UNLV Center for Mathematics and Science Education

UNLV Center for Mathematics and Science Education : UNLV Center for Mathematics and Science Education March 12, 2007

What Purpose? : What Purpose? Improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics

How? : How? Encourage collaboration among the three partners

Who? : Who? UNLV College of Sciences UNLV College of Education Clark County School District Jennifer Peterson (Science & Mathematics) Loretta Asay (Science) TBA (Mathematics)

CMSE leadership : CMSE leadership Directors John Farley, College of Sciences Bill Speer, College of Education Associate Directors Kent Crippen, College of Education Satish Bhatnagar, College of Sciences

Origin : Origin Proposal to National Science Foundation for Math-Science Partnership Jhone Ebert led effort to put together coalition and write proposal, simultaneously Not funded, but came close

Take-home lesson : Take-home lesson Collaboration is valuable Very helpful to have history of collaboration before writing proposals

Center Activity: proposal-writing : Center Activity: proposal-writing Raising soft money More proposals Stronger proposals

Examples of funded projects : Examples of funded projects NeCoTIP (Nevada Collaborative Teacher Improvement Program). Professional Development for teachers. Project PASS (Kent Crippen) Content Area Literacy (Tom Bean) Total external funding $500K in 2+ years

Center Activity : Center Activity Letter of support for proposals Point of contact between UNLV and CCSD Promote collaboration

Center activity: RPDP courses : Center activity: RPDP courses Teacher Professional Development RPDP courses Academic credit given by UNLV SCI courses

JUMPSTART project : JUMPSTART project Junior Undergraduate Mathematics Placement Survey Test And Reflection Tool Given in 11 grade, convince students to take math in 12 grade. Currently in pilot phase Collaboration with CCSD, CCSN, RPDP, NSC Jennifer Peterson (CCSD)

Center Activity: College Readiness : Center Activity: College Readiness CMSE is representing UNLV in larger effort Math and English - enabling skills Currently in discussion

Center activity: MAS program : Center activity: MAS program Masters of Arts in Science (MAS) degree program Originally intended to deliver science content to inservice teachers Current status: being revamped

Specialty courses : Specialty courses Introduction to scientific study (freshman experience course) MCAT preparation course Science for Federal land managers

Point of contact : Point of contact Science Bowl Science Fair

Education-friendly faculty hires in College of Sciences : Education-friendly faculty hires in College of Sciences Chemistry - MaryKay Orgill Biology (School of Life Sciences) - Megan Thomas Geosciences - Kim Johnson Mathematics - Carryn Bellomo

Collaboration : Collaboration At a typical university, College of Sciences and College of Education have little or no interaction. What we have at UNLV is rare!

Why active learning in science courses is important : Why active learning in science courses is important Active learning is better than passive listening to lectures Teachers teach the way they were taught IN THE DISCIPLINE If teachers learn biology by passively listening to lectures, they turn into straight lecturers themselves.

Clickers in the classroom : Clickers in the classroom Interactive education promoted by CMSE on the UNLV campus

Clickers in the classroom : Clickers in the classroom

Future Project : Future Project Introductory biology course at Clark High School (Science magnet school) Taught by UNLV faculty Dual-credit Start fall 2007

School of Mathematics and Science Education : School of Mathematics and Science Education Have its own faculty lines Grant degrees Currently in planning stage

Science and Math High School : Science and Math High School 11 and 12 grade only Selected students Taught by UNLV faculty On UNLV campus Currently in discussion

For more information : For more information Center for Mathematics and Science Education website http://cmse.unlv.edu/