1. NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Conference
Alternative populations of students – bring life experiences to teaching math and science, alternative admission, alternative ways to satisfy statutory requirements for licensure
Alternative Careers in Teaching Program
May 25, 2012
Drs. Michael E. Beeth, Tammy J. Ladwig,
Pamela Josifek, and Brandon Nelsen

2. Background of act! Program
an alternative teacher preparation program leading to initial licensure in Mathematics or Broadfield Science (grades 6-12)
a collaborative program between UW Oshkosh and UW Colleges
UW Colleges include Fox Valley, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marinette, and Sheboygan
fully approved as an alternative teacher preparation program by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (January 2006)
State and nation need for math and science teachers
2-year’s of committee meetings between all institutions
Funding from UW Oshkosh, position from UW Fox Valley
Approval needed from State DPI
Tammy and I inherited act! – we make it work, not like it was proposed
9/18/2018

3. Program Requirements
Students enter with a 4-year degree (minimum) in a Math or Science related field
Minimum of 5 years of work experience is required
Non-traditional, adult learners
Bring life experience as scientists or mathematicians
Updated statistics on 05/01/2012
9/18/2018

4. Program Phases Phase I – Admission
Assessment of undergraduate and graduate transcripts
Evaluation of resume, work experience and applicant statement
Interview with Program Coordinator
Evidence of clear Criminal Background
Letter of Acceptance outlining specific course and program requirements
9/18/2018

5. Program Phases
Phase II – Coursework, PRAXIS I & II, and a Professional Portfolio
Completion of Orientation course (EDU 211) within first year of admission to the act! program
Praxis I – reading, math and writing
Praxis II – math or science content knowledge
Completion of content course and education course requirements
Phase III – Student Teaching
18 weeks full time, full days
9 weeks in Middle School and 9 weeks in High School
Often takes a prospective applicants a year to make necessary arrangements with family and work before they enter act!
9/18/2018

6. Budget and Financial Assistance
UW Oshkosh and UW Fox Valley
provide financial support for administration of act!
National Science Foundation
Two Robert C. Noyce awards totaling $1.5 million
$13,000 stipend based on academic qualifications
39 Noyce awards totaling $468,000 have been awarded to act! students
Students agree to teach in high need schools for 2 years after completion of program
US Department of Education - SMARTT Grant
$2.2 million for Transition-to-Teaching
Students agree to employment in one of 14 specific high need schools in Wisconsin
No financial aid after the Bachelor’s degree
$13K – use as they wish
Updated 05/01/ Changed number of awards to 39 totaling $468,000
Published free and reduced lunch state-wide = 41.2% (2011) 346,000 kids
9/18/2018

7. 9/18/2018

8. Demographics – Location
72 of 107 applicants
(67%) live within a
60 mile radius of Oshkosh
35 of 107 applicants
(33%) live outside a
60 mile radius of Oshkosh
Updated 05/01/2012
9/18/2018

9. 107 Total – Active, Inactive, and Completed
Act Applicants
107 Total – Active, Inactive, and Completed
Anticipated 30 students in three years, 30 accepted students after 1 year
Updated 05/01/ Added active, inactive and completed values.
9/18/2018

10. Demographics – License Area
License Area – Applicants where data is available (n=96)
License Area – Noyce Scholars
Non-traditional, adult learners
Bring life experience as scientists or mathematicians
Updated statistics on 05/01/2012
9/18/2018

11. Demographics - Gender Gender – All Applicants Gender – Noyce Scholars
Non-traditional, adult learners
Bring life experience as scientists or mathematicians
Updated statistics on 05/01/ Equivalent to Kroening Table 1.
The Noyce Scholarship recipients did not having any outstanding differences from the general population of the act! program, with the exception of gender. Noyce Scholarships have been awarded in a female to male ration of about 1.5:1, whereas the overall population was more evenly split by gender.
9/18/2018

12. act! Student Age Distribution
Updated 05/01/ Age distribution is current age, not age at application.
Average age is 41.5 years old
Age range is 25 to 59 years old
9/18/2018

13. Age at Time of Application
Mean
Median
Range
St Dev
Noyce (n=39) 38 40
26 – 55
7.93
Non-Noyce (n=68)
24 – 57
7.47
Overall (n=107)
7.57
The age of applicants at the time of application was broad with an average of 38 years. The age distribution is not strongly skewed to younger or older applicants. The Noyce Scholarship recipients did not differ from the act! applicant pool.
Updated 05/01/ Equivalent to Kroening report Table 2.
9/18/2018

