Selecting for Success: Identifying STEM Disciplinary Faculty for Involvement in MSPs
STEM disciplinary faculty have been an integral part of the Math and Science Partnership programs' efforts to reform mathematics and science education. Selecting - that is, identifying and recruiting - STEM disciplinary faculty to participate in the work of an MSP is not always a formal process. Selecting STEM faculty who are likely to be successful in roles related to deepening teacher content knowledge requires an understanding of the factors that characterize effective STEM faculty participants and an awareness of strategies that facilitate recruitment of such faculty.
Practice-based Insights on Selecting STEM Disciplinary Faculty
Advice from experienced MSP program leaders offers guidance to those involved in selecting STEM disciplinary faculty for involvement in MSP efforts to improve mathematics and science education. Through a systematic process, a number of MSP program leaders completed an online survey. MSP-Knowledge Management and Dissemination project staff organized advice derived from the survey into a series of insights. MSP program leaders are invited to review and provide written reflection on the insights. Insights provided by a group of MSP program leaders with diverse backgrounds and experiences in working with STEM disciplinary faculty and teachers included the following ideas:
- Deep content knowledge is necessary but not sufficient: Identify STEM faculty who are able to make the content accessible to teachers
- Passion about teaching matters: Seek STEM faculty who are committed to excellence in teaching
- Flexibility is key: Look for STEM faculty who are open-minded and collaborative
- Interest is not enough: Seek STEM faculty who have the time to devote to MSP activities
- When you can't have it all: Prioritize selection factors based on roles that STEM faculty will play
- Tap your networks: Use personal contacts and other strategies to identify prospective faculty
- Repeat as needed: Selecting STEM faculty is an ongoing process
Learn more about practitioner insights on selecting STEM disciplinary faculty
Research on Involving STEM Faculty in Deepening Teacher/Teacher Leader Content Knowledge
Evidence from a targeted search of the empirical literature suggests that involving STEM faculty is an effective approach to deepening teachers' mathematics/science content knowledge. Nine research studies were identified that investigated professional development programs that involved STEM disciplinary faculty in deepening teacher content knowledge. Each of the studies reported positive results on participating teachers' content knowledge.
