 The RE-SEED program at Northeastern University seeks to improve student outcomes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by placing trained retired volunteer scientists, engineers and other STEM professionals in K-12 science classrooms. Since 1991 the program has trained over 700 retired scientists and engineers in fourteen states to assist science teachers in the classroom, delivering over 600,000 hours of classroom assistance at a cost of less than $5 per hour. Surveys have established the high acceptance of the program and belief in its effectiveness among volunteers, teachers and students. After completing a comprehensive free training program, participants volunteer to serve in a classroom once a week for one school year. Most volunteers serve over three years (the retention rate is seventy percent). RE-SEED volunteers work closely with the host science teachers to help them enrich and implement their school curriculum.
The Need The shortage of science teachers with science degrees has reached alarming levels. Awareness has been raised by increasingly frequent reporting in both the public media and scholarly journals.[i] While various programs and approaches are addressing this issue they all take time to implement and in the meantime the current need to teach STEM and promote STEM careers must be addressed. One way to address the need immediately is to recruit retired scientists and engineers and train them to help in the classroom. In addition to the short term need to assist science teachers in the classroom there is a long term need to improve the image and pursuit of STEM careers, particularly in the inner city schools where the students have little community contact with STEM professionals. Increasing STEM careers is a national priority and the RE-SEED program goes a long way in promoting this need. [i] Out-of-Field Teaching Persists In Key Academic Courses and High-Poverty Schools, The Education Trust, November, 2008. The best data available to assess teacher assignments come from a national survey the U.S. Department of Education conducts every few years, the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). One reason this source is so good is that the data come from teachers themselves—rather than from officials who, frankly, may want their schools to look a little better than they are. The Education Trust, in partnership with University of Pennsylvania Professor Richard M. Ingersoll, analyzed SASS data from 2003-04 (the most recent survey) to examine out-of-field teaching in core academic classes at the secondary school level (grades 7-12). RE-SEED Facts Program Features • Activity/inquiry-based program that stresses critical thinking • Focuses on the physical sciences • Integrates Mathematics and Science • Combines content with up-to-date pedagogy • Aligned with the Massachusetts Mathematics, Science & Technology Frameworks, the National Science Standards, and the MCAS test Volunteer Contributions • Increase students' interest in science • Expand teachers understanding of the physical sciences • Make science relevant to students by bringing real-life science into the classroom • Increase students' and teachers' understanding of scientific principles and concepts • Assist students with science projects and science fairs • Make and bring science equipment to school • Mentor students and act as role models Please contact us by email at pa.conroy@neu.edu
or phone 617-373-8388 if you are interested in learning more about the RE-SEED program. Center for STEM Education, 520 INV, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115 |