Paso del Norte Texas Computer Science Teaching Fellows

University Of Texas At El Paso, El Paso TX

Investigators

Abstract

Noyce Track 2 project aims to serve the national need of preparing highly-qualified computer science teachers. This project will support 10 fellows in the STEM area of computer science by providing scholarships, training through a one-year graduate program in education to receive a Master’s degree and teacher certification, and a community of practice in the context of UTEP’s innovative teacher residence program. The proposed project components will enable high-achieving prospective teachers to become secondary STEM teachers with extensive expertise in computer science. This project at University of Texas at El Paso includes partnerships with El Paso Independent School District, a high-need school district and the Hopper-Dean Center for Excellence in K-12 Computer Science Education. Project goals include to produce 10 new STEM Teachers over 6 years, recruiting graduates of BS Computer Science programs supporting STEM post-baccalaureate students obtaining master’s in education and teacher certification. This project will be iteratively evaluated. Evaluation of the project will be guided by the following evaluation question(s): (a) Did program activities take place as initially proposed? and (b) What are the challenges and barriers, if any, faced by program administrators, partners, teaching fellows, and staff during implementation? The results of this project will be disseminated to help enhance the field. This Track 2: Teaching Fellowships project is supported through the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce). The Noyce program supports talented STEM undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 STEM teachers and experienced, exemplary K-12 teachers to become STEM master teachers in high-need school districts. It also supports research on the effectiveness and retention of K-12 STEM teachers in high-need school districts. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.