4345 Views (as of 05/2023)
  1. Nick Kim
  2. Graduate Teaching/Research Associate
  3. Presenter’s NSFRESOURCECENTERS
  4. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
  1. Lynn Hodge
  2. https://tpte.utk.edu/people/lynn-hodge-phd/
  3. Professor and Director
  4. Presenter’s NSFRESOURCECENTERS
  5. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
  1. Ellen Matheny
  2. Associate Professor
  3. Presenter’s NSFRESOURCECENTERS
  4. Pellissippi State Community College

VolsTeach for Appalachia

NSF Awards: 1758325

2020 (see original presentation & discussion)

Grades 9-12, Undergraduate

Our video presentation the VolsTeach for Appalachia project - addressing the shortage of math and science teachers in East Tennessee. The overarching goal of this NSF-funded project is to support community college students, through unique experiences, in becoming exceptional STEM teachers in rural East Tennessee schools. We share the key features of the project and our progress through year 2. These key features of the project include recruitment through internships and courses that introduce STEM teaching early on and teacher preparation that focuses on K-12 students (who they are and who they would like to be), math and science content, and the characteristics and interests of our East Tennessee communities. Thank you for checking out our presentation. 

 

 

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Discussion from the 2020 STEM For All Video Showcase (18 posts)
  • Icon for: Nick Kim

    Nick Kim

    Lead Presenter
    Graduate Teaching/Research Associate
    May 5, 2020 | 01:02 p.m.

    Welcome to VolsTeach for Appalachia: Becoming a STEM teacher!

    Our NSF project's overarching goal is to support community college students in becoming exceptional STEM teachers in rural East Tennessee. Our project is currently in year 2, and this video highlights key features we've conducted to recruit possible Scholars. We would like to thank everyone involved with the project as well as those watching our presentation.

  • Icon for: Joni Falk

    Joni Falk

    Researcher
    May 5, 2020 | 09:29 p.m.

    What a crisp, clear, presentation. What challenges are you experiencing in recruiting and sustaining students?  I imagine that rural environments have fewer STEM teachers to  support  each other. Does your grant give you enough time to follow them into their first year of teaching and provide them with support. 

     
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    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 5, 2020 | 09:38 p.m.

    Hi Joni! great questions. I think one challenge we have experienced has been recruiting STEM majors who are focused on trying teaching. It seems that the STEM majors we meet are interested in doing many things, which is not a problem really, but some of those pursuits require a full commitment. Last year, we recruited 16 interns who explored teaching in the summer. And, this year, we have leveraged the internship to recruit 12 scholars. Also, like others, we are going virtual with our internship so hope to attract students from outside of East Tennessee as well. The support of the school districts and the community colleges has been invaluable. And, yes, the funding supports research into the first two years of teaching for the Noyce scholars. 

     
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    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Ann Cavallo

    Ann Cavallo

    Facilitator
    Assistant Vice Provost and Director, Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence
    May 6, 2020 | 12:30 a.m.

    The video mentioned using culturally responsive pedagogy - briefly how is this done in your program and/or what are some examples (e.g., what strategies/frameworks are implemented)? Do you measure how students may shift their thinking/perspectives/teaching due this work and if so, what are some findings (even if informal)? It is an important element of any teacher education program - Thanks!

     
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    Michael I. Swart
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 6, 2020 | 02:51 p.m.

    Hi Ann, thanks for the comments/questions about CRP. As part of this project, we have revisited five key courses in our program in order to make CRP connections across courses explicit. And, to revisit the activities/assignments in general. We have drawn on literature like Ladson-Billings, Gay, Bartell, just to name a few. So, some more general to CRP, and some readings specific to math/science education. One beginning theme for us was that of community: Learning about students and their communities. We have recently selected our Noyce Scholars who will begin our program this Fall. Some were interns (learning about STEM teaching) during the Summer of 2019. Carlos, from the video, is a selected scholar and was also an intern last year. 

    We will be collecting data, including interview data, from the scholars as they interact with CRP across coursework.

    From the interns, we found that they noted two areas that supported their learning about teaching: One was that of community (with the other interns) and the second was that of their interactions with middle school students in a camp. In the internship, we emphasized one point of CRP which is understanding students and their communities in order to teach and design instruction. Informally, this seemed to be an idea that a majority of the interns walked away with. 

    I am hoping we can say more this coming year based on the data we are gathering. 

    Thank you again!

     
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    Michael I. Swart
    Ann Cavallo
  • Icon for: Ann Cavallo

    Ann Cavallo

    Facilitator
    Assistant Vice Provost and Director, Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence
    May 7, 2020 | 12:43 a.m.

    Hi Lynn - all sounds great - I am glad you find your interns have gained new insights from their experiences with CRP - it is something we also work on at UTeach Arlington. I will look forward to your project findings as it progresses! Thank you.

