Science and Math Innovative Learning Environments (SMILE) for Encore Careers in Education

Rio Salado是一所在线社区学院，也是马拉多纳县社区学院区的成员，与滕佩联合高中区和格伦代尔联合高中区合作，正在建立科学和数学创新学习环境（SMILE）教育职业安可计划，以支持招聘，发展和支持持有数学，生物学，化学，物理学或工程学专业的学生。 诺伊斯基金用于为40名STEM专业人员提供津贴，因为他们在亚利桑那州高需求学区的7-12年级数学和/或科学教室过渡到教学职业。 通过SMILE计划的拟议混合格式，将在线课程与现场实习和学生教学相结合，亚利桑那州高需求学区的数学和科学教师的数量和质量正在增加。SMILE计划基于Rio Salado学院的学士后教师准备计划，该计划是一项为期一年的计划，旨在培养和认证拥有非教育领域四年学位的新教师。在线课程将亚利桑那州的教师认证要求纳入课程，提供参与者成为高效教师所需的知识和基本技能。 现场实习和学生教学体验提供了在课堂上观察大师教师的机会，并在监控和指导的环境中实践教学。这种方法的组合为STEM专业人员提供了完成课程的灵活性，并允许该计划在全州范围内招募SMILE学者。根据SMILE计划，方法和课程开发课程得到加强，以根据国家标准纳入数学和科学内容。硕士教师研讨会，专为SMILE计划，提供深入了解方法，内容和资源，在数学和科学课堂上有用。SMILE学者在整个准备计划中获得额外的发展和支持，同时完成所需的教学承诺。 SMILE学者通过专业发展机会获得支持，这些机会整合了由三个当地NSF资助的中心开发的教材，在线资源和培训计划，这些中心为STEM教育提供资源。该计划还结合了毕业后的指导，以提高质量和保持微笑学者在课堂上。通过SMILE计划创建的综合课程增强，存档的硕士教师研讨会和专业发展机会成为Rio Salado College教师准备计划的一部分，因此对未来的候选人有用。 SMILE计划为其学者提供接受在线教学培训和经验的机会，从而在教师教育计划和劳动力队伍中建立能力，以满足亚利桑那州每个学区最近对在线高中的要求。特别是，SMILE计划对数学和科学教师的重视促进了这一在线教学轨道中特定内容和实习经验的发展，以应对在线教学STEM内容的挑战。除了招聘，发展和支持40名STEM专业人士成为高素质的数学和科学教师外，SMILE学者计划还提供了一个机会，以确定影响STEM专业人士进入教师行业的招聘因素;确定对培养有能力，有信心的教师特别有帮助的计划活动;并确定促进有效的数学和科学教师在教学生涯中保留的条件。SMILE传播计划专门针对社区学院和传统上在培养数学和科学教师方面未得到充分利用的替代认证课程。

Rio Salado, an online community college, and member of the Maricopa County Community College District, in partnership with the Tempe Union High School District and the Glendale Union High School District, is establishing the Science and Math Innovative Learning Environments (SMILE) Program for Encore Careers in Education to support the recruitment, development, and support of professionals holding baccalaureate degrees in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics or engineering in becoming secondary teachers. Noyce funds are used to provide stipends to forty STEM professionals as they transition into teaching careers in grades 7-12 mathematics and/or science classrooms in high-needs school districts in Arizona. Through the proposed hybrid format of the SMILE program, which incorporates online courses with onsite practicum and student teaching, the number and quality of mathematics and science teachers available to high-needs school districts in Arizona is being increased. The SMILE program is based on Rio Salado College's Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program, a one-year program designed to develop and certify new teachers who have a four-year degree in a non-education field. Online courses incorporate Arizona's teacher certification requirements in curriculum that offers the knowledge and essential skills participants need to become highly effective teachers. Onsite practicum and student teaching experiences provide opportunities to observe master teachers in the classroom and practice teaching in a monitored and mentored environment. This combination of approaches provides STEM professionals flexibility in completing courses and allows the program to recruit SMILE Scholars statewide. Under the SMILE program, courses in methods and curriculum development are enhanced to incorporate mathematics and science content based on state standards. Master Teacher Seminars, designed specifically for the SMILE program, provide insight into methods, content, and resources useful in mathematics and science classrooms. SMILE Scholars receive additional development and support throughout the preparation program and while completing the required teaching commitment. SMILE Scholars are supported through professional development opportunities which integrate teaching materials, online resources, and training programs developed by three local NSF-funded centers that provide resources for STEM education. The program also incorporates post-graduation mentoring to improve the quality and retention of SMILE Scholars in the classroom. Integrated course enhancements, archived Master Teacher Seminars, and professional development opportunities created through the SMILE program become part of Rio Salado College's teacher preparation program and therefore are useful to future candidates. The SMILE program offers its Scholars opportunities to receive training and experience with online teaching, thus building capacity within the teacher education program and within the workforce to meet the recent call for online high schools in each Arizona school district. In particular, the SMILE program's emphasis on mathematics and science teachers promotes the development of specific content and practicum experiences in this online teaching track to address the challenges of teaching STEM content online. In addition to recruiting, developing, and supporting forty STEM professionals to become highly qualified mathematics and science teachers, the SMILE Scholars program provides an opportunity to identify factors that affect recruitment of STEM professionals into the teaching profession; identify program activities that are particularly helpful in producing competent, confident teachers; and identify conditions that promote retention of effective mathematics and science teachers in teaching careers. The SMILE dissemination plan specifically targets community colleges and alternative certification programs that have traditionally been underutilized in preparing mathematics and science teachers.