A team of mathematics and science educators at WSU Vancouver were recently honored by the National Science Foundation with a $1.9 million research grant.
Tamara Holmlund Nelson, David Slavit and Anne Kennedy received the award from the highly-competitive Teacher Professional Continuum program at NSF, the goal of which is to research innovative and promising approaches to improving classroom instruction and student learning.
The NSF funding follows a $1.4 million professional development award from the U.S. Department of Education received by this team just two years ago. This award is currently supporting the Partnership for Reform in Secondary Science and Mathematics (PRiSSM) project that provides professional development for over 200 secondary teachers in six regional districts: Evergreen, Goldendale, Kalama, Klickitat, North Thurston and Washougal.
“It is nice to be recognized for the work we are doing in mathematics and science here in Southwest Washington,” said David Slavit, associate professor of mathematics education and principal investigator on both grants. “PRiSSM is now nationally recognized as an innovation in teacher development, and the NSF has recognized this work and our ability to thoroughly research its processes and outcomes.”
“One of the most exciting aspects of this work is the degree to which teachers are supported in their professional growth. They are improving their teaching, their students’ learning and presenting their work at regional and international conferences,” said Tamara Nelson, assistant professor of science education and principal investigator on both grants.
PRiSSM supports teams of teachers engaged in self-study on their practice. Teachers assess their strengths and limitations, and PRiSSM provides resources and tools to these teacher groups as they change their instructional practice. The innovative aspect of PRiSSM also supports the teachers as they inquire into the results of these changes by collecting specific kinds of student data.
The NSF funding will allow for comprehensive research into the instructional and student learning outcomes of these teacher self-studies and changes in instructional practice. The research will also investigate the sustainability of PRiSSM for two years beyond its conclusion in August 2007.
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