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GK-12, Innovating Graduate and K-12 Education in Biological SciencesSponsored by the National Science FoundationNSF Grant DGE-0638751
Program Announcement Applications will be reviewed starting on April 20, 2012 Program Directors Dr. Luis M. Mota-Bravo, Director of Outreach, Research Training and Minority Science Programs (MSP), School of Biological Sciences Dr. R. Michael Mulligan, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences Dr. Marlene de la Cruz, Associate Director of Outreach, Research Training and Minority Science Programs (MSP), School of Biological Sciences Current Activities and Teaching Materials
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The GK-12 Program at the UCI School of Biological Sciences is designed to bring innovation to graduate and K-12 education by integrating investigation and experimentation conducted by UCI faculty and graduate students with teaching of Biology/Life Sciences in grades 7-12 at partner schools in Santa Ana and Westside of Newport-Mesa Unified School Districts. GK-12 graduate students will improve communication, teaching and team-building skills as they act as partners and mentors and incorporate their own research to support and serve as resources for teachers to enrich learning for K-12 students in minority-serving schools, in accordance with the California Science Content Standards for Grade Seven Life Science, Grades Nine through Twelve Biology/Life Sciences and Grades Nine through Twelve Investigation and Experimentation.
The project's components include orientation sessions for graduate students and teachers to learn about the project, training on methods of teaching science in secondary schools, seminars for graduate students to review and discuss new developments and experiences, workshops and summer institutes where faculty, graduate students and teachers prepare inquiry-based lessons and laboratories to be presented to 7th-12th grade students, practical experience (10 hrs/wk) for graduate students in teaching these lessons and laboratory activities, presentations by graduate students about their research, the development of a GK-12 manual on teaching practices, a handbook on mentoring and a web-based repository to disseminate practices, lessons and laboratories developed by graduate students and teachers. In addition, there is an annual symposium where graduate students present their experiences and developed materials.
GK-12 Graduate Students. Support for GK-12 graduate students includes stipend, fees and health insurance. GK-12 graduate students are required to participate in the program from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Total time commitment to the program for GK-12 graduate students is 60 hours per month (or 15 hours/week, including 10 hours/week at the GK-12 partner school during the academic year). GK-12 graduate students are required to prepare lessons and participate in the following activities:
Summer - Summer Institute I, July 16-20, 2012 (40 hours) - Summer Institute II, August 20-24, 2012 (40 hours)
Academic year - Spend 10 hours per week in the K-12 classrooms presenting lessons (GK-12 graduate students need to provide their own transportation from UCI to the partner schools) - Participate in seminar/progress report sessions at UCI every Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM from September 24, 2012 to Jun 7, 2013 (Scientific Communication for GK12 graduate students) - Participate in two Saturday workshops at UCI, on October 13 and December 8, 2012 - Present developed materials at the UCI GK-12 Symposium on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 5:00-6:00 PM - Prepare reports of activities and participate in ongoing evaluations - Present papers at selected national conferences Continued funding is based on satisfactory performance and participation in program activities. GK-12 graduate students will be evaluated quarterly. GK-12 graduate students are expected to maintain an active research program and make good progress toward the doctoral degree during the period that they are on fellowship. The GK-12 graduate students will be required to submit a quarterly research plan and research summary as a part of the program. A GK-12 graduate student will not be eligible to receive other employment or fellowship support during the period that they are a GK-12 graduate fellow. Thus, they will not be able to serve as a TA, GSR, be appointed on a training grant, or accept employment outside the University during this period.
Biology/Life Sciences Teachers. Support for Biology/Life Sciences teachers from the three partner districts include stipends of $4,000 per year for teachers that host a GK-12 graduate student (10 hrs/week during the school year) in their Biology/Life Sciences classes, participate in two full-time GK-12 summer institutes (July 16-20 and August 20-24, 2012), two Saturday workshops (October 13 and December 8, 2012) and UCI GK-12 Symposium on Tuesday May 28, 2013, 5:00-6:00 PM. The teachers will be required to participate in ongoing project evaluations and submit brief monthly journal reports. Funding is available for teachers to present papers at selected national conferences.
ELIGIBILITY Eligible GK-12 graduate students are: 1) US citizens or permanent residents, 2) enrolled full time in the second to fifth year in a PhD program in the UCI School of Biological Sciences, and 3) progressing satisfactorily in the doctoral program.
Eligible teachers are: 1) US citizens or permanent residents, 2) teaching Biology/Life Sciences in grades 7-12 at one of the partner districts (Santa Ana, and Westside of Newport-Mesa Unified School Districts), and 3) certified teachers possessing a valid California Teaching Credential.
APPLICATION Applications will be reviewed starting on April 20, 2012, until all fellowships are awarded.
To apply for GK-12 graduate fellowships please download, complete and sign the GK-12 Fellowship Application and ask your thesis advisor to complete and sign the Recommendation and Support Statement form. With your application, please include 1) a current CV, 2) Teaching Statement and 3) the Recommendation and Support Statement form signed by your thesis advisor.
For Teachers, please download, complete and sign the Teacher Application and the Principal's Support form. With your application, please include a statement of support from the Principal of the school where you teach (see application package). Prospective GK-12 graduate students and Teachers, please contact Dr. Marlene de la Cruz Associate Director/Academic Coordinator Outreach, Research Training and Minority Science Programs School of Biological Sciences-Office of the Dean University of California, Irvine 1134 Biological Sciences III Irvine, CA 92697-2527 Ph: (949) 824-2589 Fax: (949) 824-6599 e-mail: marlene@uci.edu |