Transcript Document

WNY Noyce Scholars Partnership Phase II: Advancing STEM Educators
NSF grant -1035360
Dr. Catherine Lange, Science Education
Buffalo State Noyce History
Over a five year period spanning April,
2004 to late September 2009, the
Western New York Noyce Scholars
Project for New Science and
Mathematics Teachers supported fortytwo individuals seeking initial science,
technology or mathematics teacher
certification with scholarships and
stipends of between four and seventeen
thousand dollars totaling just over four
hundred and fourteen thousand dollars.
These included twenty-one women and
twenty-one men, and ten underrepresented minority students in STEM
teaching fields. All of these individuals
had service obligations requiring either
two or four years of full time
employment in High Needs
(disadvantaged) school districts, and
just over half of these recipients
teachers have certified as teachers and
are satisfying or have satisfied their
service obligations as of this date.
Some of the local educational
authorities these teacher have been
employed by include: Buffalo Public
Schools (employing several scholars),
Charlotte Valley Central School
District, Cheektowaga-Sloan Union
Free School District, Holy Angels High
School, Hornell City School District,
Lansing Central School District,
Oakfield Alabama Central School
District, Springfield Public Schools, and
the Western New York Maritime Charter
School.
Buffalo State Phase II
Noyce Project
Investigators:
Jane R. Cushman
Catherine L. Lange
Daniel L. MacIsaac
David C. Wilson (PI)
The goals of the Phase II Noyce project
are two-fold: To increase the number of
qualified and prepared pre-college
teachers in the disciplines of science,
technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) in the United States,
and to improve U.S. pre-college
students’ understanding of STEM
subjects. To meet these goals, the
project has developed the following
objectives:
• recruit 35 well-qualified STEM
majors and degree holders not
previously
in the STEM teaching profession to
further academic training at Buffalo
State in programs leading to New York
State STEM teaching credentials;
• actively support the professional
development of Noyce scholars by
involving them in education-related
experiences in STEM departments
within Buffalo State and in local and
national education organizations and
conferences; and
• systematically study former BSC
Noyce scholars’ teaching behaviors and
Dispositions.
Ms. Felicia Tirado is currently in the Bachelor of
Science, Mathematics 7-12 program.
Felicia writes “I started my time at Buffalo State
taking Calculus I. It was in this class where I had my
realization that I wanted to teach mathematics. I
believe that the key to our future lies in the science,
math, and technology taught to today's youth. I want
to express my love for mathematics to middle and
high school students. I want to help them understand
that they too, can love math.”
2013-2014 Noyce Scholar
Mr. Steven Wilson is currently in the Master of
Science, Science Education 7-12 program.
Steven writes “I believe I can help students
understand that science is an important part of our
community and world. Whatever science topic is
taught (weather in earth science to the physics and
momentum of walking), science knowledge is
applicable to everyday life… Effective science
instruction can at the least, provide an aptitude
toward learning, intriguing them about the world
around them.”
Project Research
5 Awards made in 2014
Teacher Effectiveness Study:
2011-2014:
RTOP
Programs at Buffalo State with funded
Noyce candidates:
-B.S. Mathematics with 7-12 teacher
Certification
-Mathematics (7-12) Post-baccalaureate
teacher certification
- M.S. Ed. Science Education
- M.S.Ed. Physics with NYSED
Transitional B Certification
- M.S.Ed. (Childhood Ed 1-6) Including
Initial Teacher Certification (MIITC)
Noyce Scholar Chris Van Loon teaching at Lafayette HS
Noyce Scholar Cathy Amdur teaching at Lafayette HS
2013-2014 Noyce Scholar
Project Progress
-18 STEM teaching candidates
supported in Phase II
- 5 Mathematics
- 2 Physics
- 6 Earth Science
- 1 Chemistry
- 4 Biology
Noyce Scholar Christine Szafran teaching at Lafayette HS
2013-2014 Noyce Scholar
Ms. Nadezda Mease is currently in the Master of Science, Science
Education 7-12 program.
Nadezda writes “Science and mathematics are fields that can be interesting
and exciting and my goal is to make it that way for my students. Then need
to receive a positive experience in the classroom, even if they cannot get it
at home or in the media. I want to make my students realize that no matter
what background you came from, no matter what others think, they can
achieve. Maybe they will not achieve as much as someone else, but for some
people a little victory is worth so much more than the top of Mount Everest
for others.”
This material is based upon work
supported by the National Science
Foundation under Grant No. 1035360.
Any opinions, findings, and
conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National
Science Foundation.
Summer physics class for teachers
2013-2014 Noyce Scholar
The Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) was
developed as a classroom observation instrument to provide a
standardized means for detecting the degree to which K-20
classroom instruction in mathematics or science is reformed.
RTOP was developed, refined, and validated over a period of
two years (1998-2000). In its final form, the RTOP is a highly
reliable instrument with strong predictive validity. Two physics
Noyce Scholars have been RTOPed and videotaped. Pre-post
FCI scores have also been collected. The RTOP scores ranged
from 62 to 80. The average scores was 68 ± 8.2 over the two
participants. Both participants showed growth throughout the
observation and mentoring process
Noyce Program Impact
A large number of Noyce Scholars from Buffalo
State's Phase I Noyce project continue to teach in
high-need schools after fulfilling their Noyce award
obligation. Date are being collected to explore the
nature of this phenomenon including Noyce project
impact in terms of preparation and support for
teaching in high-need environments. All Phase I
scholars are being contacted to determine current
teaching status and solicit factors that influenced their
career paths including reasons for leaving teaching (if
applicable), reasons for shifting to districts serving
populations that are not high-need, and reasons for
remaining in schools and/or districts that serve a large
high-need population.
Noyce Scholar Francesca Sylvester teaching at Lafayette HS
2013-2014 Noyce Scholar
Ms. Lindsey Strauss is currently in the Master of Science
, Science Education 7-12 program.
Ms. Emily McAndrews is currently in the Master of Science ,
Science Education 7-12 program.
Lindsey writes “Science classrooms are a unique place
where students can learn about the building blocks of
how everything works around them….While I could have
gone in many directions with my chemistry degree, my
leadership experiences through Young Life, tutoring, and
trips abroad have pointed me straight in the direction of
education. Not only would such a high-needs school
benefit from a Buffalo State educated teacher, but I
would also learn invaluable lessons in such an
educational environment.”
Emily writes “I worked at Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
through the Americorps program in 2011. I coordinated
volunteers for the Niagara River Riparian Restoration
Program, funded by the Niagara River Greenway, to add
more natural, native greenspace along the Niagara and her
tributaries. I worked with volunteers both young and old to
plant native trees, plants, and shrubs and along the way I
educated people about the importance of doing so.”