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的中学科学教师提供获得科学内容知识和探究和基于项目的教学培训的机会，包括与GK-12研究员和马萨诸塞大学教师一起作为团队的一部分进行研究的机会。研究员和教师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有效教学方法方面的更多经验，并将为各种各样的中学生提供榜样和导师。硕士学位课程的中学教师将与他们学校的学生一起进行研究项目的实施，团队（总共6人）包括麻省大学的一名教师参与者，两名GK-12研究员和最多三名中学教师。STEM连接将从为研究员和教师举办的夏季研讨会开始。然后，团队将在两个学期的课程中合作，重点是教师学习基于项目的教学，同时与中学生一起开发类似的项目。该项目得到工程局的部分支持。

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.