K-12 Teacher Fellowship, 2011-2012

Overview: PRISM is a National Science Foundation Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (NSF GK-12) program that awards 12-month fellowships to eligible graduate students and K-12 teachers. Each PRISM Teacher Fellow partners with a PRISM Graduate Fellow to develop and implement compelling, inquiry-based science lessons. Our Graduate Fellows are science or math Ph.D. students from Emory or Clark Atlanta University who are studying to become scientists/mathematicians, and college professors. Together, each teacher-graduate student team attends a two-week Summer Institute to learn about problem-based learning (PBL) and investigative case-based learning (ICBL) pedagogy. You will spend time together at the Institute and over the summer developing original problems and cases, and adapting existing materials for use in your classroom. Your graduate student partner will assist you in implementing the cases in your class, spending an average of about 10 hrs/wk at your school (actual time spent in the classroom will typically fluctuate from week to week, but you will collaborate to make specific plans).

PRISM is an intense yearlong partnership with a graduate student and requires a significant commitment of time, including a two-week summer institute (June 6-17) and four planning days (one each in July, September, January, and June). Teacher participation also requires an average of 2 hrs/wk during the summer, fall and spring outside of class time to plan with your graduate student, develop and revise lessons, and complete monthly reports. Ultimately, you will gain significant practice in the development and implementation of problem-based learning lessons and you will publish your materials on CASES Online, sharing your work with educators around the world.

Related Programs:

• Chemistry and physics teachers may also be interested in the PRISM/CFNM Teacher Fellowship, which offers an opportunity to participate in PRISM plus a 6-week summer research program in nanoscience at Clark Atlanta University. Learn more...
• The Emory Center for Science Education also offers the Emory-HHMI Teacher Fellowship, an opportunity for teachers to participate in a 6-week summer research program at Emory University and then to create lessons that integrate Emory research into their courses. Learn more...

Important Dates:

Eligibility: PRISM is open to science and mathematics teachers in middle schools and high schools within Atlanta Public Schools, City Schools of Decatur, DeKalb County Schools, and Fulton County Schools. Previous experience with PBL is not required. Former PRISM Fellows are not eligible, but may apply for the PRISM/CFNM Fellowship or the Emory-HHMI Fellowship. Applicants must have the experience and skills to mentor a novice educator in classroom management and student assessment. Applicants must have permission of their principal to participate. We prefer applicants from schools that have other current applicants or former PRISM Fellows (i.e., a team of PRISM teachers at the same school). Teachers who are participating in summer school or have other lasting summer obligations are strongly discouraged from applying because PRISM is so time-intensive.

Application Information: Download the PRISM Teacher Fellowship Application Information document, which contains all information about the Fellowship eligibility, stipend, application procedures, activities and responsibilities, and frequently asked questions. Some of this information is reproduced below. The PRISM Teacher Fellowship application consists of three parts. Applications are not considered complete until all three components have been received.

Part A: Online Survey. Personal and demographic information are collected through this online survey.

Part B: Teacher Materials. Assemble both Part B items together in a single DOC or DOCX file and email it to Jordan Rose at jrose14@emory.edu. Name the file "YourlastnamePRISM11.doc" (if you are applying for the PRISM/CFNM Fellowship, call the file "YourlastnameCFNM11.doc").

1. Resume or curriculum vitae
2. Written Statement - In a 2-4 page, double-spaced, typed statement, please include the following:
   
   • What makes you a good PRISM applicant
   • Why you are interested in the PRISM Fellowship, how you will benefit from participation in PRISM, and how PRISM will benefit from your participation.
   • Your experiences working with others in curriculum development or other educational projects, and your reflections on those experiences (i.e., what worked? what didn't? how did/would you change it next time?)
   • Any other information that might help us choose you
   • Your name and school in the document header

Part C: Letter of Support. Download and print the PRISM Letter of Support Cover Sheet, then complete and sign the top section of the document. If you are a K-12 teacher, use page 1 of the document. If you are a community college instructor, use page 2 of the document. Ask your recommender (principal for K-12 teachers; department chair for community college instructors) to indicate his/her support for your application by signing the Cover Sheet and attaching a Letter of Support. Your recommender should mail, fax, or scan/email the signed cover sheet and letter of support directly to Jordan Rose at the Center for Science Education by the PRISM application deadline.

Contact: For questions regarding the PRISM program, the application process, or to check on the status of your application, contact Jordan Rose (404-712-9242).