Delaware GK-12Delaware GK-12

A partnership between theUniversity of Delaware

and theNew Castle County Vocational

Technical School District

www.udel.edu/GK-12

Funded by theNational Science Foundation

Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12)

GK-12 Project LeadersGK-12 Project Leaders

• George Watson (UD physics)

• Deborah Allen (UD biology)

• Kate Scantlebury (UD chemistry)

• Amy Quillen (NCCoVoTech)

• John Madsen (UD geology)

• Richard Donham (UD-MSERC-bioogy)

Delaware GK-12 GrantDelaware GK-12 Grant

• $1.7million over three years

• Funding up to nine UD graduate students(GK-12 Fellows)

• Paired with high school science teachers

• To create a learning community of teaching teams to examine and reflect on current issues in education while specifically addressing critical needs in science education in vocational technical high schools.

Delaware GK-12 ActivitiesDelaware GK-12 Activities

• In summer workshops, teaching teams will be introduced to a number of innovative teaching strategies, including problem-based learning (PBL).

• During the academic year, Fellows will engage in coteaching with their teacher partners.

• Fellows will gain a better understanding and appreciation of the complexities and nuances of teaching science in high school.

• Teaching teams will have the opportunity to develop PBL activities, aligned with curricular needs, for students to experience the benefits of guided-inquiry learning environments.

Delaware GK-12 BenefitsDelaware GK-12 Benefits

Expected outcomes include:

• Improved communication, teaching, and team building skills for the Fellows;

• Professional development opportunities for science teachers;

• Enriched learning for the high school students; and

• Strengthened partnership between University of Delaware and the New Castle County VoTech School District.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Mary BoggsBiological Sciences

• Her research is on communication of neurons with bone cells and causes of bone cancer pain.

• She has served as a science tutor as an undergrad, teaching assistant for introductory biology, and substitute teacher in private school.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Thomas EkiertPhysics and Astronomy

• His research is on finite-size effects on properties of metallic nanoparticles

• He has served as grad teaching assistant in introductory physics, as well as course instructor.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Erin FosterBiological Sciences

• Her research is on protein interactions in DNA replication and its initiation.

• She has served as teaching assistant for introductory biology laboratory.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Kristy LongsdorfChemistry and Biochemistry

• Her research is on surface chemistry and modeling for better understanding cellular signaling.

• She has served as grad teaching assistant in introductory chemistry classes.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

John MeyerPhysics and Astronomy

• His research is on energy release processes in plasmas, leading to better space weather monitoring and fusion energy devices.

• He has served in a variety of educational settings: introductory physics lab, one-on-one tutoring, summer camps.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Nathan NasdrowiczEntomology and

Wildlife Ecology

• His research is on environmental factors influencing populations of long-tailed salamanders associated with springhouses.

• He has served as grad teaching assistant in a variety of environmental and biology courses, as well as co-instructor of herpetology.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Christopher RussellPhysics and Astronomy

• His research is on computational astrophysics of massive stars.

• He has served as grad teaching assistant in introductory physics courses, as well as drumline instructor in local high schools.

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Katherine SkalakGeological Sciences

• Research on the transport of mercury in rivers

• Geology Department’s Outstanding Teaching Assistant in 2004

• Teaching in the family – her husband Nick is currently teaching in the Delaware Schools

GK-12 FellowGK-12 Fellow

Jeffrey SpragginsChemistry and Biochemistry

• His research is on oxidized peptides and their alteration on exposure to ozone.

• He has served as a grad teaching assistant and has earned a Higher Education Teaching Certificate. In college, he served as student instrument instructor for local H.S. students.

Delaware GK-12Delaware GK-12

A partnership between theUniversity of Delaware

and theNew Castle County Vocational

Technical School District

Funded by theNational Science Foundation

Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12)