Mission
The mission of the Center for the Advancement of Mathematics and Science Education (CAMSE) is to promote meaningful and effective teaching and learning of science and mathematics at all levels. Towards this end we are focusing on providing the best possible preparation for future teachers; professional development in math and science content and in innovative teaching strategies for practicing teachers; providing and evaluating classroom science and math materials for educators; and performing research and evaluation in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. Recently formed by BHSU in cooperation with the South Dakota Board of Regents, CAMSE is developing a suite of projects and activities in the four areas mentioned above.
Preparing future teachersThe Center is working to promote enhanced opportunities in learning about science and math teaching for both prospective teachers and inservice teachers. We believe that current curricula for teacher education can be significantly strengthened in mathematics and science, and we are working towards this end. Through the creation of a Distinguished Scholars program for excellent students at BHSU we hope to create opportunities to explore math and science in a new light.
Teacher professional development
CAMSE is heavily involved in providing quality professional development for teachers in grades K-12. Teachers at all levels have limited background in math and science, and their students benefit when teachers understand more science and math. Teachers also need to learn more effective ways of teaching math and science. CAMSE is providing professional development in science and math content and in methods of teaching that help students develop deeper understandings of science and math topics. Professional development activities of the Center touch diverse geographical areas, from country schools to reservations to city centers.
Repository for high quality math and science course materials
Effective science and math teaching requires materials that many schools are currently unable to provide, or that they need help in selecting. CAMSE provides a repository of research-based science and math education materials and kits, including books, equipment, software, and teachers´ guides. There also are a large number of FOSS, Insights, and STC materials. These are available for seminars, loans to schools to use on trial basis, and as backups for area schools.
CAMSE has been selected to be a K-12 Regional Curriculum Dissemination Center by the Educational Development Center (EDC). CAMSE is offering seminars and support to teams from school districts that are considering using NSF-supported science education course materials such as FOSS and Insights.
CAMSE also serves as a NASA Educator Resource Center and makes NASA materials available to teachers. The ERC complements other materials at CAMSE by providing interesting and colorful introductions to the wide range of NASA activities and aerospace applications.
Research on teaching and learning mathematics and science
There is much to be learned about how students learn math and science, how teachers learn and become committed to more effective teaching strategies, and how structure, events and activities in classrooms make a difference (or not) in learning processes. The Center is embarking on research projects hopefully to shed light on some of these issues.
Major Projects at CAMSE
The BLAHST ProjectThe BLAHST project, initiated at BHSU, is an NSF-funded systemic initiative for grades K-8 in eight school districts in western South Dakota. These eight districts total over 8,000 square miles in area. Every K-8 teacher in the eight districts will receive substantial professional development through the BLAHST project.
The BLAHST project promotes the use of research - based science classroom materials. It supports districts´ adoption of materials through providing informational workshops, refurbishment of classroom kits, and extensive professional development for each teacher.
EDC K-12 Science Curriculum Regional Dissemination Center
BHSU has been selected as a regional hub for EDC´s new EDC K-12 Science Curriculum Dissemination Center project. The Center will be contacting large numbers of school districts of a multi-state area, and will host introductory seminars for school districts that are ready to begin adopting research - based science curriculum materials.
MSCI with emphasis in science education
BHSU offers a master´s of science in curriculum and instruction (MSCI), and is planning a special MSCI program that emphasizes science education issues. Graduates from this program would likely serve as science resource teachers for their school and area.
NASA ERC
CAMSE offers a large selection of classroom support materials produced by NASA. These include descriptions of the space program as well as special materials for math, science, geography, history, and aeronautics. Teachers are welcome to visit and copy any of the NASA materials, including videotapes, CD-ROMs, 35 mm slides, printed materials, and others. CAMSE provides these materials free of charge to teachers.
Distinguished Scholars Program
The Center has created a program for talented BHSU students who are interested in math, science, or math or science education. These students will be working closely with faculty on "Scholars contracts", some of which will involve science or math content, others will involve issues related to teaching or learning math or science. These students bring special talents and abilities to the table, and the Scholars program is designed to help them broaden their intellectual horizons.
Teacher change research project
Local teachers are working to transform their classrooms by adopting and using research based science course materials for the first time in their careers. There are many interesting questions about how these teachers can develop new ways of thinking and acting in the classroom. CAMSE is engaged in projects to support changes made by these teachers and to analyze the process of teacher change in the real setting of the classroom.