Promoting STEM Education Access through Scholarships, Engineering Education Microcredentials, and a Community College Partnership

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ

Investigators

Abstract

This Noyce Track 1 project aims to serve the national need of preparing highly qualified STEM teachers. Additionally, this project will support up to 43 Scholars in mathematics and science by providing scholarships, professional development, expertise in artificial intelligence, and bridge to teaching support. The proposed project components will enable high-achieving prospective teachers to become motivated, quality secondary STEM teachers. This project at Northern Arizona University includes a partnership with Coconino Community College. Project goals include producing up to 43 secondary mathematics and science teachers over five years, support those teachers through their first years of teaching, and promote long term retention through the establishment of a Noyce community focused continued professional development. This project will recruit and support undergraduate mathematics and science majors who will become certified to teach secondary mathematics and science in high-need school districts. This project will be iteratively evaluated. Evaluation of the project will be guided by the following evaluation questions: (a) To what extent are recruitment activities developed through the CCC/NAU partnership successful at reaching students and attracting them to the science and mathematics teaching profession? (b) To what extent does the design and implementation of the Bridge program promote a successful transition of Noyce Scholars to the teaching profession (c) To what extent do artificial intelligence and other professional learning opportunities support the development of early career STEM teachers? (e) Do program elements help to retain teachers in secondary mathematics and science? and (f) Do scholars develop effective capabilities for educating all learners? 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 to become effective K-12 STEM teachers. 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.