Grant aims to promote knowledge, interest in science

Fort Worth, TX

1/29/2009

By Katie Giangreco, TCU Office of Communications

A $170,000 grant from the Sid Richardson Foundation awarded a two-year grant (2007-2009) to TCU’s College of Education and the College of Science and Engineering.

“The grant focuses on physics, math and engineering concepts in an effort to develop teachers in those areas and create an interest for students,” said Janet Kelly, associate professor for curriculum and instruction in science education.

Professional development of teachers is a primary component of the grant, which extends through 2009. This past summer, workshops at TCU were held for 19 math and science teachers from Dallas/Fort Worth school districts. Science and mathematics content was presented during morning sessions and in the afternoon sessions, teachers participated in applied activities related to the workshop content. All hands-on sessions were designed in a way that teachers could perform the experiments themselves, and then take the activities into their own classrooms.

“Our hope was that teachers would apply what they learned in the workshop activities in their own classes,” Kelly said. “Feedback from several teachers indicates that they are doing just that.”

Incoming high school freshmen also attended workshops on campus taught by TCU faculty and staff assistants. Students were introduced to the steps in product development and fabrication.

“The projects and field trips that these students participated in gave them an opportunity to explore different areas of science and math,” Kelly said. “The science and math fields are declining in student numbers. Our goal is to promote and encourage student interest in science and math.”

Other activities funded by this grant include brown bag lunches in which TCU faculty go to high schools and discuss current events and various topics such as the Big Bang Theory and careers in math and science with students.

The grant also provided for software development. A software program was created for upper elementary/middle school science students and is set to be pilot-tested in classrooms early next year.

Another major goal of the grant is to promote a new teaching certification in Texas for grades 8-12 focusing on physics, math and engineering.

“The certification has been available for a few years but we want to let teachers know that this area of certification is a golden opportunity for them,” Kelly said.

 

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