In a July 20 reception at the Biodesign Institute at ASU, the teachers presented posters describing the research they did in the areas of biosciences, advanced computing and information technology and sustainable systems. In all, 12 ASU research labs participated in the program.
George Poste, executive director of the Biodesign Institute, and Roy Curtiss III, director of the institute’s Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, were among those on hand to congratulate the teachers at the Biodesign reception.
The teachers were chosen from among 150 applicants to be the first ASU Math and Science Teaching Fellows in this program led by CRESMET. Most of the teachers selected work in low-income Title I schools, and 20 percent teach in schools in rural Arizona.
The CRESMET program is geared for exemplary secondary math and science teachers who want to learn the latest science and engineering and get help in translating what they learn into lessons and activities for their students.
In their four weeks on ASU Tempe and Polytechnic campuses, the teachers spent mornings working with scientists in ASU research laboratories. Afternoons were spent with CRESMET math and science education faculty working on designing lessons, practicing new teaching techniques and discussing the best ways to engage students in learning.
The goal of the MSTF project is to begin building for Arizona a cadre of teachers who demonstrate a deepened understanding of the nature of science, a stronger grasp of the content they teach, and improved pedagogical knowledge and skills based on data emerging from advanced education research.
“I never realized science was such an interdisciplinary subject,” said one teacher. “This experience has changed the way I’m going to teach my chemistry classes.” The program will continue throughout the school year with teachers working in professional learning communities and having regular mentoring with their ASU researchers both in the schools and through technology-supported activities.
Energizing Good Teachers to Stay at Their Posts
Robert Culbertson, ASU associate professor of physics and an associate director of CRESMET, leads the Fellows program with Janet Bond-Robinson, ASU associate professor of chemistry education. Additional cohorts of teachers will take part in the second and third years of the project. In all, the project will serve about 120 teachers.
“Getting teachers engaged in these research experiences will go far to begin to build for Arizona a cadre of teacher leaders,” said Dr. Culbertson. “These teacher leaders will demonstrate a deepened understanding of the nature of working science and have a stronger grasp of the science content they teach.”
Dr. Bond-Robinson said that the Fellows program “could help prevent teacher burnout, as well. There is growing urgency about the need to recruit more students into teaching math and science as a career, but we have a huge problem with teachers leaving in their first five years of teaching. One reason they leave is poor pay."
Participating in these types of research experiences, and getting paid for it, will increase the teachers’ knowledge and skills, keep them up-to-date with current research and give them the funds to stay in the teaching profession.
The Student and Teacher Discovery program is the third round of funding by SFAz, which is working to build a world-class science, engineering and medical infrastructure in Arizona by fostering innovative research and education programs.