- Year 2019
- NSF Award #1557346
- Registration Current Noyce Scholar
- First Name Andrea
- Last Name Warhurst
- Discipline Chemistry
- Institution University of Iowa
Abstract
The primary mission of the University of Iowa Noyce Scholarship Program is to recruit and equip pre-service science teachers with the skills necessary to meet the ever-increasing needs of this nation’s K-12 student population. Specific recruitment and retention strategies have been implemented and maintained to meet the goals of this program. Recruitment strategies have focused on current Noyce scholars promoting the program to potential candidates, as well as coordinated efforts with Kirkwood Community College to provide information about teaching to students already interested in STEM careers. Strategies to equip and retain teachers have centered on targeted professional development, mentoring programs involving former Noyce Scholars, and opportunities for current Noyce scholars to engage in STEM outreach activities and attend regional and national STEM education conferences. In this poster presentation, we intend to describe specific aspects of these recruitment and retention activities including the following: Recruitment: Current Noyce scholars visited introductory level STEM classes at the University of Iowa Noyce Program Directors provided information about the UI Noyce Program to students in a First Year Seminar course promoting teaching as a career option The UI Noyce Program funded several counselor positions in the Kirkwood Community College Interactive Camps for Kids to encourage students working in STEM summer camps to consider science teaching as a career option An Introduction to STEM Teaching video and activity were integrated into Exploring Teaching courses offered by Kirkwood Community College PD Opportunities: Scholars engaged in workshops and presentations by national experts in equity and the NGSS and the use of innovative instructional strategies to capture student interest and curiosity STEM Education Conference Opportunities: Noyce Program Directors and Scholars attended and participated in the Noyce Midwest Regional Conference Noyce Scholars re-established and developed a plan of action for a NSTA Student Chapter at the University of Iowa Noyce Program Administrator and Scholars attended the National Noyce Summit Mentorship Experience Noyce Scholars engaged in monthly 1 on 1 meetings with Noyce Mentor Noyce Scholars shadowed mentor teacher for different lesson plans such as dissections and water quality testing at a local creek Noyce Scholars were able to learn more about various curricular materials.