The CUNY Science Now GK-12 Program

Program Announcement and Description – March, 2008

We are pleased to announce that CUNY’s proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Program has been recommended for funding by NSF's Division of Graduate Education (DGE). With an official start date of June 1, 2008, the CUNY Science Now GK-12 Program offers an exceptional teaching, professional development, and funding opportunity for doctoral science and mathematics students. The project is under the direction of Dr. Gillian Small, Principal Investigator and University Dean for Research, and Dr. Victor Strozak, Co-Principal Investigator and Senior Associate for Science Education, Center for Advanced Study in Education at the Graduate Center.

In anticipation of this funding, we are beginning the project’s recruitment and first year implementation phase. The Science Now GK-12 Program seeks Ph.D. students who have a general interest in teaching and learning and in improving the quality of science education. Fellows will receive a $30,000 stipend (for the period 7/1/08 to 6/30/09) and a cost of education allowance that covers tuition and other expenses. They will join and work with a team of educators and scientists on a unique program that will bring their “real world” research experiences into the high school classroom. A second year salaried position at $10,000 will be offered at the conclusion of the GK-12 fellowship.

The project will select and provide professional development for 9 Science Now Fellows who will collaborate with 18 high school teachers to develop and pilot test Authentic Research Modules in Science (ARMS) that will be integrated into the high school science curriculum and, eventually, into CUNY’s College Now Program. Fellows will support the high school teachers by preparing and delivering in-class lab activities and co-teaching selected lessons. They will also assist students in a variety of ways including: grading and reviewing tests and homework and providing both written and oral feedback to students; offering individual and small group tutoring; talking to students about their own research and careers in science. Both the fellows and teachers will receive intensive summer and academic-year training and support from College Now and GK-12 project staff. The training is comprised of summer professional development workshops (10 days), monthly, half-day seminars during the academic year, and semi-annual project conferences.

Science Now Fellows will work closely with their cooperating teachers to plan their day-to-day activities based on both teacher and student needs. During the academic year, fellows are required to spend 10 hours per week on in-class instructional and curriculum development activities at their assigned high school and an additional 5 hours per week on out-of-class preparation activities.

NSF requires that GK-12 Fellows be full time graduate students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents at the time of application. Candidates must email the following to Dr. Strozak: a completed application, a two page letter expressing their interest in working with high school students, a two page resume, and a letter of recommendation from their research advisor/mentor Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until 9 fellows have been selected.

Application for CUNY GK-12 Science Now Fellowship

Application Instructions: Complete each entry in the space provided. Email the completed application along with your 2-page resume, cover letter in MS Word or PDF format. Letter of recommendation from your research advisor may be sent separately.

Name: (Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss)

Last First Middle Initial

Mailing Address:

Number and Street

City State Zip Code Telephone FAX

e-mail (you @yourISP.com)

Date of Birth: Citizenship: Yes No (Alien # )

[mm/dd/yyyy] US Citizen Permanent Resident

CUNY Doctoral Program: Program Level (1,2,3, etc.)

Education: (List chronologically all institutions attended beyond secondary school including CUNY Colleges.)

Institutions

Dates of Attendance

Major/Degree

Date Received or Expected

High School Course Preferences:

(Please check the high school subject areas that you feel comfortable teaching or have a background for.)

Biology Calculus Chemistry Environmental Science Geography Physics Other

Teaching Experience:

Title School/College Dates

Title School/College Dates

Your Demographics: Providing this information is optional. The information in this section is confidential and is used to determine our effectiveness in recruiting a diverse pool of applicants and for reporting to our funding agency as statistical summaries in which individuals will not be identified. Your response is voluntary and has no bearing on acceptance decisions.

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Ethnicity Black, Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Hispanic

American Indian or Native Alaskan (Tribe/Nation)

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