An Innovative Mathematics, Science, and Technology Program for Pre-Service Elementary Teachers

在弗吉尼亚大学，一个模范的、创新的项目重组了初级职前教师准备项目，涉及20多个教育、艺术、科学和工程学院。由于弗吉尼亚州的新教师执照要求将数学和科学学分从12小时增加到24小时，因此正在开发新的数学和科学内容课程，强调实践活动，另外三门课程正在进行重组，以更符合国家数学和科学教育标准。在学生完成六门新的数学和科学课程后，他们将获得由美国国家科学基金会资助的研究/设计经验：六个学分，两个学期的综合数学，科学和技术课程（包括工程和可能的医学）。第一学期的课程将包括完成以前没有学过的数学和科学内容，特别是整合包括数据分析和演示在内的材料。学生还将完成几个小型项目，以适应他们解决研究问题的能力，未来的教师导师将在第二学期介绍可能的学生项目。在第二学期，每组（3-4名学生）将在教师导师的指导下完成一个研究项目。教学技术将在项目的各个阶段得到强调。一个独立的评估/咨询委员会将对项目人员和支持这项工作的国家科学基金会教师准备项目的职前初等教育小组的项目质量和影响进行指导和评估。

A model, innovative program to restructure the elementary preservice teacher preparation program at the University of Virginia involves over twenty Education, Arts & Sciences, and Engineering faculty. Because Virginia's new teacher liscensure requires the number of math and science credit hours to be increased from 12 to 24, sic new math and science content courses stressing hands-on activities are being developed, and three other courses are being restructured to be more aligned with National Math and Science Education standards. After the preservice students have completed the six new math and science courses, they will take a capstone research/design experience being developed with the present NSF funding: a six credit hour, two semester course of integrated math, science, and technology (including engineering and possibly medicine). The first semester course will include completion of math and science content not previously taken, especially the integration of material including data analysis and presentation. The students will also complete several mini-projects to acclimate them to research problem solving, and prospective faculty mentors will present possible student projects for the second semester. During the second semester each group (3-4 students) will complete a research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. Instructional technology will be emphasized in all phases of the project. An independent evaluation/advisory committee will probed guidance and assessment on the project's quality and impact for both the project staff and for the preservice elementary education group of the NSF Teacher Preparation program that is supporting this effort.