Conference Award - Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program DUE 1002638 Serving Projects in the Midwest

Conference Award - Midwest Noyce Regional Conference at Indianapolis, Indiana

Funding for IUPUI and PU to host the annual Midwest Noyce Regional Conferences for the last three years 2010, 2011, and 2012

PI: Kim S. Nguyen, CoPIs: Kathleen Marrs, Signe Kastberg, and John Staver

Theme-based2010 Preparing Excellent STEM Teachers for Urban & Rural High-Need Schools2011 Developing Noyce Scholars for Excellent STEM Teaching2012 Common Core, NGSS and Digital Learners: STEM Teaching at the Crossroads

Speakers by Invitation - $500 Honorarium Participants’ Expenses Covered by Grant Four Participants per Project in 15 States, 150 capacity

OPPERATIONAL FEATURES

Timing for Scheduling a STEM Teacher Conference Lacking Local PD Support to Scholar Teachers Communication Problems to Sustaining the Networks Information Dissemination – Retaining New Knowledge Lack of Institutional Recognition for PI’s work

COMMON CHALLENGES

Funding to host the Annual Noyce Northeast Regional Conferences for the last two years 2011 and 2012

Gregory Phelan, SUNY Cortland (NY) Lisa Gonsalves, UMass Boston (MA) and Sheila Vaidya, Drexel University (PA)

OPERATIONAL FEATURES Theme-based• 2011 Teacher Collaboration: Supporting the Noyce

Teacher Community to Improve Teaching and Learning• 2012 Learning from Each Other for Excellent STEM

Teaching in High-Need Schools Keynote Speakers by Invitation - $400 Honorarium Participant’s Expenses Covered by Grant Four Participants per Project• 12 States (CT, DE, MD, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA,

RI, WV, VT)• Capacity: 200

“Overall it was a fun, exciting and inspiring conference and also, it provided some tools necessary for effective teaching in high-need schools.”

Representation45 Programs 201150 Programs 2012

Attendance• Philadelphia: 177

• 92 Scholars• 73 Administrators• 12 Special Guests

• Boston: 223• 109 Scholars• 93 Administrators• 13 Special Guests• 8 Master Teachers

Hands-on Sessions

OPERATIONAL FEATURES“Nicely done. Not too long. Very good keynotes! Nice, impressive turnout of both scholars and program people.”

Pre-/Post- Conference Workshops

Overall Evaluation - Why did you attend? (1 most important reason)

2011 2012

Overall Evaluation

1. Connection. The smaller scale and intimacy of the regional conference allows participants to feel more comfortable connecting with each other.

2. Regional Relevance. Sessions and information geared towards needs of attendees in region

3. Phone a Friend. The regional conference fosters the sense that support from other Scholars/PIs is always available to participants

4. PI/Scholar Interaction. The informal and intimate atmosphere of the regional conference allows PI/Scholar interaction in a way that could not occur in any other way. One PI indicated that one of her scholars felt comfortable enough at the conference to approach her and discuss difficulty with a placement. She indicated that this conversation would never have happened in the more formal setting of the college/program.

(Source: 2012 Overall Conference Evaluation)

Regional Conference Benefits