Project Nexus Logo; Science Teacher Preparation Model; professional development activities that address the science education needs of minority and urban students; Randy McGinnis, Principal Investigator



 

  

project nexus
 
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Project Nexus survey winner

Dr J. Randy McGinnis (on right), Principal Investigator, presents a digital camera to a lottery winning participant (a Native American elementary/middle school major) in the 1st year baseline survey study.

This winner is currently teaching at an elementary school in Prince George's County, MD

 

The Maryland Upper Elementary/Middle School Science Teacher Professional Continuum Model is a National Science Foundation supported project in the Teacher Professional Continuum Program (ESI, 0455752).

Project Nexus promotes quality science education by developing and testing an exemplary model that will prepare, support and sustain upper elementary and middle level specialist science teachers. Project NEXUS teachers participate in a baccalaureate program that features transformative, undergraduate science content courses, transformative science method courses, supported internship experiments with adolescent students in informal education contexts, field placements in urban professional development schools and ongoing innovative educational experiences. Collaborators in the project include institutions from Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU), Historically White Colleges/Universities (PWCU), and an Informal Science Education Program (ISEP).

The purpose of Project Nexus is to develop and test a science teacher professional development model that prepares, supports and sustains upper elementary and middle level specialist science teachers. Priority is placed on the recruitment and professional development of a diverse teaching force.

project nexus meeting at coppin state university

Principal Investigator Dr. J. Randy McGinnis (on right) presents Project Nexus updates to a group at Coppin State University. Shown from left to right:  Dr. Michael Fain (Coppin State University), Ms. Tahira Rashid (Coppin State University), Ms. Emily Hestness (University of Maryland), Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Scott J. Dantley (Coppin State University), Dr. J. Randy McGinnis (University of Maryland). Photographer: Dr. Phyllis Katz (University of Maryland).

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For additional information, please visit our Wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Nexus

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There is a demonstrated and imperative need to investigate how to entice and prepare more prospective elementary teachers, particularly those traditionally unrepresented, to choose to become science specialist teachers in upper elementary and middle school contexts. The overarching research question that Project NEXUS proposes to investigate is: To what extent (and for what reasons) can undergraduate elementary teacher education majors -- particularly those from currently underrepresented groups, with demonstrated interest and performance in science -- be recruited and prepared to teach upper elementary/middle science in a manner consistent with standards-based recommendations? The research sample includes undergraduate teacher interns, their undergraduate departmental advisors, two college content instructors, two science methods instructors, field-based supervisors and mentor teachers, and informal science education adult leaders.

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National Science FoundationUniversity of MarylandCoppin State University Hands on science outreach

 

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0455752. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

© 2005 University of Maryland