Western Regional Noyce Conference April 9-11, 2010

WRNC Objectives: Participants will be exposed to a variety of training opportunities specific to those who teach, or are preparing to teach, science and mathematics.

WRNC Professional development will be directed at teaching educators to access instructional resources available through on-line digital libraries Participants will have the opportunity to form networks with others who teach in the same discipline and face many of the same challenges to teaching science and math in high-needs settings

WRNC Relationships formed will be maintained beyond the conference by way of resources such as Merlot Voices

Voices From the Field Panelists

Classroom Management Strand Western Noyce Regional Conference 2010

Plenary: Productive Classroom CultureProductive Classroom Culture Main points of the session:  Establishment of procedures and routines in first weeks of year to ensure appropriate student behavior throughout the year  Physical arrangement of classroom  How to avoid becoming a nag  How to use positive reinforcement to encourage students to think independently and responsibly

Breakout sessionsBreakout sessions  Creating a safe and effective classroom environment ◦Set-up, safety, managing materials, involving all students  Managing group work ◦Guiding principles for creating structure and monitoring student work and behavior  Managing math and science manipulatives ◦Organization and implementation to enhance the learning experience  Conflict avoidance and resolution ◦Avoid negative interactions and ease tensions  Managing technology in the classroom ◦Classroom and equipment management

WRNC Evaluation Results WRNC Evaluation Results Data from Noyce Scholars Completing their Degrees

WRNC As a result of the conference, I am more connected to others who will teach in high needs schools. Strongly agree: 33%, Agree: 40%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 10%, Strongly Disagree: 1% I intend to maintain contact with some of those I met at the conference. Strongly agree: 29%, Agree: 28%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 31%, Disagree: 11%, Strongly Disagree: 2% Merlot Voices will help me keep contact with others in my subject. Strongly agree: 11%, Agree: 33%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 41%, Disagree: 11%, Strongly Disagree: 5% I feel better prepared for the secondary school classroom. Strongly agree: 35%, Agree: 43%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 22%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC As a result of the conference, I feel more optimistic about my ability to succeed in high needs schools. Strongly agree: 40%, Agree: 43%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 2%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I am optimistic about new technologies I can use to teach with. Strongly agree: 37%, Agree: 37%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 18%, Disagree: 6%, Strongly Disagree: 1% I am more acquainted with on-line resources in my subject. Strongly agree: 35%, Agree: 38%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 8%, Strongly Disagree: 3% I feel better able to adapt instruction to students with different needs. Strongly agree: 23%, Agree: 38%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 28%, Disagree: 9%, Strongly Disagree: 2%

WRNC As a result of the conference, I feel more able to maintain an effective learning environment Strongly agree: 28%, Agree: 54%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 17%, Disagree: 2%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I intend to use more on-line resources to supplement my teaching Strongly agree: 40%, Agree: 34%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 18%, Disagree: 5%, Strongly Disagree: 3% I have learned new techniques for managing problem behavior. Strongly agree: 31%, Agree: 38%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 26%, Disagree: 3%, Strongly Disagree: 2%

WRNC General Sessions

WRNC Data from Noyce Scholars who are Currently Teaching

WRNC As a result of the conference, I am more connected to others who teach in high needs schools. Strongly agree: 33%, Agree: 48%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 10%, Disagree: 10%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I intend to maintain contact with some of those I met at the conference. Strongly agree: 38%, Agree: 38%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 14%, Disagree: 5%, Strongly Disagree: 5% Merlot Voices will help me keep contact with others in my subject. Strongly agree: 5%, Agree: 15%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 40%, Disagree: 40%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I feel better equipped to teach my subject. Strongly agree: 20%, Agree: 35%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 45%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC As a result of the conference, I feel more optimistic about my high needs students’ ability to succeed. Strongly agree: 45%, Agree: 40%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I am optimistic about new technologies I can use to teach with. Strongly agree: 45%, Agree: 45%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 10%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I am more acquainted with on-line resources in my subject. Strongly agree: 25%, Agree: 40%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 30%, Disagree: 5%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I feel better able to adapt instruction to students with different needs. Strongly agree: 30%, Agree: 55%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC As a result of the conference, I feel more able to maintain an effective learning environment. Strongly agree: 45%, Agree: 45%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 10%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I intend to use more on-line resources to supplement my teaching. Strongly agree: 35%, Agree: 40%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 25%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I have learned new techniques for managing problem behavior. Strongly agree: 25%, Agree: 55%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 20%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC Responses on the Likert-type items suggests a positive feeling among conference participants regarding, their potential to improve their learning environments; how technologies can help them teach; the potential for forming support groups of mathematics or science teachers

