Faculty in Hunter education, biology and geography departments have received nearly $7 million through three grants from the National Science Foundation.
Jeanne Weiler, associate professor of educational foundations, leads the team behind Hunter’s Noyce Science Scholar Program, which won a five-year NSF award. Her colleagues on the interdisciplinary project include Allan Frei, professor of geography; Shirley Raps, professor of biology; and Dennis Robbins, associate professor of science education. The project is designed to increase the Noyce Program’s successful focus on the recruitment and support of undergraduates and graduate students interested in careers as middle and high school science teachers. Part of the grant will fund studies evaluating what has worked so far, with analysis of the experience of former Noyce Scholars who are now STEM teachers in high-needs New York City high schools.
Karen Koellner, professor of math education, has won an NSF for a four-year study of the Learning and Teaching Geometry professional-development program. With collaboration from the University of Colorado Boulder and WestEd, a nonprofit dedicated to improving education, Professor Koellner will examine a representative group of 132 participating math teachers and students, and will closely evaluate the program’s influence and success.
Finally, Sarah Bonner, associate professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Counseling Programs, has been awarded major NSF funding for her work as a co-leader and head of research on a Math and Science Partnership (MSP) project. A nationwide program devoted to improving K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science, MSP is dedicated to reducing achievement gaps in the STEM performance of diverse student populations.
Professor Bonner’s award recognizes her leadership in in a New York City classroom-restructuring program creating “Teaching Assistant Scholars.” The goal of the program – in which Teaching Assistant Scholars help a teacher instruct small groups of their peers – is for the Scholars to increase their mastery of the material, become academic role models, and build the skills needed for success in college.
