Teacher Preparation: One Key to Unlocking the Gate to STEM Literacy

Abstract

Abstracts of NSF awards may be found by searching the NSF web-site (http://nsf.gov/awardsearch/) using the project number, whichbegins with the last two digits of the year of the award. Francisco Exploratorium to provide experiences for preser-vice and in-service teachers and their students at this state-of-the-art physics research facility (Meyinsee, 0917543). Andmany directorates support teachers conducting laboratory orfield research with NSF-funded scientists in Research Experi-ences for Teachers. Table 1 summarizes the results of a searchoftheNSFdatabasesforprojectsinvolvingteachereducation.Clearly, such projects are funded throughout the foundation,notonlyinEHR.InterestedreadersmayfindsupportfortheirideastostrengthenteacherpreparationinSTEMfieldswithina number of programs at NSF.With increased attention to teacher preparation and in-sistence on strong content mastery, we predict that studentlearning will improve and the pathway for students to STEMliteracy and participation in the STEM workforce will becleared. The combination of deep understanding of scien-tific content, high expectations for student performance, andengaging pedagogy, as epitomized by graduates of NoyceScholar programs, is the gold standard for teacher prepara-tion. The need is great, however, so widespread efforts on allfronts are needed to achieve the desired results. The NSF iseager to partner with you in this endeavor.