- Year 2019
- NSF Noyce Award # 1540662
- First Name Andre'
- Last Name Green
- Discipline Biology
- Co-PI(s)
Susan Ferguson, University of South Alabama, ferguson@southalabama.edu; Justin Sanders, University of South Alabama, jsanders@southalabama.edu; Andrea Kent, University of South Alabama, akent@southalabama.edu
- Presenters
Pamela McPherson, Noyce PTS Scholar, University of South Alabama, pvm1821@jagmail.southalabama.edu
Need
A critical characteristic of intellectual merit for the phase II project will be its capacity to produce additional science teachers while measuring the effectiveness of past graduates of the previous award. Another critical characteristic of intellectual merit is the mentoring of Pathway to Science graduates and its effects on them serving beyond the three-year commitment to retain them as career teachers as well as their influence and support of new cohorts of scholars.
Goals
Phase II will: prepare a total of twelve additional science teachers over a five-year period who are highly qualified to teach chemistry, physics, biology, or general science by having them earn initial certification and a masters degree in four semesters. PTS seeks to continue to provide highly certified science teachers for high need schools. measure the effectiveness of creating a community of learners that provides ongoing mentoring and professional development for PTS scholars that will increase the likelihood that they will be retained and become career teachers. measure the impact of PTS scholars on student achievement and use that data to strengthen the science teacher preparation program. measure the self-efficacy of graduates by providing a qualitative analysis of those who have persisted and not persisted as science teachers. measure the effectiveness of graduates who teach in the Mobile County Public School System against graduates of our modified program as well as measure the effectiveness of PTS graduates against non-Noyce graduates in the school system. Results from the previous award show that university has the capacity to deliver a high quality Noyce program. A strong history of collaboration will ensure that this Phase II project is as impactful as the previous project.
Approach
The Pathway to Science Phase II program is similar to the previously funded phase one project with modifications that will allow for the production of better-prepared science teachers. A longitudinal evaluation of the previous award will also be conducted.
Outcomes
Results from the previous award show that university has the capacity to deliver a high quality Noyce program. A strong history of collaboration will ensure that this Phase II project is as impactful as the previous project.
Broader Impacts
Pathway to Science Phase II will add to the body of knowledge that identifies factors that attract STEM majors to careers as science teachers.
