Summer Research Opportunity for Future Teachers 

Here is some information about a program that provides summer research internships at Department of Energy laboratories for pre-service teachers from CETP collaboratives.  It is the Department of Energy Pre-Service Teacher Program (PST), a collaboration between NSF and DOE.   This sounds like a great opportunity for our pre-service teachers.

Students at the eight colleges in the STEMTEC Collaborative are eligible to spend the summer at Brookhaven National Laboratory. These colleges are Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and UMass, plus Greenfield, Holyoke, and Springfield Technical Community Colleges.

Applications are accepted between Dec. 1 and Feb. 1.

Here is a summary and the website for further information.  .

Pre-service Teacher Program Description

A DOE/NSF Collaboration

http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/PST/index.htm

Goal:

To enhance the nation’s source of proficient teachers of K-12 science, mathematics, and technology.

Objective:

• The formation of a partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (CETP) to facilitate the following:

• Combine the resources of the DOE National Laboratories with the NSF Collaboratives to create a model for Pre-service Teacher education in science, mathematics, and technology.

• Provide a diverse population of Pre-service Teachers an opportunity for laboratory-based research experiences that can enrich science and technology instruction.

• Extend the impact of the NSF Collaboratives on the preparation of K-12 science, mathematics, and technology teachers.

Strategies:

• Immerse Pre-service Teachers in engaging, clearly defined, research experiences at DOE National Laboratories.

• Facilitate the formation of a partnership between in-service “Master” Teachers and Mentor Scientists at each DOE laboratory to maximize the building of content, knowledge, and skills for Pre-service Teachers through the research experience.

• Formulate teams of in-service “Master” Teachers and Pre-service Teachers to translate DOE research experiences into inquiry-based K-12 educational modules that are aligned with national science standards.  Ø            Facilitate the implementation, revision, and dissemination of the inquiry-based educational modules.

Outcomes:

As evidence of an understanding of the “Scientific Enterprise” each Pre-service Teacher will:

• Produce a personal journal and research notebook of their laboratory experience.

• Prepare an abstract and research paper for submission to an undergraduat e research journal.

• Deliver an oral or poster presentation of the technical and educational relevance of the research conducted.

To demonstrate an understanding of the educational applications in a way that specifically builds upon and incorporates the laboratory experience into a classroom setting, each Pre-service Teacher will:

• Prepare an Educational Module that is inquiry-based and aligned with national standards.

• Post at least one educational module on a specified Web site.

Roles of :

Mentor Scientist- This is the laboratory scientist who has chosen to work with the Pre-service Teacher after reviewing their application.  The Mentor Scientist will: introduce the student to their laboratory and their specific field of interest; provide the student with a project to work on; make sure the student receives the proper instrument training to perform their work, and generally support the student’s scientific efforts while at the DOE National Laboratory.  

Master Teacher- This is a secondary school teacher who is familiar with both the scientific research environment of a particular National Lab and is adept in transferring technical knowledge to an educational setting.  Each Master Teacher has been assigned to 6 or fewer students and will organize and present a number of enrichment activities. The Master Teacher should be depended upon to help the students with their abstracts, research papers, oral presentations and education modules.  They will meet regularly (at least weekly) with the scientific mentors of each student and check on the students’ progress and support the Mentor Scientists in their mentoring efforts. Through this interaction and by working with the students, the Master Teacher will become quite familiar with each student’s research project.  They will be accessible to the students on a daily basis and each week work with only the 6 students of the PST group for an entire day (depending on the Master Teacher this may be broken into two 4-hour days).  The Master Teacher is the most central organizing force in the program.

Pre-Service Teacher- This is the student who, through a desire to be an outstanding teacher, has chosen to spend an intensive ten weeks of challenging and rewarding work at one of the most unique scientific laboratories in the world. 

Selection Criteria , Participating Students, Eligibility

• K-12 Pre-service Teacher who is a participant in one of the NSF Collaboratives

• 3.0 GPA or higher

• Matriculating juniors, seniors at a four year university during the participation of the internship or graduating community college students

• who are preparing to teach science, mathematics or technology

Academic Background

• Either have a minimum of two lab-science related courses or two math courses beyond algebra

• Have a computer course or demonstrate basic computer skills

• Citizen of the United States or a Permanent Resident Alien

• At least 18 years old

 Application to Include

• Essay questions to help in matching students with appropriate research field and scientists Ø            Number of science, mathematics, or technology courses and grades receive d Ø      Two recommendation letters (one must be from a Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science Faculty)

• Nomination by participating collaborative

Master Teacher

• Teacher familiar with individual laboratory and standard laboratory/scientific practice

• Teacher who has or is currently teaching science, mathematics, or techno logy

• Teacher who is familiar with national standards and has implemented teaching strategies inherent in reform pedagogy

• Master Teacher is able to review Education Module to meet AAAS, NSES, NCTM, or State Standards

• Master Teacher is able to assist students in the writing of their abstracts, Education Module, and scientific papers.

Mentor Scientist

• A resident scientist at a DOE laboratory

Sharon M. Palmer, Ph.D.

Student Services Director

STEMTEC

436 LGRT/Univ. of Massachusetts     Phone:  413-545-0734

Amherst, MA  01003                  FAX:    413-545-4884

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