Implementing Novel STEM Practices in Rural Education (INSPIRE)

在罗伯特·诺伊斯教师奖学金计划(Noyce)的支持下，西阿拉巴马大学(UWA)的Track 1：奖学金和津贴项目旨在为当地和全国的高需求学区培养高质量的教师。通过西澳大学自然科学与数学学院和教育学院之间的合作，两所当地社区学院、一所地区公立学校和一所特许学校，INSPIRE将为阿拉巴马州西部和密西西比州东部地理区域的高需求学区招聘STEM教师并为其做好准备。该项目将提供一个强大的本科教学计划，专注于在经过验证的教学实践中发展对主题的理解和技能。在入职期间，它还将在学区学者和实习教师之间建立一个强有力的指导环境。在为期五年的过程中，该项目寻求资助总共15名获得奖学金的本科生初级和高级STEM专业人员和10名获得津贴的地区STEM专业人员成为持有执照的科学和数学教师。西阿拉巴马大学的领导将与贝维尔州立社区学院、阿拉巴马海岸社区学院、Demopolis城市学校和大学特许学校合作，从社区学院和大学招聘和培训学者。培训的重点包括文化能力和教学知识。该项目以三个目标为指导。第一，提高在职STEM认证教师的数量和质量。第二，在项目参与者和临床硕士教师之间建立一个协作的指导环境。第三，创建入职计划，以激励毕业生在毕业和获得认证后继续发展学科专业知识和改进教学实践。通过从特定的地理区域招聘，然后将新教师安置在同一地区，该项目将为阿拉巴马州西部和密西西比州东部的教育社区做出贡献。此外，该项目有望成为全国的典范。Noyce计划支持有才华的STEM本科专业和专业人员成为高需求学区的有效K-12数学和科学教师，并支持有经验的、模范的K-12 STEM教师成为STEM大师教师。它还支持对高需求学区K-12教师的持久性、保留率和有效性的研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce) this Track 1: Scholarships and Stipends project at the University of West Alabama (UWA), aims to prepare high-quality teachers for high-need school districts both locally and nationally. Through a collaboration among UWA's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and College of Education, two local community colleges, an area public school, and a charter school, INSPIRE will recruit and prepare STEM teachers for positions in high-need school districts in the geographic area of western Alabama and eastern Mississippi. The project will provide a strong undergraduate teaching program that focuses on developing subject matter comprehension and skill in proven pedagogical practices. It will also develop a strong mentoring environment between scholars and practicing teachers in the school district during the induction years. Over the course of a five year period, the project seeks to fund a total of 15 undergraduate junior and senior STEM majors with scholarships and 10 area STEM professionals with stipends to become licensed science and mathematics teachers. The leaders at the University of West Alabama will work with Bevill State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, the Demopolis City Schools, and the University Charter School to recruit and train scholars from both community colleges and the university. The foci of the training includes cultural competencies and pedagogical knowledge. Three goals guide the project. First, to increase the number and quality of certified STEM teachers entering the workforce. Second, to develop a collaborative mentoring environment among program participants and clinical master teachers. Third, to create an induction program for INSPIRE graduates to continue developing subject matter expertise and improved pedagogical practices after graduation and certification. By recruiting from a specific geographical area and then placing the new teachers in the same area, the project will contribute to the educational community in western Alabama and eastern Mississippi. In addition the project holds promise to serve as a national model. The Noyce program supports talented STEM undergraduate majors and professionals to become effective K-12 mathematics and science teachers in high-need school districts and experienced, exemplary K-12 STEM teachers to become STEM master teachers. It also supports research on the persistence, retention, and effectiveness of K-12 teachers in high-need school districts.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.