ABOUT

The Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) program addresses critical issues and infrastructure needs regarding the recruitment, preparation, induction, retention, and life-long development of K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers. Its goals are to improve the quality and coherence of teacher learning experiences across the continuum through research that informs teaching practice and the development of innovative resources for the professional development of K-12 STEM teachers. The program supports Research Studies, Resources for Professional Development, and Conferences and Symposia. Temple University was awarded the TPC grant August of 2005. The program is called Temple University Science and Mathematics Assessment and Research for Teachers (TU-SMART).

MISSION OF THE PROGRAM

The mission of the TPC program is to improve the infrastructure for K-12 STEM teaching and learning and student performance by:

• Promoting research on effective STEM teaching and teacher learning
• Developing and evaluating professional resources for STEM teachers and those who educate them

PROGRAM GOALS

In support of its mission, the TPC program will pursue a research, development, and implementation agenda that informs STEM teaching practice and contributes to improved learning for all students

• Advancing the knowledge base on the preparation, induction, enhancement, and retention of STEM teachers, and on the strategies that strengthen and diversify the STEM teaching workforce
• Promoting scientifically based research that examines teacher learning of STEM content and pedagogy, and assesses the subsequent impact of this learning on practice
• Encouraging research on effective professional development models and experiences that enhance STEM teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and its alignment with classroom practice
• Understanding, through research, those instructional practices that enhance student learning in STEM disciplines
• Developing innovative resources, materials, tools, and ideas, for preparing and supporting STEM teachers and those who educate them
• Fostering effective collaborations between the communities of STEM K-12 teachers, STEM researchers, practitioners, and others contributing to STEM education
• Disseminating research findings, effective models, and field-tested resources to national audiences of practitioners, administrators, researchers, policy makers, education faculty, and/or STEM disciplinary faculty