     
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    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 7, 2020 | 08:58 a.m.

    Thanks, Ann. Looking forward to hearing about the work at UT Arlington as well.

    Best, Lynn

  • Icon for: Hollylynne Lee

    Hollylynne Lee

    Facilitator
    Professor
    May 6, 2020 | 03:02 p.m.

    Thanks for creating this video about your program! The responses to the questions posted thus far are also very helpful.

    I really like that you have a partnership with a community college and have a summer camp/intern experience for the participants. I am wondering about how the teacher preparation program begins at the CC and continues at UT. COuld you describr a bit about the teacher prep program in general and also how/if your project recruits participants from the CC and at UT.

     
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    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 6, 2020 | 07:28 p.m.

    Thanks so much for your comments and questions. The Teacher ed program actually begins once the CC students transfer to UT. During their two years at CC, they are STEM majors, but not education majors (in most cases). Our project introduced an Intro to STEM Teaching and Learning course and a summer internship to address the introductory Teacher Ed course at UT. In addition, both the course and the internship supported recruitment. 

    Drs. Kane Barker and Ellen Matheny at Pellissippi State Community College help us quite a bit with getting the word out, working within their departments and drawing on their advisors. In addition, we have reached out to our network of other community colleges. Nick Kim, our project coordinator, traveled across the state to recruit and share information at a number of community colleges. Thank you again!

  • Icon for: Hollylynne Lee

    Hollylynne Lee

    Facilitator
    Professor
    May 11, 2020 | 11:22 a.m.

    Lynn, I'd be interested in seeing the syllabus or learning more about the Intro to STEM Teaching and Learning.  We are piloting a similar course for sophomores here at NC STate this fall!

    Just curious, are there certain disciplines or grade levels where you have been more successful in recruiting propsective teachers into the teacher ed program?

     

  • Icon for: Beth Sappe

    Beth Sappe

    Facilitator
    Director - STEM Mathematics
    May 7, 2020 | 02:53 p.m.

    Thanks for sharing your video. I think it’s a great idea to focus on engaging the interns and students in the summer. Are the interns paired with current STEM teachers during the summer program? What are some of the ways you are finding success in recruitment?

     
    1
    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 7, 2020 | 07:52 p.m.

    Hi Beth, the interns work with mentor teachers in groups. The schedule is flexible to allow more mentor teachers to participate. So, we have 1-2 who work with the groups the majority of the time, and then others who are involved with a couple of sessions. In addition, to collaborating on the middle school camp, mentor teachers also share their interest or something they would like to share about their school in more focused talks. These are sprinkled throughout the internship. 

    It seems like reaching the community college STEM faculty is helpful. In addition, tapping into communication that comes from the community college directly to all students has been a useful tool. We have also presented information about the internships and the project at gatherings that focus on community colleges in our state, hosted by the University. We have tapped into our state STEM network this year since our internship will be virtual, 

    Thanks for your comments!

     

  • Icon for: Jennifer Carinci

    Jennifer Carinci

    Researcher
    May 9, 2020 | 10:11 a.m.

    Thanks for sharing your video and for your important work supporting and developing community college students to become CRP STEM teachers in Appalachia. Keep up the good work!

     
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    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 9, 2020 | 11:39 a.m.

    Thanks Jennifer!

  • Icon for: Michael I. Swart

    Michael I. Swart

    Researcher
    May 12, 2020 | 01:11 p.m.

    Great program fulfilling a pressing need.  Thanks for sharing. How long is the summer program?  Can you talk a bit about the selection criterion?  What does the future hold for this work?

     

     
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    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 12, 2020 | 03:09 p.m.

    The summer program takes place during June. The selection includes an interest in STEM (and teaching), diverse experiences, high potential...We are finishing year 2. In year three the scholars participate in coursework (and field work) that supports learning about culturally responsive teaching and communities of East Tennessee. 

  • Icon for: Jeffrey Ram

    Jeffrey Ram

    Researcher
    May 12, 2020 | 03:35 p.m.

    Lynn:  what issues are you encountering in doing a summer program this June?  Our Professional Development workshop for teachers this summer has been told:  No in-person PD because of COVID-19.  We are now discussing how to do a "virtual" PD on line.  Please take a look at our video.  If you have suggestions, we would love to hear from you. 

     
    1
    Discussion is closed. Upvoting is no longer available

    Lynn Hodge
  • Icon for: Lynn Hodge

    Lynn Hodge

    Co-Presenter
    Professor and Director
    May 12, 2020 | 03:40 p.m.

    We are offering a virtual internship and virtual PD this summer. What does hands-on STEM look like in an online environment?

  • Further posting is closed as the event has ended.