Graduate Teaching Fellows in Middle and High School Education

University Of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa AL

Investigators

Abstract

Under the auspices of the University of Alabama (UA) Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies, undergraduate and graduate fellows in engineering and mathematics will work in science and mathematics classrooms in middle and high schools in Tuscaloosa city and county. The intellectual merit of this project lies in its responsiveness to three current, critical challenges for improving math and science education. It is simultaneously increasing students' interest in STEM fields; demonstrating the wonder of discovery while improving students' mastery of math and science skills; and acknowledging the professionalism of teachers. The broader impact of this program will be quite high in that through the participating schools, it will reach a significant number of underrepresented middle and high school minority students (approximately 75%). In addition, a large number of the key project leaders are women, including the PI, and will thereby serve as role models to the participating fellows, students, and teachers. This project will also build sustainable alliances between UA, middle and high schools, and the Alabama automotive industry. This project is receiving partial support from the Directorate for Engineering. Title: Track 1, GK-12: Graduate Teaching Fellows in Middle and High School Education Institution: University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa PI/Co-PI: Beth A. Todd, Kenneth C. Midkiff, Sharon E. Nichols, Jill Shearin and Zhijian Wu Partner School Districts: Tuscaloosa City and Tuscaloosa County School Systems Number of Fellows per Year: Year 1: Six graduates and 3 undergraduate fellows Year 2: Eight graduate and four undergraduate fellows Year 3: Ten graduate and five undergraduate fellows Target Audience: Middle and high school students Setting: Suburban NSF Supported Disciplines: Engineering and mathematics