NSF GK-12 Project ChemBOND: The Next Generation
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in partnership with the Palm Beach County School District has established a Graduate Teaching Fellows K-12 project with intended outcomes of professional development opportunities and improved communication skills for all participants, increased interest in STEM careers and enhanced learning for high school students, and stronger partnerships between our university and the local school district.
The GK-12 Program at FAU is a National Science Foundation, NSF sponsored project that provides fellowships and training for graduate students in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM). GK-12 fellows are placed in the high-school classrooms to incorporate cutting-edge research and to implement curriculum-based materials into the school curriculum. They work in collaboration with high-school teachers to enrich the K-12 curriculum. This initiative focuses on extending the success of Project ChemBOND at FAU into the local high schools through the GK-12 model, utilizing conceptually based, hands-on chemistry activities in both the classroom and laboratory.
The specific goals of this project include:
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Bring research experience of STEM Graduate students to a novice audience
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Develop, adapt and adopt curriculum-based modules to be used in high schools.
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Provide ongoing training and professional development for GK-12 participants
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Assess the impact of the graduate fellows’ presence in the high schools in improving conceptual understanding and attitudes towards chemistry in high school students
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Evaluate project’s effectiveness in achieving goals
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Build capacity, infrastructure and sustainability
The Nationwide GK-12 program is an NSF funded grant dedicated to bridging the gap between professionals in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and technology and K-12 educators and students. For more information on the national program, and other funded universities, please visit http://ehrweb.aaas.org/gk12new/index.php
