K-12 Science Education

All ERIE Trainees will participate in the Interdisciplinary Science Research-Based Curricular Innovations for Middle and High School Science and Teacher Professional Development, a new UB program funded by the John Oishei Foundation, and aimed at improving science education in two high need/high potential Buffalo schools: the Native American Magnet School (NAMS), and the new Seneca Math/Science Technology School.

The outreach program is based on the recent presidential mentoring awardee (PAESME) white paper, Mentoring for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Workforce Development and Lifelong Productivity: Success across the K through Grey Continuum, coauthored by participating faculty member Joseph Gardella. ERIE Trainees will integrate into existing support teams of faculty, graduate students and undergraduates in one of four areas, based on their interests and commitments. Each Trainee will commit to 2 hours/week in one of four areas:

• Materials development/hands on science (i.e. help develop new in classroom experimental materials and demonstrations.
• Organizing student visits to UB laboratories and field work, as aligned with the curriculum.
• Helping develop curricular content with teachers by working with teachers in summer.
• Working in the classroom or After School program as a tutor, mentor, helper.

For more information on ERIE’s Science Education programs, contact the ERIE Director Amy Bartlett.