- Year 2024
- NSF Award #1758497
- Registration Noyce Scholar/Teaching Fellow/Master Teacher
- Role Master Teaching Fellow
- First Name Juie
- Last Name Wittenborn-Sikorski
- Discipline STEM Education (general)
- Institution Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, IL
Abstract
Over the past ten years, Southern Illinois University Carbondale has implemented two successful Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship Programs that served three cohorts and 35 MTFs in rural Southern Illinois and surrounding states. Both programs focused on place-based learning with four core experiences: science content enhancement, development of student-centered pedagogy, scientific research engagement, and leadership development. Although content expertise enrichment and community building were key goals of the program, there were also a number of unexpected outcomes or products that led to the long-term sustainability of the Noyce professional community. Noyce teachers raised funds and developed a financial trust in a regional non-profit that provides competitive grants to teachers to be used to enhance STEM education in their classrooms. MTFs, along with regional formal and informal STEM educators, instituted an annual Family Eco Festival that brings the community together for a day of hands-on activities focused on environmental sustainability. This event also raises funds for the teacher grants. Teachers continue to utilize a range of equipment purchased for their classrooms by the Noyce Program. As a result of these efforts and with the support of NSF, our STEM education community has expanded to include MTFs and an assemblage of highly committed non-Noyce teacher colleagues who continue to enrich STEM education for students in our rural area.
Focus
Developing teacher leaders, Promising practices for preparing and retaining teachers in rural districts, Lessons learned from developing/implementing a Track 1 project, Track 2 project, Track 3 project, or Track 4 Research project, STEM content and/or convergent skills development, Becoming a Master Teacher
