ideas

3. Confirmation of students’ ideas by comparing them with formal science ideas

4. Application of agreed ideas to new situations

The CIPS project is supported by the National Science Foundation and aligned with state and National Science Education Standards

What topics are addressed in CIPS?

The CIPS course is based on the powerful themes of interactions and energy transfers between objects. CIPS has five units. Each unit consists of two or three cycles of carefully crafted activities that help students develop physics and chemistry concepts. The five units are:

Unit 1: Foundations

Unit 2: Interactions and Energy

Unit 3: Interactions and Forces

Unit 4: Interactions and Conservation

Unit 5: Interactions of Materials

Why CIPS?

Advances in science and technology are changing the skills needed in the modern workplace. Science and technology education must not be limited only to those who expect to work in science, engineering, and related fields.

Two national projects* have identified the scientific knowledge and skills that all students should have the opportunity to learn at various stages in the K-12 science curriculum. Recent research indicates that inquiry-based learning helps students develop a deeper conceptual understanding of fundamental ideas in science. The CIPS physical science curriculum was developed using this research base, and the standards and benchmarks identified for middle-school students. In this way, CIPS strives to improve scientific and technological literacy for all students.

How do CIPS students experience science?

The CIPS classroom is different from the traditional science classroom where experiments are often used to confirm an idea previously presented by the textbook and teacher. In the CIPS inquiry-based classroom, students perform investigations and discuss the meanings of their investigations in small and large group formats. Many of the laboratory activities are accompanied by the use of powerful computer-based simulations. Students are always required to support their claims and explanations with evidence and reasoning.

The students are involved in science activities where they think, write, and reason about the physical world and how it works. This is demanding work that requires learners to become part of a scientific learning community where cooperation, evidence, and reason are prized.

In addition, CIPS provides a companion fiction text titled Chronicles of the Wandering Star. The entertaining story line is woven around the concepts that are developed in the course. It serves as a motivational tool and improves language skills and literacy.
How are students evaluated?

Because the CIPS learning environment values deeper conceptual understanding, students will have many opportunities to demonstrate their mastery of the concepts and skills introduced in the curriculum.

In addition to cycle quizzes and unit tests, each cycle includes several practice and application activities that can be assigned as homework and/or used for ongoing assessment.

How do students react to inquiry-based instruction?
Students react very positively toward an activity-based science curriculum. However, compared to traditional courses, CIPS requires students to assume more responsibility for their own learning. At first, some may find this approach disconcerting. Often, these students just need the opportunity to build confidence in their own ability to think like a scientist. Once students develop the idea that they are capable of scientific thinking, they begin to appreciate the inquiry approach where they construct and evaluate their own explanations rather than memorize the conclusions of others.

Who developed CIPS?

CIPS was developed by a group of internationally recognized science educators and award-winning teachers. The CIPS staff consists of highly dedicated professionals with an understanding of the scientific literacy needed for the current workplace. Many of the CIPS staff are parents and have personal experience with the unique middle school learner. This collective experience has enhanced the development of the CIPS curriculum.

How can I find out more about CIPS?

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The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) course curriculum is the educational foundation of the CIPS Network. It distinguishes CIPS designees as individuals who have both hands-on experience in international real estate transactions, as well as successfully completed an intensive seven-day program of study focusing on critical aspects of transnational transactions, including currency and exchange rate issues and cross-cultural relationships, regional market conditions, investment performance, tax issues and more. A more detailed description of the six courses is provided below.

U.S. REALTORS® must complete the two-day “International Real Estate for Local Markets” (formerly Essentials) before joining the CIPS Network. Non-U.S. practitioners are also encouraged to take this course, but it is not currently a requirement. Whether or not a practitioner intends to work toward the CIPS Certification designation, this course is ideal for anyone who may encounter opportunities in their local market to assist in an international transaction, e.g., assisting an immigrant or foreign investor, or helping a U.S. resident purchase property abroad.

Course Descriptions
Six courses (five of which are required - only three of the four one-day regional courses are necessary) comprise the education program of the CIPS Network. The prerequisite “International Real Estate for Local Markets” course is required for CIPS membership and the remaining courses must be completed within two years of declaring candidacy for CIPS Network members. Following is a description of each course and a current course schedule.

CIPS I: International Real Estate for Local Markets (formerly Essentials) - is the two-day prerequisite introductory course to the CIPS international real estate courses. The course is an analysis of the international real estate business environment, including capital flow, currencies, government regulations and cultures. The practical aspects of international brokerage, networking, marketing and selling are discussed. Students must take this course before taking any of the other CIPS courses. Students will receive At Home with Diversity Certification (except when taking the online course which does not give AHWD credit) in addition to ABR, RSPS, and CRS elective credit with successful completion of this revised course.

CIPS Institutes concentrate four international CIPS courses into a one week format, allowing students to save travel costs and complete the education program quickly. Three of the four regional courses are required (Europe, Asia, Americas, and Middle East/Africa). Many Institutes include a variety of special events in addition to the required classroom time. Property tours, networking events with local businesses, panel discussions and social functions may be incorporated into the week’s program to provide a well-rounded and exciting learning experience. These courses also may be offered individually.

1. Europe and International Real Estate (1 day) – Provides information on working with clients in Western and Central Europe. The European Union and its impact on international real estate are covered, along with economic and real estate trends, networking and relationship building, plus marketing and selling practices.

2. Asia/Pacific and International Real Estate (1 day) – Covers real estate practices in Asia and the Pacific with emphasis on cultural influences, economic trends and assessment of investment opportunities. A special chapter on working with the Japanese is included.

3. The Americas and International Real Estate (1 day) – Practical information for professionals who work with Caribbean, North, Central, and South American investors. Historical and cultural influences, regional relationship, and investment opportunities are covered along with a special focus on Mexico.

4. Middle East/Africa and International Real Estate (1 day) - Learn the logistics of how to conduct real estate transactions with clients from the Middle East and Africa at the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Network’s new one-day designation course. The course will introduce attendees to cultural differences you need to know when working with clients from the Middle East and Africa.

5. Investment and Financial Analysis (2 days) – Provides the tools needed to present investment information to international clients–in their currency and area. You will learn how to measure investment performance, prepare financial projections, and understand the effects of taxes and exchange rates on investment. This course is waived for students who have passed the CCIM Intro, CCIM 101, or CRS 204 courses. An HP-10BII calculator is REQUIRED for this course. Attached is a special calculator guide designed to familiarize you with this calculator.

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