Cal State Poly Pomona will conduct a three-year project "Integrating Science and Mathematics Teaching for the Middle School Underrepresented Student" for two-member teams, one mathematics and one science teacher, from each of 18 middle/junior high schools in Eastern Los Angeles (CA) County having high minority populations. "Hands-on", integrated, real-life instructional activities will be centered around a four-week summer workshop with each year having a specific theme integrating topics in the physical, life, and earth sciences as well as mathematics. The themes for the first, second and third years are THE ENVIRONMENT, CONSUMER DECISION-MAKING, and SPACESHIP EARTH, respectively. During the workshop the teachers will as students experience active, learner-centered involvement in their own learning. Project staff includes district middle school teachers and supervisors as well as university science, mathematics, and engineering faculty experienced in school inservice content and pedagogy activities. The summer experience will then serve as a model of instructional strategies and content for the teachers to use in their own classes during the ensuing year, with monthly classroom visits and phone consultation between the participants and institute staff providing reinforcement and support for developing classrooms where a positive attitude toward science and mathematics will result in proportionately higher enrollment in those advanced courses after middle school. Year-round evaluation activities will include measuring this effect, with three one-day conferences of all participants being held each of the three school years and all science and mathematics teachers participating in the last two conferences. Cal Poly Pomona and participating school districts cost sharing accounts for 25.7% of the NSF budget contribution.