14. Highest Degree Attained
Highest Degree – All Applicants (n=97)
Highest Degree – Noyce Scholars
(n=39)
Non-traditional, adult learners
Bring life experience as scientists or mathematicians
Updated statistics on 05/01/ Equivalent to Kroening Table 3.
act! applicants and the Noyce scholarship recipients had similar degree attainment, with approximately two-thirds bachelor and one-third graduate degrees.
9/18/2018

15. Years Since Graduation
Years since graduation with highest degree at the time of application for all applicants for which there is data, Noyce recipients, and non-recipients.
Mean
Median
Range
St Dev
Noyce (n=38)
11.7
9.5
1.2 – 31.2
7.56
Non-Noyce (n=53)
12.2
11.9
0.4 – 29.3
7.46
Overall (n=91)
12.0
10.5
0.4 – 31.2
Updated 05/01/ Equivalent to Kroening report Table 4.
The population of Noyce Scholarship recipients may be skewed towards being more recent graduates, with fewer years since last graduating from a college with their highest degree. However, this result is a weak difference given the wide variance from applicants recently graduated to over three decades out of school.
9/18/2018

16. STEM Preparation Data Undergraduate GPA
Mean
Median
Range
St Dev
Noyce (N=22)
3.27
3.40
0.45
Non-Noyce (N=41)
3.16
3.37
2.29 – 3.91
0.49
Undergraduate GPA for STEM courses
Median
Mean
Standard Deviation
Range
Noyce (n=24)
3.33
3.26
0.45
Non-Noyce (n=36)
3.30
3.20
0.50
Overall (n=60)
3.23
0.48
Top table not updated as of 05/01/2012.
Second table is from Kroening report – Table 5.
9/18/2018

17. Praxis II Score Data
General Science Content exam (passing score = 154)
Mean
Median
Range
St Dev
Noyce (n=21)
173
175 13
Non-Noyce (n=10)
168
165 15
Mathematics Content exam (passing score = 135)
Updated 05/01/ Equivalent to Kroenig Tables 7 and 8.
Mean
Median
Range
St Dev
Noyce (n=14)
153
148 16
Non-Noyce (n=8)
149 10
9/18/2018

18. Act! Program Completers
34 students have completed the act! program (5 students are student teaching at this time)
Average time from application to licensure is approximately 2 years (23.8 months)
Shortest completion time was 6 months
Longest completion time was 48 months (4 years)
Average age of students who have completed the act! program is 41.5
Students place bound
Connected to their communities through civic and personal networks
9/18/2018

19. Act! Program Completers
6 are teaching Math full time
10 are teaching Science full time
2 teaching at college level – Study Skills and Biology
1 started a tutoring business
1 employed fulltime as Director - Schools of Hope Tutoring Program and Youth Resource Center After-School Program
14 are teaching part-time or substitute teaching
2 sought licenses in other states (relocated)
many are seeking additional licenses
All are satisfied with their level of employment – willing to wait for a position to open within reasonable commnting distance
9/18/2018

20. Noyce Student Testimonial
Making a career change brings a degree of challenge and uncertainty but it feels great to be doing something that I am genuinely excited about.
The act! program takes into consideration previous coursework and also skills and experiences that apply to the job of teaching. It is flexible enough to allow each individual to plan and manage a challenging transition.
Student teaching is a challenging and time- consuming experience. The Robert C. Noyce stipend allowed me to make this important experience a top priority
Kim Poli finished the act! program in February, 2011
9/18/2018

21. Noyce Student Testimonial
The act! staff cares about student success. From initial contact to advising to coursework to licensure, I received an exceptional education in a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
Through the act! program, I have grown personally, academically, and professionally. I have met and worked with an amazing group of teachers and students.
The ACT! Program provides credit for applicable classes you’ve already completed and any existing classroom experience you may have. Therefore, the countdown to licensure moves along quickly.
Tracey Starck finished the act! program in January, 2010
9/18/2018

22. Noyce Student Testimonial
I am thrilled about making the decision to change professions.  There are not words to describe the rewarding feeling of connecting with students, seeing those light bulbs go on, and opening their minds to possibilities.
The act! program provided flexibility and support that allowed me to pursue a career change to the education field while maintaining a career and family.
The benefits of flexibility, support, and enthusiasm by those running the act! program are what I am most thankful for.
Cindy Kemps finished the act! program in June, 2009
9/18/2018