TAMU STEM Teacher Preparation Academy

Presented by

Dr. Carolyn Schroeder, Nolan DeMent,

& Dr. Timothy Scott

NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship

Program Conference

Washington, D.C., May 2013

Background

• Funded for 2 years ($0.5 million) by Texas

Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

• Math, Science, and Technology Teacher

Preparation Academy (MSTTPA) Cycle 4B

• Leadership Team

– Dr. Timothy P. Scott (COS)

– Jennifer Whitfield (COS)

– Dr. Dawn Parker (CEHD)

– Dr. Carolyn Schroeder (COS)

Our Commitment

• Agreed to serve 50 pre-service secondary math

and science teachers (We had 48 scholars from

both secondary and middle school programs.)

• Partner with Bryan and College Station ISD to

select 25 high quality mentor teachers

• Implement outreach activities with local schools

and community

The Mentor Teachers • Each mentor teacher received

– iPad 2®

– $70 for mobile Applications

– $1000 stipend

• Each mentor teacher

– Attended 3 of the 5 Learning Academy Seminars each

semester

– Completed mentor teacher training

– Participated in the Outreach Program held at their

school

– Allowed scholars to assist and/or teach in their

classroom each semester

The Scholars

Selected pre-service teachers

– Received $4000 in scholarships

– Made a commitment to teach in Texas high needs

district for 2 years (within 5 years of graduation)

– Made a commitment to participate in the program for

2 years

• Attended 5 Learning Academy Seminars per semester

• Observed in mentor teacher’s class at least twice per

semester

• Participated in outreach activities for middle school and

high school students

Goal

The goal of the TAMU STEM Teacher Preparation Academy

was to increase the number of effective math and science

teachers in Texas by providing a high quality, rigorous

program that infused current technology into the curriculum,

focused on STEM content, and created a community where

in-service and pre-service teachers worked in unison to grow

academically and professionally.

STEM Academy Objectives

1 Increase the preparedness of pre-service math and

science teachers entering the 21st Century Classroom.

2 Increase content and pedagogical knowledge of academy participants in

their area of certification.

3 Create a mini-21st Century Classroom which will serve as a mobile

learning lab for training participants to be proficient users of cutting-edge

educational software and technology.

4 Increase academy participants’ knowledge on effective questioning

techniques in the mathematics and science classroom.

5 Increase academy participants’ knowledge on effective ways to manage

the STEM classroom.

Mobile Learning Lab

• 15 laptop computers loaded with software (Camtasia®,

Snag-It®, Microsoft Office®, SMART Board®, etc.)

• 30 iPads® loaded with Apps (both productivity and

discipline-specific)

• 1 multi-touch, portable SmartBoard®

• Pasco probes and Sparkvue software for laptops and

App for iPads

Note: Dropbox was installed on all devices for

file sharing purposes

Mobile Learning Lab

Using Notebook 10 and SmartBoard

• Discussed creating objects, grouping objects, editing

properties, and layering objects

–Assignment: Create a ―Magic Tunnel‖

• Discussed Lesson Activity Tool Kit (LATK) and Gallery

Essentials

–Assignment: Created an activity

using items from both the Gallery

and the LATK

• Final Notebook Assignment: Scholars together with their

mentor teacher created a Notebook file that was

implemented in the classroom

Using Notebook 10 and SmartBoard

Use of iPad

• Learned basics of iPad use (change settings, effects of

different hand strokes, rearranging pages, etc.)

• Discussed productivity applications—some examples

Keynote, Pages, Numbers, Penultimate, Dragon

Dictation, Evernote, TeacherPal, Prezi Viewer, Show

Me, Drop Box

• Discussed and demonstrated applications for math and

science education

• Mentor teachers and scholars planned and

implemented class lessons using iPads for instruction

and student learning

iPad Pictures

Academy Loaned iPads

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/theeagle.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/7f/97f8f1d

b-fb18-561e-ae0f-a7586c80126a/508243019273e.image.jpg

8th grade Algebra I students:

• graphed time vs. distance

using motion detectors

• Recreated 4 types of

graphs by walking

Pre-cal students: • worked with a partner on the iPad using ShowMe

• proved trignometric identities

• Recorded explanation of proof and uploaded to ShowMe web

site

Scholars worked with mentor teachers

Use of Camtasia

•Basics – Recording the screen simultaneously

with audio, go over production settings

•Editing Features – Edit audio, pan-in, zoom-

out, transitions, callouts, captions

•Advanced Features – Add music (additional

audio), add quizzes, voice over

•Scholars and mentors created video showing

use of the Texas College and Career Readiness

Standards (CCRS) for math and science

Camtasia Pictures

Pasco Probes •Did several labs using the probes, rotating

through so all had the experiences

•Linked science and math concepts

Why We Brush our Teeth

(investigating pH, MS level)

Bright Lights

(investigating light intensity)

Pasco Probes Percent Oxygen (rusting steel wool, O2 sensor)

Respiration of Germinating

Seeds (CO2 Sensor)

Walking the Graph (motion sensor)

Outreach Activities

•Rayburn Middle School

after school math and

science game day

•TAMU Physics Festival

with Davila Middle

School Science Club

•Math Mini-Fair

Speakers from Districts

• Technology Coordinators • Digital citizenship

• Permanence of electronic footprint

• Appropriate use of social media (Facebook, Twitter)

• QR codes, Poll

Everywhere, etc.

• Science Coordinator • Nonverbal communication

• Proximity

• Proper attire

• Classroom management

Mentor Teachers Spoke

Tips and tricks for

classroom

management

Honoring Scholars and Mentors