The project is proposed by a partnership between SUNY-Brockport, Rochester
City School District (RCSD) third largest in New York state with the lowest
achievement scores and Brighton Central School District (BCSD) with similar
gaps among underrepresented groups yet with one of the highest overall
achievement rates in the state. Additional partners are the Shodor Foundation
and The Krell Institute.
The primary goal for the partnership is to
improve student outcomes in mathematics and science in grades 7-12 by
creating a multi agency approach for the recruitment and professional
development of mathematics and science teachers.
A Computational Mathematics
Science and Technology (CMST) approach to learning science is employed
in which students and teacher are engaged in fieldwork, laboratory experiments,
mathematical modeling, computer simulation and visualization. CMST employs
math models to describe physical phenomena therefore bringing a new perspective
about the usefulness of math as a tool in real life. The method is designed
to make science and mathematics concepts more easily comprehensible.
A Challenge program incorporating CMST is providing tools and motivation
for 200, grades 7-12 students, under the supervision of participating
teachers. The approach in addition to teaching science concepts is designed
to promote teamwork, collaboration and new strategies for problem solving.
A component of the comprehensive professional development program for
mathematics and science teachers is a four-week summer institute each
year serving a total of 240 teachers. In addition there is a master's
degree program for 30 teachers. Preservice education programs at SUNY
Brockport are being revised and new courses are to be introduced to assure
an improvement in the quality quantity and diversity of the new teacher
workforce.
|