- Year 2019
- NSF Noyce Award # 1904102
- First Name Wendy
- Last Name Smith
- Discipline Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geosciences, Math, Physics
- Co-PI(s)
Hannah Sevian, Hannah.Sevian@umb.edu, University of Massachusetts Boston; Gillian Roehrig, roehr013@umn.edu, University of Minnesota
- Presenters
Jeanna Wieselmann, jeanna@umn.edu, University of Minnesota; Rachel Funk, rachel.funk@unl.edu, University of Nebraska; Klaudja Caushi, Klaudja.Caushi001@umb.edu, University of Massachusetts Boston
Need
The number of teachers who have participated in various Noyce Track 1, 2, and 3 projects includes over 10,000 individuals whose collective experiences and knowledge could generate a wealth of understanding about improving STEM teacher persistence and teaching effectiveness in high-need schools. Yet, this potential is largely untapped. The Persistence, Effectiveness, and Retention Studies In STEM Teaching (PERSIST) project aims to address this by leveraging the knowledge and experiences of the Noyce community to bolster the rigor and creativity of Noyce Track 4 research proposals. In particular, project activities will provide multiple opportunities for current and potential future researchers to learn more about the leading-edge questions and needs of the Noyce Track 4 program’s research arena and to collaborate with researchers from the Noyce Track 4 community.
Goals
Guiding questions for PERSIST include: What is the current state of research in teacher effectiveness and teacher persistence and retention related to teacher preparation and induction programs in high need-schools? What is the current state of measurement and research design for STEM teaching effectiveness and teacher persistence? What questions need to be addressed in the literature on teacher effectiveness and teacher persistence and retention related to teacher preparation and induction programs? What are suggestions for improving measurement and research design for STEM education research related to teaching effectiveness and teacher persistence?
Approach
PERSIST will host a pre-conference workshop at the 2019 Noyce PI Summit to bring together PIs of currently-funded Track 4 projects. The PIs will summarize and highlight their projects so that all projects become more aware of the work of the Noyce Track 4 community. Together, the projects will discuss and synthesize what research is needed to better understand STEM teacher persistence and effectiveness, and what may be appropriate research methodologies for investigating future questions of interest to the field. Pre-conference workshops for potential future Noyce Track 4 PIs will be held in 2020, before ASTE, AMTE, and NARST conferences. These workshops will share information about Noyce Track 4 proposals, the major research initiatives already funded by Noyce Track 4, and key questions that emerged from the discussions at the Noyce PI Summit about future research directions related to STEM teacher persistence and teaching effectiveness, and appropriate research methodologies.
Outcomes
In addition to the workshops described in the Approach section, which also are key outcomes of PERSIST, the work of PERSIST is also being informed by the key ideas and recommendations from the 2019 AAAS commissioned white papers. PERSIST project team members have created summaries of the research literature and AAAS papers related to: teacher effectiveness, teacher persistence and retention related to teacher preparation and induction programs, and appropriate measurements and research designs for STEM education research related to teaching effectiveness and teacher persistence.
Broader Impacts
This project aims to identify gaps in the Noyce Track 4 portfolio, increase the rigor and creativity of Track 4 proposals, and broaden the participation of individuals submitting proposals to Track 4. Immediately prior to the Noyce Summit in 2019, our project team will have hosted a one-day meeting for all current Noyce Track 4 PIs. This meeting will inform the structure and content of pre-conference workshops to be held in conjunction with the NARST, AMTE, and ASTE conferences in 2020. By providing workshops at NARST, AMTE, and ASTE, the leadership team hopes to reach a broad audience of STEM education researchers as future Noyce Track 4 PIs. The pre-conference workshop at the Noyce Summit will help to establish a foundation for a community among current Noyce Track 4 PIs, allowing more collaboration and communication among projects.
