October 14, 2008
Major statewide NSF math & science partnership includes Alliance research and evaluation effort
In a $12.5 million award from the National Science Foundation to the University of Rhode Island, in partnership with Rhode Island College, The Education Alliance will lead evaluation efforts to assess the statewide program focused on improving K-12 science and math education. The Rhode Island Technology Enhanced Sciences (RITES) program will build on extant initiatives across the state focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines through a rollout of professional development, online resources, research-based content and partnered support. The curriculum and resources developed through the RITES program hold promise not only to improve science and math teaching and learning in Rhode Island but also to develop a structural model for similar instructional reforms for districts or regions beyond the state.
The RITES Leadership Team:
Back l to r: Bob Tinker (Concord Consortium), Peter McLaren (RIDE),
Glênisson de Oliveira (RIC), Ken Biel (Concord Consortium)
Front l to r: Deborah Collins (EA), Kathryn Crowley (Johnston Public Schools),
Dan Murray (URI)
Not pictured: David Cedrone (RIEDC)
Core partners of the program include the Concord Consortium, a nonprofit education research and development organization that develops and creates online interactive courseware, some of which is already in use Rhode Island schools. Johnston Public Schools and the Rhode Island Department of Education are also core partners, collaborating in efforts to engage middle and high schools in the immediate design phase of this program. Brown University, the Community College of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation are supporting partners in coordinating the statewide focus and emphasis on aligned, inquiry based instruction through technology and secondary/postsecondary partnerships.
Alliance evaluators will focus on four components of RITES over the five years of the NSF funded program: professional development, classroom instruction, student achievement, and structural systems (including partnerships and institutional systems). True to the partner based spirit of this program, evaluators will also share in development of research components within the program and coordinate evaluation efforts with URI, RIC and Concord educational research agendas to inform the ultimate goal of the RITES program--improving student learning.
For more information on the RITES program , contact: Dr. Dan Murray—dpjmurray
gmail.com (PI) or Dr. Glênisson de Oliveira—gdeoliveiraric.edu (PI); or visit Rhode Island’s STEM education web portal.
For more information about the Concord Consortium, visit the website or email kbellconcord.org.
For information on the Alliance's research and evaluation work with STEM initiatives, contact: Dr. Deborah Collins, Director of Research and Evaluation, d_collinsbrown.edu.
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