Building Locally Linking Globally Networking Micro-Communities of New Science and Math Teachers Using the NSDL to Advance Instructional Excellence in High Need Schools David Andrews, Beth Ambos, John Ittelson, Jaime Arvizu October 1, 2008 NSDL Workshop Washington, DC

NSF DUE Building Locally, Linking Globally  “Building Locally” is the concept that individual CSU campuses with active Robert Noyce Scholars programs would create individual web portal “micro communities” that are both learning and social support centers for these future mathematics and science teachers  “Linking Globally” is the concept that these “micro communities” would have access to the wealth of learning objects, library search tools, visualizations/graphics/data, and other science and mathematics information housed at the NSDL (National Science Digital Library) and MERLOT (Multimedia Education Resource for Learning and On Line Teaching)

NSF DUE Why are Robert Noyce Scholars a Key Group for NSDL Connection?  NSF program to provide forgivable loans to highly qualified mathematics and science teachers-to-be who will then teach in high-needs schools  Program addresses research that shows: –General need for highly qualified mathematics and science teachers nationally –Specific lack of highly qualified teachers in high- needs schools This important program addresses the national imperative to grow the next generation of STEM professionals – through preparing the “highest leverage” group – future mathematics and science teachers

NSF DUE CSU students are increasingly diverse – many were educated in high needs schools CSU students in Noyce Scholar programs will often return to their communities to teach in high needs schools 16 of 23 CSU campuses currently are funded for Robert Noyce Scholar Programs CSU Noyce Scholar Programs Strategic Noyce Scholar Programs

NSF DUE Overview of Noyce-NSDL Project: Linking Noyce and NSDL  The CSU Noyce teacher networks, termed “micro- communities”, are enabled through MERLOT’s Institutional Teaching Commons (ITC) program,  The CSU has already established communities in science education and other disciplinary areas  The linkage between the CSU “homegrown” networks and the NSDL: – offers CSU future teachers (and current teachers) unprecedented access to teaching and learning resources; CSU –offers NSDL a large and active user community, who will also become resource creators and future leaders/advocates for NSDL

NSF DUE Overview of Noyce-NSDL Project: Activities  Build a select collection of online science and mathematics learning content and curriculum that is successful in high needs schools, particularly in middle and high schools; emphasizing inquiry conducted in complex classroom management situations  Share experiences with instructional applications of NSDL resources and such tools as CSULA’s effective and engaging “Virtual Courseware” science simulations  Link the CSU Noyce Scholars Teaching Commons to their local school district user communities, enabling Noyce Scholars to share NSDL teaching resources and pedagogy with teacher colleagues  Provide Scholars with powerful ePortfolio tools to assist them in using NSDL resources to meet the challenges of teaching in high need settings, work effectively with under-achieving students, build their own professional resumé, prepare for teacher performance assessments, national board certification

NSF DUE First Year activities have focused on: -Building the ITC -Pilot Workshops for over 100 Noyce Scholars, Noyce PIs, and other science and math teaching professionals in California

NSF DUE For more information Interested in Working with Other NSDL Projects – particularly with regard to inquiry-based approaches to teaching in challenging classroom situations