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Preparing Tomorrow's Science and Math Teachers Summer
2003 |
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Normandale Community College's team - Peggy Rejto, Julie Johnson, Steve Reuter, and Julie Guelich - returned from the final Phi Theta Kappa/NSF conference in Washington, DC determined to accomplish two major goals: design an AS degree in teaching with math, science, or early childhood specialties, and organize a Teachers of Tomorrow club for education students. With help from our mentors, Steve Kinholt, Green River Community College, and Bruce Palmquist, Central Washington University, we have made excellent progress. The first of these was much more difficult than we had anticipated. A two-year degree in education does not exist in Minnesota, so our team has been breaking new ground. The proposal for an Associate of Science in Elementary Education Foundations was approved locally by the Normandale Community College Academic Affairs and Standards Council in December, 2002. A great deal of discussion across the campus had taken place during the fall semester regarding the appropriateness of such a degree. By December, the Normandale faculty and administration were enthusiastically supporting the concept. Students who had heard about the plan were already inquiring when the degree would be available. The last step in the process is to get the degree approved by the board of the Minnesota State Colleges and University (MnSCU) System. The second goal is creation of a Teachers of Tomorrow (TOT) club. During the fall semester, members of the Normandale team contacted students who had indicated an interest in majoring in education (elementary or secondary) or who were already in a Mankato cohort. Students were excited about the opportunity to get together to talk about issues that are facing them in their coursework, Praxis testing, licensure, and job searches. Advisors for the Teachers of Tomorrow club are our four team members. Approximately twenty students attended the January meeting. Steve Reuter and Julie Guelich presented updates on elementary education degrees in Minnesota. Steve reported on students who have graduated from the joint Normandale-Mankato program and have emailed him about jobs they have obtained. Julie Johnson and Peggy Rejto encouraged students to consider a specialty in math or science, because of the tremendous shortage in Minnesota. Zikica Perovic talked to the group about practice mathematics problems for the Praxis exam. Although this is a fledgling effort, the TOT club is off the ground! The Normandale-Mankato team is interested in applying for a NSF/ATE grant to continue our math-science-education effort. The experience we have obtained from working with this Phi Theta Kappa/NSF project has been invaluable. Julie Guelich: j.guelich@nr.cc.mn.us
[Return to National Science Foundation]
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