Energizing STEM Teaching Across Rural Schools

Juniata College, Huntingdon PA

Investigators

Abstract

The project aims to serve the national need of preparing highly trained STEM teachers in rural schools, which often lack the resources for advanced science and math coursework and technologies. Through specialized knowledge and experiences, prospective teachers will learn how to address the specific challenges and opportunities of rural schools and students by providing innovative and creative secondary science and math courses. This will prepare rural students to pursue STEM disciplines in college and the workplace. The need for a strong, well trained and educated STEM workforce is a national priority, and a high-quality, high school STEM education provides the foundation for future generations to succeed in this much-needed field. This project at Juniata College includes partnerships with five local districts who are rural and high-needs including Altoona Area School District, Huntingdon Area School District, Mount Union School District, Juniata Valley School District and Tyrone Area School District. In addition to the collaboration among the College’s math, sciences, and education departments, Science in Motion, a project originally funded by NSF will also assist in training the prospective teachers. Building on the first successful project entitled E-STARS, the E-STARS II project will provide scholarships for an additional 24 Juniata undergraduate junior and senior STEM secondary education majors over five years. The prospective teachers will be trained in educational practices to ensure they provide and champion an outstanding educational opportunity for all students. The undergraduate scholars will have the opportunity to pursue summer research in their respective STEM field in addition to extensive educational field placements in rural settings. The project will be evaluated through survey instruments, tracking of participation in activities, and interviews with the perspective teachers, placement supervisors and other mentors. The dissemination of lessons learned and training in various practices will be shared at state and national conferences. In addition, the prospective teachers will also share their research findings at appropriate conferences, highlighting how the research will enhance their future classrooms. 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 persistence, retention, and effectiveness 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.