- Year 2018
- NSF Noyce Award # 1340110
- First Name Ed
- Last Name Himelblau
- Discipline Other: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
- Co-PI(s)
Seth Bush, Cal Poly, sbush@calpoly.edu
Jane Lehr, Cal Poly, jlehr@calpoly.edu
John Keller, Cal Poly, jmkeller@calpoly.edu - Presenters
Ed Himelblau, Cal Poly, ehimelbl@calpoly.edu
Need
The Cal Poly Science Noyce Program provides scholarship, training and support to pre-service teachers (typically STEM undergraduates or credential candidates) and professional development to in-service teachers who are alumni of the program. As part of the Noyce Scholar experience, scholars visit the classrooms of local alumni to observe. In 2017-2018 we explored MicroCredentials as a way to provide structure for the classroom observations.
Goals
Goals:
1) To provide a framework for observations by Noyce Scholars when they visit Noyce Alumni classrooms.
2) To give Noyce Scholars and Noyce Alumni exposure to the MicroCredential environment.
3) To provide a year-long theme to Noyce Science Seminars (Anti-biased instruction)
Approach
Five Noyce Scholars and three Noyce Alumni participated in the 2017-2018 school year. In Noyce Seminars throughout this period scholars selected a micro credential of interest (Anti-Biased Instruction), read and discussed the recommended background provided by the MicroCredential organization (Digital Promise), developed a rubric for classroom observations, and completed two observations in an alumni’s classroom.
Outcomes
Through the regular Noyce seminars and classroom visits, the scholars completed most of the materials required to apply for the Anti-Biased Instruction MicroCedential offered by Digital Promise. In general, we see MicroCredentialing as a useful tool in planning and implementing Noyce Seminars. The Noyce PIs and scholars appreciated having a year-long structure and theme for the seminar series. Applying for the MicroCredential was optional and it is not clear how many of the scholars will do so. In the future we expect to continue using MicroCredentials to provide thematic content for seminars but hope to progress further toward having every Noyce Scholar apply for the MicroCredential during the year.
Broader Impacts
MicroCredentialing is emerging as a viable way for teachers to complete professional development and to build new skills to apply in the classroom. Giving Noyce Scholars and alumni exposure to the MicroCredential ‘ecosystem’ will familiarize them with an emerging professional tool.
