Tech Team GEMS

The core goal of Tech Team GEMS professional development model is three-fold: (1) to establish and nurture a commitment to professionalism among new teachers; (2) build a substantial foundation of inquiry-based learning practices, particularly as it relates to math, science and technology teaching and learning, and encouraging full integration of inquiry-based learning objectives into the regular classroom and the after-school program network; (3) create an on-going learning community amongst new teachers that supports and challenges their practice as well as provide a forum for sharing and navigating the challenges of  executing innovative ideas and best practices.

Forty (40) North Carolina Middle School Teachers in Title I Schools will be eligible for professional development grants through the National Science Foundation Grant (NSF) as part of a tri-state partnership sponsoring North Carolina (UNC-TV), South Carolina (SCETV) and Georgia (GPB).  Teachers will apply online at www.knowitall.org/ttgems.  The number of teachers coming from any one particular school is limited to no more than five.  This a two year program, but teachers who do not complete the program do not have to pay back the money for the free courses.  There is no penalty other than those teachers would not be eligible to apply for the Tech Team mini-grant in the second year. Teachers have to complete all three courses to be eligible for the mini-grant.

The Tech Team program (www.knowitall.org/techteam will provide teacher-training courses through TeacherLine, a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) series of online professional development courses staffed by scholars in state-of-the-art teaching practices. These courses are directed towards working teachers and offer a powerful tool for change in the professional lives of educators. Additionally, administrators will host several symposia and on-site training opportunities for teachers to develop appropriate versions of Tech Team programs in their area. The program will culminate with a summer camp to address issues of program implementation and provide a forum where participating teachers can showcase their projects.