With a five-year $1.25 million grant, Arizona State University seeks to impact K-12 education by developing a groundbreaking new institute that will produce a community of highly skilled middle school teachers, according to ASUNews.
The Modeling Institute is a collaboration of ASU's most cutting-edge research in STEM education and teacher preparation. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the university the Innovation through Institutional Integration grant to develop the institute.
By integrating some of ASU's most successful NSF-sponsored STEM education initiatives, the institute is designed to engage and empower teachers and their students with tools that can improve learning in STEM subjects. With research showing that context is critical for students to understand mathematical concepts and skills, Modeling uses meaningful and hands-on activities to help learners think about math and science on a tangible level.
Melinda Romero, the executive director of staff development and instructional services with the Chandler Unified School District, was concerned about the lack of qualified middle school math and science teachers. She approached ASU and ignited the initiative. Romero said she believes the training institute will equip teachers with "knowledge, give them more experience and broaden their expertise.”
“It would be a pool we could use to fill our middle school math and science positions when we have shortages," she said, "and we want them to be excited about math and science for our kids even if they don’t choose to teach in the middle school setting.”
For the complete story, visit asunews.asu.edu.
