The University of Northern Colorado will convene a conference on the topic, "Critical Issues in Reforming the Preparation of Elementary Teachers in Mathematics and Science." at Greeley, Colorado, in October, 1991. Participants in the conference will be teams composed of science, mathematics, and education faculty and administrators from approximately thirty teacher preparation institutions across the country. A primary goal of the conference will be to disseminate products and programs being developed through NSF elementary teacher preparation projects to institutions preparing large numbers of teachers who are not active in reform or aware of recent developments in the preparation of elementary teachers in mathematics and science. Institutions will be targeted that produce large numbers of elementary teachers and are not research oriented and/or do not grant doctoral degrees. Historically minority institutions and institutions preparing large numbers of minority teachers will be especially encouraged to attend and will receive advance notice of the conference. The program will include invited addresses on pedagogical content knowledge, constructivism, and new directions in elementary mathematics and science curriculum. There will be panel sessions in which the panelists will be staff of major NSF-funded projects and other noted teacher educators and researchers involved in reform of elementary mathematics and science teacher preparation. Breakout groups will allow participants to discuss specific courses and programs with panel members. The University of Northern Colorado is a logical host for this conference for several reasons: (1) A comprehensive five-year NSF model project in elementary mathematics and science teacher preparation is in its fourth year at UNC. (2) UNC is the third-largest producer of first-degree certified teachers in the U.S. (3) UNC has important contacts to other colleges and universities preparing large numbers of teachers through its membership in two important reform groups in teacher education, Project 30 and the Renaissance Group.
