National Science Foundation CETP Project
STEP faculty at Montana State University
Bozeman
significantly revised 15 science, mathematics and methods
courses, and created three new courses, in the required curriculum for
preservice K-12 mathematics and science teachers. As the lead campus for
STEP, MSU was involved in all phases of the project. MSU worked closely
with the Browning, Golden Triangle and Great Falls K-12 partner sites,
but placed numerous student teachers at all eight partnership sites.
The STEP PI’s at MSU wrote a successful Annenberg CPB grant ($547,000)
that led to the production of three videotapes and resource books on effective
programs for Native American, rural, and special needs students and their
teachers. STEP programs such as the early career support program,
and K-20 programs to support Native American preservice teachers, were
included in the materials, now broadcast and distributed by Annenberg.
STEP faculty at MSU published a number of national journal articles, chapters,
textbooks and laboratory guides that reflect the reform strategies in STEP’s
Table 1. MSU Bozeman faculty, working with tribal college and U of
M colleagues, planned the four Tribal College Summer Institutes, all hosted
at MSU Bozeman. MSU faculty also continue to raise state and external funding
for the NSF Scholars program. STEP faculty collaborated in launching
two new MSU programs for which STEP was a springboard. The first
program has continued undergraduate curriculum, with an emphasis on programs
that impact preservice teachers, through minigrants to academic departments
from the Provost’s office. The second program is the MS in Science
Education degree program, an innovative interdisciplinary (8 department)
program with on-campus and distance delivery components. The program,
created by two of the STEP PI’s and project course reform faculty, now
serves secondary science teachers in more than 30 states. Perhaps
the greatest contribution made by MSU to the project was to graduate with
certification close to 65 secondary mathematics teachers, 146 secondary
science teachers, and 631 elementary teachers between Spring 1994-Spring
1998, with almost all of these students having participated in a several
STEP revised courses, and/or model field experiences. These young
educators will continue contributing to their schools and communities for
years to come.
STEP faculty at TheUniversity of Montana significantly revised a dozen science, mathematics and methods courses in the required curriculum for preservice teachers; established new partnerships for extended field experiences with the Missoula and St. Ignatius (Flathead Reservation) schools; created a new block program in elementary education; and established a permanent resource center for future teachers that has received $400,000 in state support. The University of Montana STEP collaborators also wrote many journal articles about their activities with the project, publishing a large number of articles in biology, mathematics, and higher education journals. During STEP, the Science Math Education Faculty interest group (SMEDFAC) was formed, and continues to meet and collaborate regularly today. The University of Montana contributed to STEP's statewide activities in a number of ways. They assisted with the first three Tribal College Summer Institutes, played a lead role in establishing the K-12 Model Partnerships, and in establishing an electronic network for STEP's Early Career program, and hosted numerous statewide workshops for STEP faculty and K-12 teachers.
STEP faculty at Montana State University-Northern significantly revised seven science, mathematics and methods courses in the required curriculum for preservice teachers, established a permanent partnership through STEP with the rural Golden Triangle Curriculum Consortium, and commuted several hundred miles on weekends to Fort Peck Community College(Fort Peck Reservation) to teach methods courses for education students. The Montana State University-Northern faculty also took a statewide leadership role in planning STEP conferences and sectionals on equity issues.
STEP faculty at Montana State University-Billings significantly revised seven science, mathematics and methods courses in the required curriculum for preservice teachers, were active in the STEP Partnership with the Billings and Pryor (Crow Reservation) schools, and published numerous articles on integrating mathematics and science. Faculty from this campus contributed to STEP’s statewide activities in the area of Early Career Support. They helped to develop the STEP Early Career program, and hosted a number of the statewide Early Career workshops in Billings. The MSU Billings faculty also provided extensive inservice for STEP elementary mathematics teachers with support from Exxon Foundation, and procured an Eisenhower Title II grant that provided advanced training for 20 STEP Mentor Trainers.
STEP faculty at Western Montana College (WMC) of the University of Montana made major contributions to STEP. Faculty at this relatively small campus (1500 students) revised nine science, mathematics and methods courses in the required curriculum for preservice teachers, established an innovative interdisciplinary teaching major in Environmental Sciences, including extensive field research and community action components; established a permanent partnership through STEP with the Butte schools (through their efforts, WMC faculty and Butte teachers continue to team teach methods courses for cohorts of preservice teachers in Butte classrooms); and established a four-year elementary education degree program at Salish Kootenai College (Flathead Reservation). The WMC faculty took a statewide leadership role in the STEP K-12 Partnership program, and continue today to build the permanent partnership they created with the Butte Public Schools.
Faculty at
The University of Great Falls (UGF) joined the STEP Project
in its third year. Although STEP course development funds were committed
to other campuses at that time, UGF faculty and administrators attended
STEP workshops on teaching and learning; formed a close working relationship,
which continues today, with the K-12 schools in the STEP Great Falls Partnership;
and established an elementary education program offered on-site at Blackfeet
Community College, thus making teaching certification available to those
who cannot relocate to one of the university campuses.
STEP: 401 Linfield Hall; Bozeman, Montana, 59717; 1-800-455-STEP (7837)