Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Track 1 at Webster University

Webster University, Saint Louis MO

Investigators

Abstract

Noyce Track 1 project aims to serve the national need of preparing highly qualified STEM teachers. Additionally, this project will support 24 scholars earning degrees in biology, chemistry, and mathematics along with a second degree in education. The project will provide scholarships, STEM research experiences, STEM community outreach activities, multiple student teaching opportunities with a mentor teacher, and post-graduation induction support during the first years of teaching. The proposed project components will enable high-achieving prospective teachers to become secondary or middle-school STEM teachers with extensive experience in STEM content, active learning instruction, and engaging classroom activities. This project at Webster University includes partnerships with St. Louis Community College – Forest Park, Ritenour School District, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and Academy of Science – St. Louis. Project goals include producing 24 new STEM teachers over 5 years, recruiting scholars to teach in STEM fields including biology, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science, and targeting the undergraduate and transfer student population as our recruitment pool for support by the grant funding. Scholars will conduct STEM research with a faculty mentor, engage in STEM community outreach activities with community partners, participate in multiple field experiences with our partnering school district, and receive additional induction support during their initial teaching years. All this will improve both teaching STEM content skills and teacher retention. This project will be iteratively evaluated. Evaluation of the project will be guided by the following evaluation questions: (1) To what extent is the project successful in recruiting students who pursue both a STEM degree and teaching certificate?; (2) To what extent do the project activities (i.e. increased advising, collaborative faculty-student research projects in STEM, and field experiences in district schools) support students in completing their STEM/education programs?; (3) What is the quality of and participation in the STEM and educational experiences offered to students and to what extent do they support the project’s goals?; and (4) To what extent does the mentorship provided to STEM teachers working in district schools support their success in passing the Missouri Content Assessments (MoCA)?. The results of this project will be disseminated to help enhance the field. This Track 1 Scholarships and Stipends 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.