Abstract
Engineers and scientist utilize the principles and theories of science and mathematics to
design, test, and manufacture products that are important to the future of a nation’s citizenry.
With the exception of biological sciences, however, the percentage of college students seeking
degrees in math, science and engineering disciplines has been declining for the past two decades.
Furthermore, fewer potential engineering majors are completing rigorous college preparatory
programs and graduating in the top quarter of their high schools. This shortfall has raised
concerns among leaders in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, (STEM) fields.
To meet the changing demands of the nation’s science and engineering labor force,
recognition of the importance of pre-college education intervention and implementation of
challenging curricula that captures and sustains middle and high school students’ achievement
and interest in science and “pre-engineering” content is critical.
Current research reveals that one of the most important determinants of what students
learn is the expertise and pedagogy of the teacher. Accordingly, our research is focused on
improving teacher quality and resulting middle and high school student learning in STEM via
formation, nurturance and sustaining an important targeted school-university urban educational
partnership. Our university has partnered with large urban school districts to plan, deliver and
sustain a targeted inservice teacher professional development and a middle and high school
STEM curriculum intervention. The partnership goals are to assist inservice middle and high
school science teachers in: (1) designing and implementing integrated science and engineering
curricula and (2) development of instructional methods and strategies that enable teachers to
effectively (a) teach challenging content and research skills in middle and high school as
demanded by state/national science standards; (b) generate knowledge and transform practice in
high school STEM education, (c) cultivate a world-class STEM workforce, (d) expand students’
scientific literacy, and (e) promote research that advances the frontiers of knowledge in STEM
middle and high school education.