Cal Poly San Luis Obispo MSTI

At California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, the Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education—CESAME  oversees MSTI efforts. CESaME has developed into a campus-wide center that draws together teacher educators and content educators from nearly all colleges to address recruitment, preparation, and professional development of math and science teachers.  In addition, it serves as a catalyst for initiatives on STEM education with the campus, P-12 community, other four-year institutions, foundation, industry, and federal lab partners.

A key recruitment strategy of the Cal Poly MSTI Program involves providing early field experiences for pre-service STEM teachers.  The Cal Poly Learn By Doing Lab (LBDL) provides opportunities for STEM undergraduates and Liberal Studies Majors pursuing FLGS credentials with the opportunity to teach informal science and engineering activities to visiting elementary and middle school students and teachers in a lab environment on campus.

Over the past four years, more than 300 undergraduates have taught over 8,500 3rd-8th grade students from the Central Coast community.  Another early field experience provided through MSTI support is the Teacher Assistants in Math and Science (TeAMS) Program.  TeAMS students serve as teaching assistants and tutors in local 5th-12th grade STEM classrooms and after school tutoring programs.

In addition, CESaME coordinates the STEM Teacher and Researcher—STAR (www.StarTeacherResearcher.org ) Program on behalf of the entire CSU system.  Since Summer 2007, the STAR Program has provided over 220 research placements at national research facilities (primarily NASA and Department of Energy) to over 170 pre-service STEM teachers.  This program is open to all CSU STEM majors considering careers in teaching science and mathematics.

Campus MSTI Director

Chance Hoellwarth, choellwa@calpoly.edu

Visit the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo MSTI site