WRNC Noyce Scholars especially appreciated the presentations on, management and discipline; on-line resources that are available to science and mathematics teachers; how to teach English Learners

WRNC Noyce Scholars suggested the following for improvement: some of the participants felt overwhelmed by the amount of information available; there was not enough emphasis on mathematics; rather than just an emphasis on resources, students requested more practical solutions to real teaching problems

WRNC Practicing teachers felt that the most valuable elements of the program were: presentations on management—the pre- service scholars made this same comment help with English Learners—this was also noted among pre-service scholars

WRNC Data from Principal Investigators and those Administering the Noyce Program

WRNC I feel more connected to those involved with Noyce Programs elsewhere. Strongly agree: 43%, Agree: 48%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 10%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I have ideas about how to improve the Noyce program on my campus. Strongly agree: 29%, Agree: 29%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 38%, Disagree: 5%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I intend to maintain contact with some of those I met at the conference. Strongly agree: 40%, Agree: 45%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 15%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0% Our Noyce Scholars have new information about helpful resources. Strongly agree: 55%, Agree: 35%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 10%, Disagree: 0%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC Our Noyce Scholars are better equipped to teach their subjects.Strongly agree: 40%, Agree: 25%, Neither Agree nor Disagree: 30%, Disagree: 5%, Strongly Disagree: 0% The students our Noyce Scholars teach have a better chance to succeed. Strongly agree: 30%, Agree: 25%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 40%, Disagree: 10%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I expect math and science teaching in high needs schools to improve. Strongly agree: 20%, Agree: 25%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 45%, Disagree: 15%, Strongly Disagree: 0%

WRNC I am more acquainted with on-line resources in math and science. Strongly agree: 20%, Agree: 30%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 25%, Disagree: 25%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I can improve the quality of the Noyce Scholar program on our campus. Strongly agree: 29%, Agree: 48%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 14%, Disagree: 10%, Strongly Disagree: 0% I am optimistic about maintaining funding for science and math teachers. Strongly agree: 29%, Agree: 19%, Neither Agree/Disagree: 38%, Disagree: 10%, Strongly Disagree: 5%

WRNC For Noyce Leaders, “the elements of the conference that were of the most value,” the most frequently mentioned was: the opportunity to network with those who are administering the Noyce programs elsewhere.

WRNC Noyce Scholar key suggestions for “the elements of the program that should be improved,” were the following: Even more hands-on activities for the Noyce scholars; more lesson plan activities including materials for EL learners

WRNC Evaluators Conclusion Statements: “Conference planners did a very credible job of anticipating what would be useful to science and math teachers. The responses to both the Likert-type items and the open-ended items indicate that participants were enthusiastic about the teaching techniques that were demonstrated and about the practical solutions that were offered to common teaching obstacles. Indeed, the request was for more of the basic materials that were frequently the subject of conference session—lesson plans and solutions to classroom management problems. It’s difficult to be responsive to those who represent a great variety of teaching environments in disciplines as demanding as mathematics and science but by any reasonable measure the conference was successful. The comments on what was laudable in the conference were much more numerous than the complaints, and even the complaints were sometimes back-handed complements (“I felt overwhelmed by all the stuff I learned.”). Those who participated represent a general sense that their time was well spent.”