NSF Program Officer James E. Hamos Presents Informative Webinar on the Math and Science Partnership Program (MSP)

On 20 November 2009, the California State University Chancellor's Office hosted a workshop and webinar presented by Jim Hamos on the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Mathematics and Science Partnership Program (MSP) and related topics. Hamos, a senior Program Officer for the MSP, delivered three interrelated presentations, each of which is now available for online viewing/download (see below).

Presentations:

(a) The Math and Science Partnership Program: The MSP supports projects that are models of K-12 STEM education excellence. They are based on and contribute to the evidence/research base for improving science, mathematics, engineering and technology outcomes for all students. Proposals will be due in April 2010 or later (see the MSP Web site for updated information: http://tinyurl.com/ydgoptt). Webinar Link: http://tinyurl.com/ycn4upa Presentation File: (.ppt)

(b) How to Write a Successful NSF Proposal (MSP and others): This presentation addressed the features NSF looks for in proposals, including (1) innovative ideas, (2) contributions to knowledge, (3) a project team with capacity for success, (4) institutional commitment to sustainability, (5) rigorous evaluation, and (6) promising approaches for dissemination. Presentation File: (.ppt)

(c) Roles of Math, Science, Engineering, and Education Faculty in NSF Partnerships: This presentation addressed the roles of faculty in math, science, engineering, and education departments in effective collaborations that bring about the significant improvements in K-12 STEM education outcomes that NSF seeks. Presentation File: (.ppt)

Additional information concerning the MSP program may be found at the following Web site: http://tinyurl.com/ydgoptt

(Posted 2/5/10)

CTC Approves Streamlined Approval Process for Subject Matter Programs

At the October meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), Commissioners approved a streamlined review process for prospective subject matter programs. Effective immediately, prospective programs will be held only to the standard statement and not the "required elements," CCTC reports. For more information, please review PSA 09-12: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/PS-alerts/2009/PSA-09-12.pdf

The text of the item (2E) can be found at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/agendas/2009-10/2009-10-2E.pdf. To listen to the discussion of this agenda item, go to http://www.ctc.ca.gov/audio/agendas/2009-10/2009-10-2E.mp3

At the October meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), Commissioners approved a streamlined review process for subject matter programs. The text of the item (2E) can be found at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/agendas/2009-10/2009-10-2E.pdf. To listen to the discussion of this agenda item, go to http://www.ctc.ca.gov/audio/agendas/2009-10/2009-10-2E.mp3

Effective immediately:

The only public comment received on this item at the October CCTC meeting was made by Mike Lutz, CAMTE President and Mathematics Professor at California State University (CSU), Bakersfield. He represented views that have been expressed on the CAMTE e-list. His statement included the following:

"[Subject matter] waiver programs are the preferred route [to demonstrate subject matter competency, not the CSET]. I do not believe the system reflects that preference. It might have been during the January meeting that Commissioner Pearson commented something like, 'That's what you get when you send a test to do the work of a curriculum.' From that, I don't sense disagreement among the Commissioners in what I am saying. So a process needs to be developed in which the preferred pathways are also ones that are encouraged. That is, we need a process that encourages rather than discourages the existence of subject matter waiver programs, and encourages prospective teachers to take that route. We need to get this turned around, and approving 2E is a very good beginning."