|
|
Newsletter Volume 1 |
Fall 1996 |
ACEPT Update
Susan WyckoffProject Director
ACEPT
|
|
|
Newsletter Volume 1 |
Fall 1996 |
The Arizona Collaborative for Excellence in the Preparation of Teachers
(ACEPT) was created in August 1995 when funding from the National Science
Foundation (NSF) was awarded to improve the math and science preparation
of K-12 teachers in Arizona. ACEPT is based in the Department of Physics
and Astronomy at Arizona State University (ASU) and is led by science,
math and science/math education faculty at Arizona State University in
partnership with science and mathematics faculty in the Maricopa County
and Navajo Community Colleges and Phoenix K-12 teachers from the Phoenix
Urban Systemic Initiative (USI). Guided by the mathematics and science
national standards for K-12 education, ACEPT faculty are united by a
common approach in reforming their science and math curricula which
emphasizes critical thinking/hands-on math and science learning, and
effective use of modern technology.
Mike Pilburn, College of Education, Steve Reynolds, Geology, and Peter Wehinger, Physics & Astronomy, ASU collaborate on reasons for variations amoung sea shells during the Faculty Development summer workshop.
The first ACEPT Summer Faculty Workshop held in June 1996 was led by Anton Lawson, ASU Department of Zoology, and Marilyn Carlson, ASU Department of Mathematics. The Workshop targeted the ACEPT multidisciplinary course, Patterns in Nature, led by Jim Mayer, ASU Center for Solid State Science. The overall theme of the four-week Workshop was integration of math and science, and the focus was on the development of science and math modules that incorporated the critical thinking approach to learning. Participants in the Workshop included faculty from Maricopa County and Navajo Community Colleges, as well as ASU faculty. Important outcomes of the Workshop included the introduction in fall 1996 of a Patterns in Nature course at Mesa Community College by John Zikopolous, MCC Department of Chemistry, and a set of classroom tested modules for Patterns in Nature. Participants of the Workshop generally agreed that a major benefit was the opportunity for college and university faculty and USI teachers to meet informally to exchange information about on-going efforts to improve the teaching of science and math in the State of Arizona.
A second milestone achieved this past summer by ACEPT was the initiation of the new post-baccalaureate Middle School Program in the ASU College of Education. The program is called TEAMS (Teacher Education for Arizona Mathematics and Science). Students began matriculation in this novel, fast-track, one-year master's degree program in July 1996. One of the innovative components in the TEAMS program is an interdisciplinary science, mathematics and technology set of courses which integrates pedagogy and content.
In July 1996 ACEPT was awarded a supplement from NSF to support scholarships for students in the ACEPT teacher preparation track. Twenty-nine elementary and secondary education majors in the teacher preparation programs at ASU and NCC are currently being supported by ACEPT NSF Teaching Scholarships.
In July 1996 ACEPT was awarded a supplement from the NSF to develop and maintain a Physics World Wide Web site for the NSF CETP (Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation) programs nationwide. Efforts are underway to link the ACEPT Web site to other Collaborative physics pages as well as to sites featuring outstanding physics course reforms.
In Fall 1996 the Patterns in Nature van was outfitted with a scanning electron microscope, a scanning probe microscope and an optical microscope equipped with digital output to a color printer. Jim and Betty Mayer, ASU Office of Youth Preparation, are training ASU undergraduates and teachers who have taken or are currently enrolled in Patterns in Nature in the use of the van microscopes. The teachers will host the Patterns van at their schools, and K-12 students will have hands-on use of research-grade microscopes throughout the state. The Patterns van was provided to ASU by an anonymous donor.
Next Article
Volume 1 Contents
| ACEPT Home | Newsletter Home | Help | Search |
| Frames | No Frames |