Background:
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NASA
Centers in California and the throughout the United
States (Click to Enlarge)
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The
CSU-NASA Education Collaborative is a new systemwide initiative
being undertaken by the California State University (CSU)
and the National Space and Aeronautics Administration (NASA).
The goal of this partnership is to improve the availability
and quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) education for current and future teachers throughout
California.
The
Collaborative formation comes at a crucial time for the
founding agencies. The California Council on Science and
Technology (CCST) Report, April 2002, reported a continued
and growing need for science, mathematics, and technology
professionals in California. This need spans the state workforce,
K-12 classrooms, the community college system, and four-year
Institutes of Higher Education.
The
growing shortage of qualified teachers in the science and
mathematics fields in the K-12 classrooms is compounded
by a shortfall in high school graduates who are prepared
to pursue a college education, especially in mathematics
and sciences. The report also found that ineffective or
inadequate counseling at the community college level lead
to a low number of transfer to four-year institutions in
these fields.
Fall
2000:
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California
State University Campuses
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In
fall 2000, NASA initiated conversations for the establishment
of a collaborative partnership with CSU teacher preparation
programs by hosting daylong conversations between mathematics,
science, and technology teacher education faculty and key
education specialists of NASA. These meetings, and the over
20 meetings that followed, explored ways to best utilize
NASA's resources in CSU teacher preparation programs. Discussions
centered on developing a coordinated system which best utilizes
NASA educational budget allotments previously spent on individual
educational outreach efforts for each NASA mission.
NASA
and the CSU are focused on forming and sustaining a faculty-driven,
system-wide partnership with the primary goal of improving
the availability and quality of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics education for current and future teachers
throughout California. A Collaborative Planning Group, which
included membership from CSU and community college faculty,
NASA, K-12 education, and the Chancellor's Office developed
a draft Work Plan that outlined a specific goal of the Collaborative,
objectives, and possible tactics for accomplishment.
Summer
2002:
The
CSU-NASA Education Collaborative hosted an Inaugural Symposium
on Science and Math Teacher Preparation on June 25th and
26th, 20032. The Symposium was one of the Pre-Conference
events held in connection with the 2003 California K-16
Partnerships and Student Success Conference at CSU Long
Beach. The Symposium featured keynote addresses by national
science educational leaders and brought together invited
teams of CSU faculty, NASA education and science professionals,
as well as representatives from the community colleges and
K-12 educators in a forum setting.
During
the June Symposium, three keynote speakers addressed recent
research findings and areas of need in the STEM professions.
Dr. Gerry Wheeler, Director of the National Science Teachers
Association (NSTA), spoke on Rethinking Professional Development
in the STEM Professions. Dr. Susan Hackwood, Executive Director
of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST),
presented findings from the April 2002 CCST Report, Critical
Path Analysis of California's Science and Technology Education
System. In addition, SDSU faculty member, Dr. Olga Amaral
presented her research in Imperial Valley, on Linking Science
to Literacy.
The
Symposium will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss
refinements of the draft implementation plan and to develop
strategies to move the plan for the CSU-NASA Education Collaborative
forward. The initial phase of the Collaborative is jointly
funded through Pasadena's Jet Propulsion Lab, NASA Headquarters
Education Division, and CSU Long Beach. The Collaborative
plans to seek long term funding of the project to support
emphasis on teacher education and K-12 preparation in the
STEM disciplines.
Summer
2003:
The
CSU offers faculty professional development opportunities
through its Institute
for Teaching and Learning. The annual Teacher-Scholar
Summer Institute (TSSI)offers a variety of workshops and
on June 17 and 18, 2003 offered a NASA/CSU collaborative
workshop. TSSI offers an opportunity for reflection, renewal,
and conversation between CSU colleagues from throughout
the system. The two day workshop focused on better preparing
science and math K-12 teachers and is described below.
Educating
Science and Math Educators: Collaboration between Subject
Matter and Teacher Preparation Faculty
This
two-day workshop brought together CSU math, science, and
education faculty to discuss their common concerns for developing
students who plan careers in K-12 education. These students
will be fostering the development of California's children,
as well as our future students and America's next generation
of mathematicians and scientists. Workshop conversations
focused on how CSU faculty can help them meet this challenge.
Participants engaged in a series of exercises that involved
NASA resources, and the California State Standards. Workshop
leaders used NASA websites to demonstrate the effective
use of online, interactive, authentic data; and how these
websites can be integrated into K-12 as well as university
curricula. Science faculty learned about emerging teaching
methods in K-12 education that stress active learning, inquiry,
and authentic experiences; and education faculty learned
about the latest perspectives within the disciplines. The
workshop were co-facilitated by a CSU faculty member, Bonnie
Brunkhorst (CSU San Bernardino) and a NASA staff member,
Art Hammond (JPL) who are experts in inquiry-based curriculum
development. Participants also were invited on June 19 to
visit the NASA facilities in Pasadena for further discussion
of workshop issues and learn of opportunities for continuing
collaboration.
Workshop
participants had the opportunity to
- Consider
how they might better meet the needs of CSU students who
are planning careers in K-12 education
- Consider
the impact of emerging pedagogies in K-12 math and science
education on the conduct of CSU math, science, math education,
and science education courses
- Learn
how to access and utilize new resources in earth and space
science and other materials made available by NASA
(e.g., see http://quilt.jpl.nasa.gov)
- Consider
the need for ongoing communication among CSU teacher education,
math, and science faculty and between CSU faculty, NASA
scientists and engineers, and the constituencies they
serve
