SUMMER TEACHING POSITIONS

With The Regional Math/Science Center

at Frostburg State University

Summer Program 2008

Are you interested in developing your professional teaching skills? Would you like to work with a unique population of students in grades 9-12 who are interested in pursuing math and science at the college level? Are you interested in teaching project based environmental science? You can do this and make some extra money with the Regional Math/Science Center.

The RMSC is currently recruiting dynamic science teachers to work with the center staff on developing a curriculum that will engage the students in a variety of environmental science projects; guiding them through the process of the scientific method, writing a scientific paper, and presenting their own research findings. The teachers will then implement the projects over the six-week summer program at Frostburg State University. It is a challenging and rewarding teaching opportunity.

Tentative date of the summer 2008 program: June 16 - August 1, which includes one week of staff training. The center will assist in locating inexpensive housing within walking distance of FSU if necessary.

Typical Schedule:

M-R
8:30 to 9:30 staff meeting while students attend math classes
9:30 to 12:45 work on science projects
Friday 8:30-10:30 peer review sessions

Week #1: Science teachers introduce students the various projects through readings and discussions. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week teachers lead three to four, 1.5-hour discussion groups.  Students rotate through the discussion groups to get a sense of the projects and topics.  On Thursday students choose their favorite two projects and attend two, 1.5-hour workshops to get a better sense of the projects.  At the end of the day on Thursday students decide which project they want to study for the summer.  Project groups will be limited to about 12 students, with the older students getting first pick of the projects.  Science project groups will consist of students of mixed ages and abilities. 

Week #2: Students, within their project groups, will continue with background research and will design their experiments.

Weeks #3 & #4: Students will be performing their experiments and collecting the data.  During these two weeks the hours may be from 9:30 to about 3:30 M-R, depending on what the projects are and where the students will be field testing.

Week #5: Students analyze their data and develop their discussion and conclusions.

Week #6: Students put together their final papers and Power Point presentations.

Training and curriculum development meetings will be held during the Spring 2006, and the center staff will also work closely with the teachers throughout the summer.  If you are interested in this unique opportunity for personal and professional development, please contact Rita Hegeman or Angie Burns at 800-646-6004.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Bachelor’s degree; teaching experience; ability to communicate effectively and to teach several different levels concurrently; experience working with non-traditional curriculum; commitment to working with disadvantaged students; experience writing/editing scientific research or technical papers, and experience collecting and analyzing experimental data. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  Experience developing and conducting scientific investigations, developing and assessing curriculum, and working with high school students; participated in TRIO or similar program; experience with Excel and Word. 

TO APPLY: Send a letter of interest which identifies qualifications; resume; at least one possible project idea; and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references to Regional Math/Science Center, 101 Braddock Rd., Frostburg, MD 21532.

About the Regional Math/Science Center

The FSU Regional Math/Science Center is a federally funded Department of Education Upward Bound program designed to help low-income, potential first generation college students, achieve their goals of attaining a college degree, specifically in the fields of math and science.  Participants in the program attend a six-week summer session on the campus of FSU, where they are engaged in a scientific research project.  The RMSC strives to develop exciting hands-on projects that are relevant to modern life. In the past teachers have worked with the students to study wind turbines, solar energy, acid mine drainage, water quality, and other environmental science issues.

While working on these projects the practical use of the scientific method is emphasized.  Students must develop testable hypotheses, help design the study, collect the data needed, analyze the data, draw conclusions based on the data collected and finally present their study in both oral and written form.  Students learn about peer review as they present their study progress each week to the other students in the program.  They also learn to use the computer for data analysis, for data processing their formal report, and for developing a power point presentation that is presented to a panel of scientists and an audience of parents, university and public officials.  While at FSU students also participate in a variety of activities designed to promote strong study skills, and positive social behaviors as well as activities that provide recreational and cultural experiences.

FSU Is An AA/EOE.  Appropriate Auxiliary Aids & Services For Qualified Individuals W/Disability Will Be Provided Upon Request.  Please Notify In Advance.  WWW.FROSTBURG.EDU