- Year 2018
- NSF Noyce Award # 1136356
- First Name Tim
- Last Name Howard
- Discipline Other: Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, and Math
- Co-PI(s)
Deborah Gober, Columbus State University, gober_deborah@columbusstate.edu
Kimberly Shaw, Columbus State University, shaw_kimberly@columbusstate.edu
Cindy Ticknor, Columbus State University, ticknor_cindy@columbusstate.edu - Presenters
Tim Howard, Columbus State University, thoward@columbusstate.edu
Need
This project aims to recruit more pre-service STEM teachers and prepare/retain them in high-need school districts. It adds to what we know about teacher recruitment and retention.
Goals
This project utilizes internships completed by university first- and second-year students and scholarships to recruit pre-service STEM teachers for the UTeach Columbus program, as well as community building and mentoring for Noyce scholars to prepare and retain STEM teachers in high need schools. Our primary goals are to increase the number of secondary STEM teachers and to retain them in high need school districts.
Approach
CRAFT-STEM incorporated a STEM summer camp with 400-hour internships completed by university first- and second-year students and substantial scholarships for juniors and seniors to recruit pre-service teachers for the UTeach Columbus program. Through its 7-year lifespan, the project utilized ongoing data and assessments to make incremental adjustments to the internship model. Adjustments addressed the camp format, hours required, projects available, and other internship parameters. Scholarship recipients received individualized mentorship, participating in STEM education related service activities, and participated in Teaching Connections Seminar designed to enhance their readiness to teach in high need schools.
Outcomes
Eleven out of 47 interns (23%) subsequently registered for a UTeach course; two others have stated their intention to do so. A total of 32 students received Noyce scholarships. Three scholars have already fulfilled their teaching commitments and remain in high-need schools. On average, our undergraduate STEM teacher preparation program has doubled its production since 2010-2011.
Broader Impacts
The STEM Camp has benefited 92 high school students and 63 middle school students, including numerous students from groups underrepresented in STEM fields, and many of whom attended high need schools. Seventeen former CRAFT-STEM scholars have taught in high-need schools. Lessons learned in our project may help others develop more effective strategies for recruiting future STEM teachers.
