GK-12 Partnership Program Overview
What is a GK-12 Program?
- The Graduate K-12 Teaching Fellows Program (GK-12) is a nation-wide effort funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), intended to support the collaboration of K-12 schools with universities. The University selects advanced science students from the sponsoring university and matches them with science teachers in the partnering school district. The GK-12 Scientists gain teaching skills and the students and teachers gain resources.
- Expected outcomes include improved communication, teaching and team building skills for the Scientists; professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers; enriched learning for K-12 students; and strengthened partnerships between institutions of higher education and local school districts. Currently, about 120 such collaborative projects are funded by the NSF across the United States. Some projects target K through 5 Science and Math education, others work with middle and high school programs.
- For more information about the NSF GK-12 program, see http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5472&org=EHR&from=home.
How is the SFSU GK-12 Program Set up?
- The GK-12 Scientists spend 10 hours per week on site, working in specific classes with Partner Teachers. GK-12 Scientists also participate in a seminar course at SFSU each semester designed to support classroom-based partnership efforts and provide an introduction to issues in science, teaching and learning. In addition, partnership teams attend monthly workshops throughout the school year designed to foster a K-20+ science education learning community.
- GK-12 Scientists receive a fellowship award to support both progress in their Master's research and development as a Scientist Educator.
- Since Fall 2001, over 70 GK-12 Scientists have been on-site in 13 different middle schools and 10 high schools with over 60 Partner Teachers and have had direct impact on over 4500 Bay Area students.
- The role of the GK-12 Scientist is not one of a student teacher, nor are GK-12 Scientists selected as pre-service teachers. The role is one of professional collaboration—bringing knowledge, skills, energy, and commitment to work directly with a science teacher and his or her students in a meaningful way to promote deeper understanding of core curriculum, California State and National Science Standards, and mastery of the process skills that are an essential component of learning science. The NSF intended effect is to imbue within GK-12 Scientists a life-long commitment in their academic careers to have both the experience and the desire to support University science department outreach to public school science teaching and learning.
What are the goals of the sfsu GK-12 Partnership Program?
- Enrich science learning experiences for Bay Area students through scientist-teacher partnerships and inquiry-based science lessons
- Support Bay Area teachers in implementing inquiry-based teaching strategies and developing science connections with the university
- Develop in SFSU science graduate students pedagogical skills and a long-lasting commitment partnering with the K-12 science education community
- Pioneer and institutionalize a variety of opportunities for SFSU science students and Bay Area teachers and students to collaborate in classrooms, laboratories, and coursework
How do I get involved?
The SFSU SEPAL recruits COSE graduate students and Bay Area science teachers in winter and early spring each year for programs that begin in late August. Applications are generally due in February and March for the following school year.
gk12sf@sfsu.edu
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Grant #: DGE0337949
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