Welcome to the UT Brownsville Science Collaborative - 2014

2013-2014 TRC Science Collaborative Participants

WELCOME
Welcome to an experience, or should I say series of experiences, that will extend your knowledge of all science subjects. This year's focus is chemistry and physics. Throughout the year you will be given experiences using the latest technology and other science disciplines. The program focuses heavily on pedagogical content knowledge that can be used to mentor teachers and support your instructional program. You can visit the UT Brownsville science collaborative website for more information, but this blog will provide specific information about this project.

Thirty-five participants have been selected to participate in this program. Some of you want financial support to finish a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in science education. And, some of you have joined because you want to gain more knowledge about science and technology or your school district has recommended you so that you can return and help others back at your schools. To all of you...WELCOME.

TIME AND PROJECT COMMITMENT
Your participation as a Science Teacher Mentor or STM in this program requires a time commitment. STMs must complete 100 hours of professional development over the school year and project period. The 100 hour professional development commitment includes 50 hours of professional development as part of a summer institute focused on chemistry and physics. The remaining 50 hours will be completed over the fall and spring semesters. Our plan is to frontload the fall so that the spring semester has a reduced time requirement.

In turn you will provide 24 hours of professional development over the project period to a minimum of five colleagues who teach science (Cadre Members or CMs). This is a project requirement and documentation must be turned in in a timely basis.

The funding agency requires that students participate in pre- and posttests of discipline and pedagogical content knowledge. These assessments require that you obtain a UT-EID number from the University of Texas at Austin. Instructions for this will be provided in a separate blog post.

STMs will be provided with a tablet device (Ipad Mini) and applications. Training sessions will be provided online and F2F and count toward the 100 hour time commitment. All participants will need to acquire a Google account and load applications to their tablet or phones ASAP.

COURSEWORK SUPPORT
Those of you working on your M.Ed. will take a course this summer or anyone interested in attending may want to participate in this course activities. This course has been one of the most popular courses in the science education series. The course number and title of the course is EDCI 6346 - Environmental Education Methods. To participate in the graduate program you need to apply to Graduate Studies. If your undergraduate GPA is over a 3.0 on a 4-point scale, then you will not need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Check with the graduate office to ensure that you apply before the Summer II deadline.