- Year 2017
- NSF Noyce Award # 1439904
- First Name Jerry
- Last Name Dwyer
- Discipline Other: STEM, STEM
- Co-PI(s)
George Williams, Texas Tech University, brock.williams@ttu.edu
Tara Stevens, Texas Tech University, tara.stevens@ttu.edu
Jaclyn Cañas, Texas Tech University, jaclyn.e.canas@ttu.edu
Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, Texas Tech University, z.aguirre@ttu.edu - Presenters
Jerry Dwyer, Texas Tech University, jerry.dwyer@ttu.edu
Need
It is important to examine the challenges of beginning teachers, their opportunities to grow, and the support structures provided by their Noyce teams.
Goals
The primary goal is to show that continued interaction with Noyce support personnel leads to more confident innovative teachers, who implement active learning strategies and engage all students.
Approach
Teachers bring advanced content knowledge and innovative
skills to the STEM classroom. These include the development of: 3D printing, virtual sandboxes and design based STEM activities. Teacher support structures include interaction with, and continued mentorship from the Noyce PI team. A particular highlight is participation in the local annual STEM Challenge, which involves TTU STEM faculty and current Noyce scholars and pre-Noyce stipend awardees acting as mentors to teams of middle school students engaged in a competitive design project
Outcomes
Teachers continued involvement with the Noyce PI team leads to a greater sense of support and confidence in their teaching. It also leads to teachers becoming mentors for current Noyce scholars.
Broader Impacts
Noyce teachers involvement in STEM outreach programs leads to improved recruitment of students to STEM disciplines. Strategies that improve teacher retention are critical in combating the attrition of new teachers from the profession.
