Montana K-8 Teacher Preparation in STEM

Author

Jeanette MurnaneFollow

Graduation Year

2016

Graduation Month

December

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts – Education

School or Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Major

Education – Elementary Education

Faculty Mentor Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Faculty Mentor

Lisa M. Blank

Keywords

STEM, Teacher Preparation, Common Core, NGSS

Subject Categories

Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Methods | Elementary Education and Teaching | Scholarship of Teaching and Learning | Science and Mathematics Education

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to find out how K-8 teacher education programs in Montana can

be improved to better prepare teachers to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts. While research has been done on what types of courses best prepare teachers for the classroom, my study focuses on how well Montana colleges and universities prepare K-8 certified teachers to teach STEM concepts. A survey was sent out to K-8 certified teachers across Montana to determine how well new teachers can utilize the technology available in their classrooms and what concepts within Common Core Math and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) teachers are adequately prepared to teach in their first few years. Results were inconclusive, as the response rate of the survey was too low to be statistically significant. However, the data collected has implications for future research as the Montana Office of Public Instruction and Montana colleges and universities must decide if it possible to provide teacher candidates with enough depth in STEM content areas in a broad K-8 certification program.

Honors College Research Project

1

Recommended Citation

Murnane, Jeanette, "Montana K-8 Teacher Preparation in STEM" (2016). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 121.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/121