2009-2010 InSTEP Graduate Teaching Fellowship Application

Submission Date: For primary consideration, applications must be received by March 11, 2009

Florida Institute of Technology's Integrated Science Teaching Partnership (InSTEP) is seeking highly motivated science graduate students interested in collaborating with local science teachers on the development of a series of inquiry- and problem-based lesson plans. All lesson plans use "ocean discovery" as a common theme to integrate concepts and perspectives from biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, and Earth science. Thus, the goal of the project is to stimulate students' enthusiasm for science by capitalizing on Brevard County's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Florida's extensive marine resources, and the students' personal interests and experiences with local marine habitats and ocean-related issues.

The InSTEP program is part of a NSF-funded GK-12 education initiative and is designed to establish meaningful and productive collaborations among teachers, graduate students, and University researchers. Graduate Teaching Fellows serve as content resources for teachers while completing the requirements for an engineering or science-related graduate degree (MS or Ph.D). In addition to helping teachers with classroom instruction, Fellows have primary responsibility for

• Developing "Ocean Discovery" lesson plans

• Piloting hands-on field activities using the SEAS Mobile Laboratory,

• Coordinating speakers for an Ocean Discovery Seminar Series,

• Coaching National Ocean Science (NOS) Bowl Teams,

• Organizing a District-wide Ocean Science Bowl Competition, and

• Developing presentations and curriculum materials for professional development workshops and in-service training sessions for teachers.

Eligibility and Qualifications

All InSTEP applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States at the time of application (as stipulated in the NSF GK-12 program announcement). They must be full-time graduate students earning degrees (MS or Ph.D.) in marine biology, biology, oceanography, ecology, chemistry, meteorology, physics and space science, ocean engineering, or environmental science through Florida Tech's Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Space Science, and Marine and Environmental Systems. Fellows must have minimum undergraduate and graduate GPA's of 3.0. Preference will be given to those applicants that have exhibited an interest in educational outreach and that have experience with teaching, tutoring, or mentoring high school or college-age students. A background in an ocean-related discipline could be valuable, but is not required.

Compensation

GK-12 Fellows will receive a stipend of $30,000 for 12 months (July 27, 2008-July 26, 2009), an annual cost-of-education allowance of $10,500, and 6 additional graduate credits of tuition remission. Fellowship appointments are for one year. Fellows must reapply annually and a second year of funding may be granted under extraordinary circumstances.

Requirements and Expectations

InSTEP Fellows spend a minimum of 10 hrs/week in the classroom and 5 additional hours outside of school meeting with faculty, cooperating with project evaluators, and collaborating with Partner Teachers to design and develop inquiry-based activities. Fellows are also required to

• Participate in an orientation workshop in August 2008

• Attend bi-weekly and bimonthly meetings with the InSTEP Coordinator and Directors,

• Participate in professional development workshops for teachers, and

• Enroll in a 3-credit hour course in Presenting Science offered during the fall semester.

InSTEP Fellowships are full-time appointments. Thus, additional on- or off-campus employment is not permitted. Fellows are expected to be on campus during the period of employment (July 27, 2009-July 26, 2010) and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

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