GC18-017 ESEA
The Scientists and Teachers Engaging in Professional Development with University Personnel (STEPD-UP) Professional Development (PD) program is an innovative approach to bridging the gap between Stony Brook University and the Brentwood Union Free School District, Long Island New York. This hands-on US Department of Education, ESEA, Title II Math Science Partnership Grant sponsored by New York State Department of Education engages middle school teachers and bilingual teachers, grades 7-9 in hands-on learning. We showcase teachers working with scientists to engage in exploration of New York State Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Through exploration in Long Island’s salt marshes and marine ecosystems we dovetail NGSS Engineering Design standards with Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems. STEPD-UP showcases teachers engaging in the process of “Let’s Science That!”. With the assistance of professors from Stony Brook University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Ecology and Evolution facilitate we showcase educators developing models, collecting data and designing experiments to be used with their students. In our video, teachers become scientists with the assistance of University Personnel. STEPD-UP helps teachers implement new standards, develop confidence, and engage in meaningful collaboration of innovative ideas, skills and expertise with their colleagues and University professors.
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you all for checking out our innovative PD program in the Brentwood Union Free School District, Brentwood, NY. We are working closely with scientists and educators to bridge the gap between the university and high school!
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Joanne Bartolomeo
Eileen Ortenzi
I can't wait to show this video to my students. I've been referring to our class since it started, and they will be so excited to see their teacher in the video!!!
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Bartolomeo
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Please share it is so important for them to see that WE ARE ALL LIFE LONG LEARNERS! Thanks for being a part of an incredible chapter in Brentwood Union Free School District
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Joanne Bartolomeo
This was an awesome course. I teach 6th grade and am always looking for innovative ways to guide my students. It was great working with my Science colleagues from my building and district. It was interesting also working with University professors and scientists in the field. We were able to fine tune our own skills in the classroom with something as simple as developing models.
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Well said! Thank you for sharing your experience. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share with you an our colleagues. We are an amazing group of educators.
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Taejin Kim
Assistant Professor
As a one of participants, it was a great opportunity to introduce the basic science to lots of excellent teachers. We hope to expand this model and strategy to elementary and middle school continuously. One of goals of this program is how can young students get a motivation in science and engineering field with simple examples.
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Well said! Thanks for all that you have done to make this successful!
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Molly Stuhlsatz
Research Scientist
Thanks for sharing your project! I was particularly interested in how teachers are using the data they collect in the field to build models to explain phenomena. Could you say more about that process and whether you are observing similar processes in the classrooms of your participants?
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thanks for your comments Molly. The teachers are phenomenal, the are taking the PD content from our MSP and using it in their classrooms. The data they collected is being used to illustrate data collection methods and analysis techniques. What is incredible is that the teachers are already planning to do what we did with them in their classrooms!
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Molly Stuhlsatz
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thanks for your comments Molly. The teachers are phenomenal, the are taking the PD content from our MSP and using it in their classrooms. The data they collected is being used to illustrate data collection methods and analysis techniques. What is incredible is that the teachers are already planning to do what we did with them in their classrooms!
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
Daniel Capps
Associate Professor
Hi Rebecca,
This seems like a neat partnership between teachers and university faculty. Tell me a little bit about the research and evaluation on the project. What are you learning about teacher PD and what kind of evidence do you have related to the impact of the PD you have been delivering?
Also, what impact does working with the teachers appear to have on university faculty?
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Hello Daniel-
Thanks for your comments and questions. We have used a pre-assessment test (ATLAST) and used that to scaffold our PD. The pre-assessment allowed us to hone in on teacher needs. We then rolled out PD and examined how to implement NGSS and NYSLSS. Involving teachers in every aspect of the PD has been crucial to the success. Our cohort of teachers were incredible, they wanted to be with us and they wanted to work with the scientists. We have geocentric them a role, and we have built a long-term partnership for them to depend on.
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
ross nehm
Associate Professor
Hi Daniel,
We developed a new assessment of knowledge of science practices as well as a domain-specific assessment (AT-LAST) that aligned with NYS ideas (in particular, matter and energy transformation in organisms and ecosystems). Thus, we assessed both science practices and DCIs. Our post assessment will be completed in about three weeks.
