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SYSTEMIC TEACHER EXCELLENCE PREPARATION

STEP Montana Logo

The Systemic Teacher Excellence Preparation Project, a five-year program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), began in the spring of 1993. STEP was designed to produce broad changes in the teaching of science and mathematics throughout the state of Montana. In order to accomplish these goals, the STEP Project developed new alliances that formed a statewide, interactive network consisting of educators and administrators at K-12 schools, Tribal Colleges, State Universities, and Colleges. The foundation for these changes was system-wide improvement in the preparation of preservice teachers and early career K-12 science and mathematics teachers.

STEP was intended to serve as a national model for rural areas with significant minority populations. The project created a statewide interactive network consisting of the:

Five state colleges and universities with teacher preparation programs,
Seven tribal colleges,
Public and private elementary and secondary schools,
NSF Scholarship program,
Statewide teacher associations,
Other existing projects

STEP Project Goals

Use a team approach to re-design college level mathematics and science courses, including chemistry and environmental science.

Design, implement, evaluate, and share new teaching methods using METNET, Montana's education telecommunications network, administered by Montana's Office of Public Instruction.

Provide support for Early Career Teachers in a variety of ways.

To use curricula that integrates science, mathematics and other subject areas.

To actively engage students in inquiry, problem solving and model building.

To effectively engage females, American Indians and other minority students in K-14 mathematics and science.

To promote the use of manipulatives, hands-on materials, first-hand experiences in laboratory and field settings.

To introduce real world applications of mathematics and science content and processes.

To promote the use of appropriate technologies in the classroom and for professional development including: graphing calculators, computer-based applications, telecommunications networks and video technologies.

Director	Dr. Elisabeth Swanson, Science Education,*MSU-Bozeman*
Co-Director	Dr. David Bilderback, Biology and Science Education, *U of M*

Montana STEP Project
401 Linfield Hall
Montana State University-Bozeman
Bozeman, MT 59717

Phone: 406-994-6768
Fax: 406-994-3733

STEP@MATH.MONTANA.EDU

*Sponsored by the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education, Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation Project.*