GK-12:Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics UMass K-12 Connections (STEM Connections)

该项目将为马萨诸塞州斯普林菲尔德学区中学的科学教师提供获取科学内容知识以及探究和基于项目的教学培训的机会，包括有机会作为GK-12研究员和马萨诸塞州大学教员团队的一部分进行研究。学员和教职员工将了解学校的需求和文化，为未来的合作奠定基础。该项目将为研究员提供更多有效教学方法的经验，还将为不同群体的中学生提供榜样和导师。硕士学位课程的中学教师将以小组形式(总共六人)与他们学校的学生一起实施研究项目，小组由一名麻省理工学院教员、两名GK-12研究员和最多三名中学教师组成。STEM连接将从为研究员和教师举办暑期讲习班开始。然后，团队将在一门专注于教师学习基于项目的教学的课程中合作两个学期，同时开发与中学生类似的项目。该项目得到了工程局的部分支持。

The project will provide science teachers in the middle schools in the Springfield, Massachusetts school district with opportunities to acquire science content knowledge and training in inquiry and project-based teaching, including the opportunity to conduct research as a part of a team with GK-12 Fellows, and UMass faculty. The Fellows and faculty will gain an understanding of the needs and culture of the schools, laying the foundations for future collaborations. The project will provide Fellows with increased experience in effective pedagogical approaches, and will also provide a diverse population of middle school students with role models and mentors. Middle school teachers in a master's degree program will work in teams (six in all) consisting of a UMass faculty participant, two GK-12 Fellows, and up to three middle school teachers) on the implementation of research projects with theirs school students. STEM Connections will start with summer workshops for the Fellows and teachers. Teams will then work together for two semesters in a course focused on teacher learning of project-based instruction while concomitantly developing similar projects with middle school students. This project is receiving partial support from the Directorate for Engineering.