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Penn State Erie faculty pilot program for teachers By Loretta Brandon
Penn State Erie faculty and staff members involved in the High Aspirations program for local teachers are, seated, from left, Peggy McCarthy, area representative for Continuing Education, and Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, assistant professor of psychology; back row, from left, Dr. Peg Thoms, assistant professor of management; Dr. Dawn Blasko, associate professor of psychology; and Dr. Charisse Nixon, assistant professor of psychology. Penn State Erie faculty members Dr. Charisse Nixon (left), assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, assistant professor of psychology, preview part of an ecosystem that Kazmerski will introduce in the High Aspirations program for Erie area teachers.	An interdisciplinary team of faculty at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has developed a 15-hour training program to help elementary and middle school teachers improve their understanding of adolescent achievement. They presented the pilot program in the Corry Area School District.   Named “High Aspirations,” the program is designed to help teachers motivate and encourage students to excel in math, science and technology. High Aspirations is supported by a $12,000 grant from Penn State Outreach and Cooperative Extension’s Program Innovation Fund.   “We are doing our best to help teachers make the case that all parts of education are important and relevant,” said Dr. Dawn Blasko, associate professor of psychology, leader of the team and lead investigator for the Program Innovation Fund grant. “We must integrate science, math and technology activities into the curriculum early on, so that students develop a wide variety of skills. If we can do that, we have the potential to broaden their career horizons.”   The teaching offered in High Aspirations, which directly relates to the newly established Pennsylvania Department of Education academic standards for science and technology, includes research-based strategies and instructional techniques for teachers to use in the classroom setting. Although the program was originally proposed as a way to serve teachers in northwestern Pennsylvania, the University’s intent is that Penn State Erie develop a model program that can be used throughout the state.   In addition to providing 15 hours of teacher education, the High Aspirations team has developed a World Wide Web site that teachers and students can use to gather information on career exploration, role models in specific career fields and project-based activities that will boost student participation in math and science. The Penn State Erie faculty team hopes that the site develops into an e-mentoring program, where volunteer role models can encourage students via e-mail.   “Teachers have the ability to modify students’ beliefs,” Blasko said. “Research shows that when teachers are made aware of the cultural influences that keep students from excelling in math and science, they begin to change their teaching — and their students.”   Five professors are conducting three-hour inservice programs for teachers: Development of Achievement Orientation is presented by Dr. Charisse Nixon, assistant professor of psychology, who teaches developmental psychology. She explores achievement motivation and the critical transition from elementary to middle school years. Barriers to Achievement is presented by Dr. Dawn Blasko, associate professor of psychology, whose research concerns application of findings in cognitive psychology. She explores factors that reduce a student’s performance in school and negatively impact later career aspirations. Business is presented by Dr. Peg Thoms, assistant professor of management in the School of Business, who teaches management, human resources and leadership. She explains how children can be introduced to a variety of jobs through fun activities. Science is presented by Dr. Victoria Kazmerski, assistant professor of psychology, who worked as a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute before joining the Penn State Erie faculty. Participants learn about a wide variety of science-related careers and experience activities that will actively engage their students in science. Engineering and Technology is presented by Kathryn Holliday-Darr, instructor in engineering graphics, whose research interests include graphics, visualization and working with first-year students in the engineering technology program. She demonstrates reverse engineering of an inexpensive, everyday product to show how many hands-on careers are involved in production of goods.
© 2002 Outreach Communications,   Outreach & Cooperative Extension,   The Pennsylvania State University phone: (814) 865-8108,   fax: (814) 863-2765,   e-mail: outreachnews@outreach.psu.edu