Western Regional Noyce Network

Full name: Western Regional Noyce Network

 

Principal Investigator: Bryan Rebar. Co-PIs: Donna Ross, Stephanie Salamone, Jenefer Husman, Adem Ekmekci.

 

Organizations: University of Oregon, San Diego State University Foundation, Rice University, University of Portland 

 

 

Project Abstract: The Western Regional Noyce Network (WRNN) builds on the success of ongoing efforts to foster community and support for Noyce recipients and Noyce project leaders in the service of enhancing STEM teachers’ persistence in teaching careers and success in facilitating student achievement in high need schools.

The project employs a multidimensional approach involving (1) annual conferences, (2) professional development offerings, (3) regional networking associated with statewide educator conferences hosted by professional societies, and (4) robust formative and impact evaluation of the aforementioned activities in promoting the overall project goal of leveraging and expanding the network to further enhance Noyce teachers’ persistence and success.

This project integrates the efforts of 13 institutions across a 14-state region including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington. At the time of writing, this region supports 152 active Noyce Program awards represented by 93 unique institutions. Professional development institutes, workshops, and opportunities address important topics such as inclusive teaching, language development, computer science, mathematics tools, and science modeling approaches.

Specific goals of this project focus on expanding the involvement of Noyce recipients, especially current recipients and recent graduates, and project team members. By strategically offering opportunities for professional engagement in a variety of formats and locations and with carefully considered content based on the needs and interests of the community, along with a plan to support ongoing engagement via a learning community website with a repository of curated resources, the network is poised to grow and demonstrate the value of ever strengthening connections among individuals, institutions, and the communities that they serve.

Proposed activities are designed to increase opportunities for professional networking, professional growth, leadership development, and improved practice throughout the high need schools that Noyce teachers serve. Questions that will be explored center on examining the networks that Noyce Scholars and alumni develop as a result of WRNN activities and the benefits that these networks confer. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of lesson plans and recordings of classroom practices, insights regarding the affordances of varied professional development formats (i.e., in person, hybrid, virtual synchronous and asynchronous) will be uncovered. Of specific interest are the value ascribed to connections, the nature of connections, and the durability of connections reported by Noyce recipients, particularly in the context of professional development activities designed purposefully to promote strong connections.

Our objectives center on promoting community and a shared sense of purpose among STEM teachers committed to teaching in high need school districts, enhancing their preparation, and supporting their persistence and success as educators. Conferences will serve 900 participants over three meetings, professional development opportunities will support 450 participants in aggregate, and regional networking events will serve another 665 participants.

By promoting networking throughout all activities and offering targeted activities that address identified needs and interests of Noyce teachers, hundreds of thousands of students in high need schools across the region will benefit, and continue to benefit beyond the lifetime of this project, from highly prepared, well-connected, and motivated STEM teachers.