Augie Fernandes
Molly Stuhlsatz
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Courtney Arthur
Senior Curriculum and Instruction Designer
What a great video! Can you say a bit more about how you hope to expand this model into MS and HS?
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you for your comment. This portion of the STEPD-UP program works specifically with MS and HS teachers engaging in general science activities. Moving forward we aim to target elementary school teachers.
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Jason Aloisio
This looks like a great PD!
Do teachers then take students out into the field as well?
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you so much! Yes, we are actively planing marsh trips!
Augie Fernandes
Joanne Figueiredo
Joanne Bartolomeo
Awesome course for us! My building had eight middle school teachers participate in this course. Our plan at my Middle School is to take one class and the teachers who participated go and do all the field work with them, perhaps 4-5 students with one teacher. We would have step by step directions in collecting soil samples, measuring and counting ‘spartina’, mussels (if any), etc. Each group could be recording data via pen/paper, photography and video. Our intent is then to take other classes and the original class could have student leaders guide the other students. The fun thing is to have the students come up with models of what they observed and compare conclusions of other groups. When we did this with our teachers one question as simple as “why were the spartina growth taller or shorter in different areas”, you would be surprised at our different conclusions...definitely led to some lively conversation!
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
Monique Darrisaw-Akil
This project is an exemplar of what teacher professional development should be. it blends university professionals with educational practitioners and gives them the opportunity to apply their learning in the classroom and in the field. I am so excited about how students will grow as a result of this collaboration.
Joanne Figueiredo
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Donna McStay
Congratulations to all! Once again, Brentwood proves it is a district comprised of innovative and dedicated professionals. Students are sure to benefit from their efforts.
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you for the support Donna! This has been an exciting grant year for the district. This program has really opened up opportunities for exciting collaborations!
Joanne Figueiredo
Perla Myers
This project looks like a fantastic initiative for teacher professional development! Congratulations!
Joanne Figueiredo
Augie Fernandes
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you Perla! It has been a wonderful opportunity to engage teachers in real-world science. It has been inspiring fro me as Program Director to be able to outreach to our district's four middle schools. Brentwood Union Free School District is the largest Suburban Public School in the state of New York!
Joanne Figueiredo
Jeannie Whitlock
What a great way to introduce phenomena to teachers who have been taught their entire lives in the discussion first modality.
Our teachers are in the beginning stages of creating phenomena related activities for their students.
Is the curriculum the teachers used available for use outside of the project?
How were the teachers selected to participate?
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thank you Jeannie, we are working on materials that can be used in other programs. Soon, soon!
Joanne Figueiredo
Miriam Rafailovich
I really enjoyed working with you and the teachers. This course will enable them to effectively communicate their passion for discovery to their students. You are a great role model for them. You have shown them how to advance one of the largest and poorest school districts in the country into an incubator for future scientists.
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella
Benjamin Bellafiore
Excellent opportunity, I am a big believer in real world experiences for learning it really helps make the connection and embraces the importance of Science in our daily living. Would love to see how this program could branch out to other areas in science. (eg. Forensics). It's great that Stonybrook University is working with Brentwood Teachers, I would be interested in participating in any future programs like this one that may come out.
Rebecca Grella
Joanne Figueiredo
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Thanks for your comment! We will most definitely keep you informed of our next steps. The STEPD-UP program has been a great success and we look forward to continuing this project in the district and expanding beyond Brentwood.
Joanne Figueiredo
Brian Drayton
I am delighted to hear about this project.
I am wondering if any of the teachers have been motivated to continue doing some research on their own?
I am also curious about what kinds of negotiations have to take place as teachers and scientists learn to communicate together? What do the scientists need to learn about this? And is there any talk about pedagogy (including pedagogy that the scientsts might learn from the teachers)??
PS you might be interested in an artcle that Joni Falk and I wrote long ago on such partnerships here
Rebecca Grella, Ph.D.
Director of Research Science
Hello Brian, thank you for taking the time to check out our project. We are excited to inform you that teachers have inquired about RET positions with University faculty. Additionally, teachers are now equipped to ask their own questions in the salt marsh. I am pleased to say that the relationship with our Higher Education partner was wonderful, we did some NGSS pedagogy training and that was ver well needed and received. Thank you for sharing a link to your research!
Further posting is closed as the showcase has ended.