Tech Team GEMS
Wanted Middle School Teachers in First Five Years of Teaching
National Science Foundation Grant-Tech Gems

Are you a North Carolina middle school teacher in the first five years of teaching?  Are you teacher either math or science?  Working within a Title I middle school?  If so, this National Science Foundation professional development grant is for you.  If not, do you know someone who fits this description? 

To be eligible you must meet ALL of these requirements:

1. Teaching at a Title One school in NC, GA, or SC
2. In the first five years of teaching
3. Teacher of math or science
4. Teach grades 5, 6, 7, or 8.

UNC-TV in collaboration with South Carolina Educational Television and Georgia Public Broadcasting received a grant from the National Science Foundation to offer mini grants to 120 Title Middle School teachers in NC, SC & GA.  Let's get the 40 North Carolina slots signed up.  The website that teachers need to register is available.

Features of the website: www.knowitall.org/ttgems

1. There is a running total for each state to check to see how many seats are still available under the Courses Tab.
2. Important dates for the next two years under the Calendar Tab
3. Access to full syllabus of course work information under the GEMS Courses Tab
4. Program benefits under the Summer Camp Tab
5. Accepts on-line registration

After teachers apply the following message will be sent to them via email:  Thank you for your registration in the Tech Team GEMS project. A Username and Password will be sent to each participant once registration is complete. A Project Manager will be contacting you via email within 48 hours of your submission to complete the registration process.

Tech Team GEMS Goals

(1)   To establish and nurture a commitment to professionalism among new teachers

(2)   To 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)   To 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.

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.

Be sure to check out this excellent opportunity before the deadline on March 31, 2006. 

Emily M. Castleberry, UNC Center for Public Television
TeacherLine Manager and Literacy Coordinator