This proposal describes a new project developed by New Jersey Institute of Technology. The project focuses on infusing computational science and methods using inquiry learning in the science and mathematics curriculum in high schools in Newark, New Jersey. The project provides hands-on instructional experience to 8 Fellows per year and will broaden the educational experience and communication skills of the Fellows. The project will provide secondary teachers and students with new computation skills that help them investigate science in new ways and prepare them for a wide array of career opportunities.
Intellectual Merit: The intellectual merit of this project lies with its innovative method of bridging curriculum and the science disciplines through the infusion of computational tools. Computation is presented as an element that pervades math and science rather than a detached subject. In addition, doctoral research brought into the classroom exposes exciting new frontiers to teachers and students and brings a high level of intellectual focus the sciences beyond those found using traditional methods. The methods and resources developed during this project have the potential to be of great benefit to the secondary science community and perhaps change the nature of science instruction in the future.
Broader Impacts: The project provides professional development opportunities for Fellows and strengthens their instructional and communication skills. It provides computational skills and strengthened science learning to secondary students as well as role models of working scientists. This could result in an increase in secondary students who pursue science and technology as careers. It should leave a foundation within the schools that will benefit students far into future and fundamentally improve the way that students learn about science and inquiry.
initiative brought 8 PhD students together with 8 high school teachers for each of 5 years (a total of 29 PhD Fellows and 35 high school teachers; each could participate for up to two years) to infuse computation and research into math and science classrooms in 9 Newark, New Jersey schools. Fellows worked one on one with their partner teachers for a full year, training together during a several weeks long Summer workshop each year and having the Fellow working in the teachers’ classes two days each week during the academic year while the Fellow pursued his/her PhD. During the Summer program, Fellows and teachers worked to explore areas where the Fellows could incorporate aspects of their research into the curriculum. They worked to develop Fellows’ communication skills through presentation experiences. They also worked with a number of resources to bring the power of computation and technology into the classroom. To this end, Fellows developed standard and voice-over powerpoint presentations, and videos of the labs in which they perform their research. They learned to use Vernier probeware and interfaces with which they could present experiments and obtain instant visualization of results. They also gained experience using Algodoo physics/science simulation software, Pixton, Prezi, clickers and more. During the course of the project several Flash simulations depicting science concepts were constructed by undergraduate computer science students based on ideas developed during the Summer workshops and with further collaboration among teachers, Fellows and high school students. The fruits of this Summer training were applied during the school year to enhance students learning and interest in STEM disciplines. Through the program Fellows gained valuable communication and presentation experience under the mentorship of and with frequent feedback from their partner teacher. Fellows developed and delivered numerous lessons. In this way, STEM PhDs become more effective communicators of science. For example, one Fellow credits to C2PRISM with helping him develop the skills that enabled him to obtain an academic position after completing his PhD at NJIT. We expect that these skills will benefit Fellows in their future careers, whether in academia, industry or government and strengthen their ability to engage in and lead public debate over relevant issues of science. Teachers gained experience with current math and science research topics and methods and with technology resources that can help them deliver disciplinary content effectively to their students. With Fellows serving as technology resources for an extended time period teachers were able to increase their competence and comfort with their technology skills so that they would be able to bring such resources to their classes for years to come. Thousands of Newark high school students have benefitted from having scientific role models in their classes for a full year. Fellows brought into the inner city classroom their stories of how and why they are pursuing studies at the edge of scientific knowledge, making the idea of studying STEM disciplines in college (and even going to college) real to students. Fellow demonstrated how what students learn in STEM courses is relevant to their lives and to society in general. C2PRISM exposed students to the scientific process and scientific research and expanded student experiences involving reasoning, inquiry and problem solving skills. Students experienced how technology and computation are inherently connected to STEM topics and should not be thought of as entirely separate disciplines. Beyond presenting lessons, Fellows also tutored students and supervised science fair projects. The benefits of C2PRISM extend beyond those directly stemming from the specific grant activities. C2PRISM has been instrumental in strengthening the partnership of NJIT with a number of local inner city high schools. Also, through C2PRISM and an NSF-funded Robert Noyce Scholarship Program grant (TECHS-NJ) we were able to leverage NSF funding in order to obtain funds for hardware (laptops, clicker, mobile interactive whiteboards, probeware, interfaces and software). We also garnered funding for Career Days for high school students for students to learn about STEM topics using computation and technology resources, Professional Development Events for Teachers to learn to use such technology resources, and to fund a Technology Envoy program for visits to high schools by C2PRISM Fellows and TECHS-NJ scholars to present hands-on technology based lessons. In this manner, we were able to extend the benefits of C2PRISM to over 100 more teachers and 1000 more students. The C2PRISM has helped provide a spark that is leading to further efforts at NJIT to address needs in K-12 education and assessment.
