"We have increased by hundreds of percent the numbers of students taking AP science in Boston." |
Dr. Bob Chen is PI of the
Boston Science Partnership (BSP), a collaboration bringing together the
Boston Public Schools, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts Boston. The BSP project began in September 2004 with
a Math Science Partnership grant from NSF. Funding to date totals over $14 million, including supplements to support a research
study of the STEM pipeline in Boston and one that funds the Science Education Fellowships (SEF) [see below]. The grant
will be completed in August, 2012.
The BSP reaches teachers, university faculty and students through a number of
programs such as
Contextualized Content Courses, Collaborative Coaching and Learning in Science, Vertical Planning, the Science Education Fellowship and the AP
Student Support Program.
Science Education Fellowship
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BSP AP program video on MSP.net |
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The
Science Education Fellowship is
a master-teacher program sponsored by NSF in connection with the Boston Science Partnership. The Fellowship is a year-long
program for experienced teachers that uses a model of teacher support and development to increase the capacity of
teacher-leadership in the Boston Public Schools. This model includes a comprehensive set of activities designed to improve
teachers' pedagogical and content knowledge, focusing on the outcome of increased achievement in science for underperforming
students. There are approximately 20 Fellows in each cohort.
Teachers are involved in structured inquiry into their own teaching and growth using tools developed through educational
research. Each month the Fellows meet to support the work they are doing. Individual plans may include working with a
university professor, becoming a mentor to other teachers, improving presentation skills, achieving board certification,
presenting at a national meeting or preparing a peer-reviewed publication.
