The College ofSaint Rose
432 Western Avenue
Albany New York 12203 1-800-637-8556
The Institute for Science and Mathematics Education
Richard J. Thompson, Jr., Director
Dean, School of Mathematics & Sciences
Mission
The Institute will develop, implement and disseminate innovative strategies and programs for improving instruction in science and mathematics at all levels of the educational system.
Goals
The Institute’s goals are: (1) to strengthen teacher training in science and mathematics curricula for elementary, middle school, high school and college faculty; (2) to develop curricular programs in science and mathematics education for the K-16 population; (3) provide a platform for coordinating and leveraging resources and programs; (4) to support research and research dissemination relative to teaching strategies in the fields of science and mathematics; and (5) provide an institutional identity to facilitate resource development, promotion and marketing.
Focus
The Institute will focus innovation in four program areas:
Pedagogy : This program focus speaks to the creation of active learning teaching strategies which consist of exposure to theory and technique; content-rich, problem-based and broadly contextualized learning modes; critical reflection; student initiated research; and assessment.
Partnerships : Teaching science and mathematics requires interdisciplinary and cross-professional innovation within higher education. Moreover, there is a need to create new partnerships across the K-16 educational system as well as with professional associations.
Professional Development : Traditional approaches to the teaching process (e.g., lecturing, information dissemination, demonstration) need to be supplanted or complemented with approaches which encourage problem-finding, practical grounding, and student-centered inquiry. Faculty and staff development, will encourage such approaches.
Research : This program focus responds to opportunities related to the “Scholarship of Teaching.” The Institute will assist in developing funding opportunities to support such research as well as the dissemination of such research.
