- Year 2022
- NSF Noyce Award # 1852783
- First Name Masood
- Last Name Poorandi
- Discipline Mathematics
- Co-PI(s)
Hector N. Torres
- Presenters
Hector N. Torres, Bethune-Cookman University
Need
Goals:1)Increase the number of STEM majors who will enter K-12 STEM teachingStrategy:1) Provide instructional experience in informal settings2) Develop knowledge for teacher certification in FloridaImplementation:1) 40 awards2) Stipends for qualified Freshmen and SophomoresSuccess:1) Participate in the F*TT*A
Goals
Noyce Scholars ProgramGoal:Earn STEM degree and Teacher CertificationStrategy:Provide financial supportProvide understanding of pedagogyImplementation:Scholarships for qualified STEM Juniors and SeniorsSpecific coursework in educationPracticum experiencesWorkshops on pedagogySuccess:Graduate with a STEM degreeBecome a mathematics teacher in a high-needs middle school
Approach
The overall goal of the 5-year Robert Noyce Scholarship project at Bethune-Cookman University is to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors to be also certified as teachers of middle grades mathematics (59) in high need educational agencies. The overall strategy for developing highly effective mathematical sciences teachers is to support scholars in the attainment of dual degrees in Mathematics and Mathematics Education. Bethune-Cookman University is aggressively working to increase the number of middle school mathematics teachers in High Need Schools in east central Florida. The Robert Noyce Project at BCU will award two-year $10,000 per year scholarships to 40 STEM students who demonstrate commitment to become teachers of mathematics. Additionally, to stimulate early interest of first and second year STEM students in K12 teaching careers, 50 informal learning internship stipends of $4,000 each will be awarded to BCU STEM students during the project. The program will provide mentoring support to ensure scholars follow teacher certification pathway that best aligns with their background and preferences. Formative and summative project evaluation will use the impact oriented Results Based Accountability (RBA) model to determine how much, how well and the benefit of the program to the scholars, Bethune-Cookman University, and the high need local educational agencies.
Outcomes
Project Summary Overview Bethune-Cookman University, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in Florida, proposes a Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Track 1: Scholarships and Stipends) in partnership with two school districts in Florida (Volusia County and Flagler County) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Volusia and Flagler Counties. In Florida, the current assessment standards of achievement demonstrated by K-12 students emphasizes computer based assessment of analytical thinking, higher order thinking skills, creation of graphs and interaction with test information. Teacher effectiveness in developing the learning capacity of students are also determined from assessment results. Several national reports have recommended strategies to remove or reduce the mathematical bottleneck to careers in STEM, one strategy is producing K-12 mathematics teachers from undergraduate and graduate programs in mathematics intensive fields other than mathematics. These achievement standards have led researchers at Bethune-Cookman University to prioritize the key characteristics of effective teachers in Florida to be: (1) develop analytical thinking of students; (2) instruct students on strategies for interacting with information displayed on computer screens; (3) provide students with opportunities for learning transactions in computer based learning systems; and (4) equip students with learning experiences that lead to success in college, career and in life.
Broader Impacts
The focus of the Robert Noyce Project at BethuneCookman University will be on strengthening the undergraduate mathematics teacher education program and increasing the number teachers through the recruitment of mathematics majors into mathematics teaching careers, preparing these individuals to teach middle school mathematics aligned with national standards, and supporting the mathematics teachers during their induction years. The project’s broader impacts will include: (1) improvement in the quality and quantity of mathematics teachers for the Volusia County and Flagler County School Districts; (2) building of new sustainable models for the recruitment, preparation, and retention of mathematics teachers to meet the teacher shortage; (3) expansion and deepening of relationships between Bethune-Cookman University mathematicians, mathematics teacher educators, and K-12 teachers and administrators; and (4) the dissemination and sharing of the recruitment, development, retention and employment strategies at education research conferences and peer reviewed publications.
