UAB NSF GK-12 Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education

University Of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham AL

Investigators

Abstract

As part of an effort to increase science literacy in the schools and community involved, this project builds on a number of ongoing outreach programs between the University and the school district and includes involvement of informal science resources (the McWane Science Center). Fellows work with a wide variety of people of varying ages, backgrounds and interests. The program is modified to accommodate first year, middle year or capstone students (fellows completing their final year of work) to take full advantage of their abilities and to meet their varying needs. Fellows are prepared to work in the classroom through a seminar providing an overview of learning theory and pedagogy that includes two observations of K-12 students in an informal science setting, two observations in a K-12 classroom, presentation of a science demonstration and one session assisting a mentor teacher. Fellows are then offered a variety of opportunities to establish a partnership with a teacher and work directly in the classroom helping to implement science standard related materials.