- Year 2017
- NSF Noyce Award # 1660590
- First Name Toni
- Last Name Sauncy
- Discipline Other: Multidisciplinary (Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology)
- Co-PI(s)
Jeannette Jones, Texas Lutheran University, jjones@tlu.edu
- Presenters
Toni Sauncy, Texas Lutheran University, tsauncy@tlu.edu
Need
The need for STEM teachers in Texas is clear. Our work is designed to produce highly competent and culturally award classroom teachers that will inspire the next generation of scientists and ultimately, more science teachers.
Goals
The major goals are to develop degree programs for pre-service teachers that integrate lessons of cultural awareness directly in to the STEM classroom in several disciplinary areas. In addition to curricular development, the programs include innovative extracurricular experiences aimed at expanding cultural sensitivity and awareness for the pre-service teachers in the programs.
Approach
Our main objective is in the re-design of programmatic requirements for those interested in teaching as a profession, coupled with fresh recruitment strategies to help those students whose passion might be teaching to find that career path. By synthesizing best practice pedagogies from each discipline with the lessons from our colleagues in the social sciences, we will transform the early experiences of all students in our introductory science courses, while at the same time using those courses as the recruitment mechanisms for teachers. One key to this work is the inclusion of a social scientist with strong experience in latino/a culture.
Outcomes
We anticipate that our small liberal arts setting, combined with the mission of assisting students in finding their vocation will allow us to develop innovative programs that will attract a diverse population of pre-service teachers. We will produce and share innovative and flexible degree programs and materials for extra-curricular modules to accompany the formal coursework.
Broader Impacts
The inclusion of cultural awareness components in the introductory science and mathematics courses will ultimately benefit all students. This is a new project.
