Blackfeet Mathematics and Science Education Improvement Project

该项目将通过一个多方面的项目来提高黑脚印第安人保留区的数学和科学教育质量：1)一个为期两天的保留区范围内的会议，旨在将不同的社区团体、州政府官员、大学系统人员和国家领导人聚集在一起；2)为当地教育工作者、BCC学生和感兴趣的社区成员举办四次为期两周的暑期强化讲习班；3)在常规学年期间，为当地教育工作者、BCC学生和感兴趣的社区成员举办8次1至2天的研讨会；4)一项涉及10名黑脚学生的数学和科学副学士课程的试点。会议将包括：教育政策制定者，如学校董事会成员和地区行政人员、印第安事务局和印第安卫生服务官员、部落长老、蒙大拿州立大学人员和公共教育办公室的官员；全国知名的印度教育家和科学家；当地教师、家长和学生。重点将是在黑脚保留地的数学/科学教育的现状。16名教师和10名学生参加的夏季讲习班将研究改善美国印第安学生数学/科学教育的新方法，以及使活动适应黑脚文化。本学年的研讨会将向20位教育工作者介绍全国知名的数学/科学课程项目；他们的内容和教学方法。该项目的一个不同寻常的特点是让黑脚学生指导执业教师，为教师提供文化背景。在另一个方向上对数学/科学内容进行指导，以一种有意义的方式提供科学/文化平衡。这个项目的首席研究员是Gerard Vandeberg先生。费用分摊相当于国家科学基金会奖金的37%。

This project will improve the quality of mathematics and science education on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation through a multi-faceted program: 1) A two day reservation- wide conference designed to bring together various community groups, along with state officials, university system personnel, and national leaders; 2) four intensive two-week summer workshops for local educators, students from BCC, and interested community members; 3) eight 1 to 2 day workshops during the regular academic year for local educators, students from BCC, and interested community members; 4) the piloting of a Mathematics and Science Associate Degree program involving 10 Blackfeet students. The reservation wide conference will include: education policy makers such as school board members and district administrators, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service officials, Tribal Elders, Montana State University personnel, and officials from the Office of Public Instruction; nationally known Indian educators and scientists; local teachers, parents and students. The focus will be the current state of math/science education on the Blackfeet Reservations. The summer workshops for 16 teachers and 10 students will study new methods for improving math/science education among American Indian students and adaptation of activities to the Blackfeet culture. The academic year workshops will acquaint 20 educators with nationally known math/science curriculum projects; their content and pedagogy. An unusual feature of the project is having Blackfeet students mentor practicing teachers to provide a cultural background for teachers. Mentoring for math/science content in the other direction provides science/cultural balance in a meaningful way. The Principal Investigator for the project is Mr. Gerard Vandeberg. Cost sharing equals 37% of the NSF award.