The South West Association for Science Teacher Education (SWASTE) is holding a regional meeting on October 15-16 on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Anyone interested in the improvement of science teacher education programs is encouraged to register and attend the meeting. The conference web site is: http://educonf.wordpress.com/
Taking Collaborative Action to Improve the Preparation of Science Teachers in the Southwest
The Southwest Association for Science Teacher Educators (SW-ASTE), a seven-state regional arm of the National Association for Science Teacher Educators, hosts an annual conference for a small group of science teacher educators who share their research and experiences in supporting the continuous professional growth of K-12 science teachers. Active members have traditionally included science faculty members and their graduate students from four-year colleges and universities serving science teachers in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.
In this conference year, the SW-ASTE Board hopes to extend regional members to include a broader range of colleagues who also contribute to the growth and development of science teachers. With this conference year, the SW-ASTE Board wishes (a) to begin to increase and expand the diversity of our membership and (b) to include a wider variety of institutions and educators – community colleges, historically black institutions, educational service centers, alternative certification providers, scientists, engineers, classroom teachers and administrators. Increased membership, expansion in diversity, and a wider distribution of expertise would strengthen the existing structure of the organization while encouraging new opportunities for collaboration and improving the quality of preparation and support of science teachers in the region.
Bring collaborative partners with you to SW-ASTE this year. Share your innovations in collaborative partnerships that serve to improve science teacher preparation or ongoing professional development. Learn about new, exciting possibilities for action team funding to address regional concerns related to science teacher preparation and ongoing professional development.