Innovative Pathways in STEM Teacher Preparation

POSTER

Abstract

The focus on integrated STEM education continues to increase dramatically in both research and practice. As secondary schools push toward integrating science and mathematics education, it is essential for teacher preparation programs to also design programs that prepare teachers for these changing STEM teaching and learning environments. At Dordt University, we have engaged our stakeholders and utilized data on science and mathematics teacher preparation to design innovative teacher preparation pathways that give pre-service teachers the foundation needed for being interdisciplinary STEM teachers.

This poster will highlight the (1) need for highly-qualified STEM teachers, (2) challenges of meeting this need, (3) pathways in STEM teacher preparation offered at Dordt University, including the only program in the state of Iowa that offers a grades 5-12 engineering teaching certification, as well as dual physics/engineering and physics/mathematics options, and (4) data reflecting an increase in the number of STEM education majors.



Funding Acknowledgement: National Science Foundation [DUE-1660632]

Publication: Zonnefeld R., & Zonnefeld, V. (2022). Rural STEM Teachers: An Oasis in the Desert. In A. Rogerson, & J. Morska (Eds.), Building on the Past to Prepare for the Future (pp. 574-579). Cambridge University, Kings College, Cambridge, England: The Mathematics Education for the Future Project International Conference.

Zonnefeld, R., & Zonnefeld, V. (2019). Innovative pathways in STEM teacher preparation: Bridging the gap between university expectations & secondary school needs. In A. Rogerson, & J. Morska (Eds.), Theory and Practice: An Interface or A Great Divide? (pp. 649 - 651). Maynooth University, Kildare, Ireland: The Mathematics Education for the Future Project International Conference.

Presenters

  • Ryan Zonnefeld

    Dordt University

Authors

  • Ryan Zonnefeld

    Dordt University

  • Valorie L Zonnefeld

    Dordt University