9354033 Stein Rocky Mountain Teacher Education Collaborative (RMTEC) The University of Northern Colorado (UNC), Colorado State University (CSU) and Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD), as partners in the Rocky Mountain Teacher Education Collaborative (RMTEC), propose a five-year project which will redesign targeted university science and mathematics courses, integrating content and pedagogy; redesign the teacher certification programs for middle and secondary science and mathematics teachers at RMTEC institutions; and serve as a national model for recruiting and retaining certification candidates from underrepresented groups, transfer and nontraditional-aged students. This Collaborative is unique, providing leadership through CSU, a research-oriented, land- grant university which has the largest secondary science teacher education program in the state; UNC, a university that holds a state-recognized mission for teacher education and one of the largest elementary and middle school teacher- preparation programs nationally; and MSCD, a four-year college in downtown Denver committed to training teachers for urban schools and the largest middle and secondary math education program in the state. RMTEC partners will design a national model to better prepare middle and secondary preservice teachers in science and mathematics by emphasizing: the ongoing collaboration between teacher education institutions, community colleges, and K-12 school partners for the reform of science and mathematics by emphasizing: the ongoing collaboration between teacher education institutions, community colleges, and K-12 school partners for the reform of science and mathematics teacher preparation: the redesign and delivery of targeted science and mathematics courses for majors, with a central focus on research-based teaching and learning strategies such as inquiry, problem-solving, and constructivist approaches and utilizing appropriate interactive technologies; the enhancement of preservice teachers' Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) by integrating content, pedagogy, and practice through the modeling of effective teaching, developing a new CORE experience for student cohorts, and integrally involving experienced mentor teachers; the development of faculty, mentor teacher, and student skills in addressing classroom diversity issues and the recruitment and retention of women and other underrepresented groups in mathematics and science teacher preparation programs. The RMTEC institutions have also committed funds to accomplishment of project goals, and project staff are working collaboratively with the participants in the Colorado Statewide Strategic Initiative. Dissemination of the national models will occur through presentations at regional and national conferences; publications in science, mathematics, and education journals, and conference sponsored by each of the partner institutions. ***y
