The mission of CINSAM is to enhance the teaching, learning, and applying of science and mathematics at Northern Kentucky University and in the schools of the Northern Kentucky region through interdisciplinary collaboration.
CINSAM Goals and Strategies
- Develop outstanding teachers of science and mathematics at secondary, middle school, and elementary levels.
- Work to recruit, prepare, and retain highly capable teachers.
- Disseminate information to all area middle and high school teachers and counselors about scholarships available for prospective teachers of mathematics and science. Work with Alliances and school administrators to identify exemplary teachers of mathematics and science at all levels P-12 to act as mentors and cooperating teachers for practica students and student teachers. And support both pre-service and in-service teachers by providing high quality opportunities for continuing professional development.
- Disseminate information to all area middle and high school teachers and counselors about scholarships available for prospective teachers of mathematics and science. Work with Alliances and school administrators to identify exemplary teachers of mathematics and science at all levels P-12 to act as mentors and cooperating teachers for practica students and student teachers. And support both pre-service and in-service teachers by providing high quality opportunities for continuing professional development.
- Develop appropriate courses for undergraduate and graduate students who will be teaching science and mathematics in schools.
- Continue the development of existing Integrative Science courses. Facilitate interactions among science, mathematics, computer science, and science/math education faculties for the purpose of designing and offering courses for science and mathematics teachers.
- Continue the development of existing Integrative Science courses. Facilitate interactions among science, mathematics, computer science, and science/math education faculties for the purpose of designing and offering courses for science and mathematics teachers.
- Develop in-service programs to meet the needs of teachers of science and mathematics.
- Work with mathematics and science alliances and related organizations to identify specific needs. Facilitate the offering of short programs and workshops that are offered collaboratively by mathematics or sciences faculty and their education faculty colleagues. The emphases of these offerings should be to bring knowledge from the disciplines as well as to improve teaching.
- Work with mathematics and science alliances and related organizations to identify specific needs. Facilitate the offering of short programs and workshops that are offered collaboratively by mathematics or sciences faculty and their education faculty colleagues. The emphases of these offerings should be to bring knowledge from the disciplines as well as to improve teaching.
- Provide opportunities for teachers to bring their students to campus to help motivate them in the sciences and mathematics.
- Arrange for use of labs and special equipment; other specially focused after-school activities. Develop and help to mentor competitions-American Mathematics Competition, Math Counts, Science Fair, FIRST Lego League robotics competition, etc. Develop and offer summer and weekend programs originating from NKU for middle grades or high school students in the sciences and/or mathematics.
- Arrange for use of labs and special equipment; other specially focused after-school activities. Develop and help to mentor competitions-American Mathematics Competition, Math Counts, Science Fair, FIRST Lego League robotics competition, etc. Develop and offer summer and weekend programs originating from NKU for middle grades or high school students in the sciences and/or mathematics.
- Work to recruit, prepare, and retain highly capable teachers.
- Prepare students for the workforce where they will be required to solve complex problems in science and technology from an interdisciplinary perspective.
- Recruit the best local science and mathematics students to NKU
- CINSAM Scholarships Faculty visits to high school math and science classes, Science Day; Middle Grades Math Day; competitions, etc. (see 1.c.ii. above)Honors program (see 2.d. below)
- CINSAM Scholarships Faculty visits to high school math and science classes, Science Day; Middle Grades Math Day; competitions, etc. (see 1.c.ii. above)Honors program (see 2.d. below)
- Recruitment and retention of under-represented groups in mathematics and the sciences, e.g. women in the physical and mathematical sciences, African-Americans in all of mathematics and the sciences.
- Recruitment through mentorship programs for minority high school students, e.g. Science Fair, mathematics competitions, summer program. Cooperation with Enrollment Management office to offer peer mentorship program for mathematics and science from under-represented groups. Development of a program for Women in Mathematics and Sciences.
- Recruitment through mentorship programs for minority high school students, e.g. Science Fair, mathematics competitions, summer program. Cooperation with Enrollment Management office to offer peer mentorship program for mathematics and science from under-represented groups. Development of a program for Women in Mathematics and Sciences.
- Provide integrative course opportunities for all majors- at introductory, advanced, and graduate levels.
- Exposure to real-world problems and hands-on solutions. Encouragement of group work and teamwork. Emphasis on development of communication skills as well as computational and analytical abilities.
- Exposure to real-world problems and hands-on solutions. Encouragement of group work and teamwork. Emphasis on development of communication skills as well as computational and analytical abilities.
- Develop Honors science and mathematics courses.
- Organize sections of existing courses with interdisciplinary enrichment activities. Develop new interdisciplinary courses.Work to assure that the Honors program is attractive to science and mathematics students
- Organize sections of existing courses with interdisciplinary enrichment activities. Develop new interdisciplinary courses.Work to assure that the Honors program is attractive to science and mathematics students
- Develop faculty strengths in teaching in an interdisciplinary environment.
- Integrative Teaching ,Seminar Training sessions for prospective teachers of Integrative Science courses. Visiting Scholars or Post-doctoral faculty.
- Integrative Teaching ,Seminar Training sessions for prospective teachers of Integrative Science courses. Visiting Scholars or Post-doctoral faculty.
- Foster research projects involving students with an emphasis on work that integrates the sciences and mathematics. Primary support will be given to projects involving faculty at NKU, although research with faculty from other universities or with scientists at other sites will be considered. Provide additional problem-based opportunities for student work (Applied Learning)
- Externships with industry
Focused internship requiring planned activities with educational objectives. Team projects, e.g. semester/year-long solutions to industrial problems. - Cooperative projects with campus units such as Center for Applied Ecology (CAE)Provide Education students with experience beyond student teaching
Work with students who are under-represented in science and mathematics. Mentoring young students in projects for Science Fair, Science Olympiad, etc. Assist in teaching Integrative Science courses.
- Externships with industry
- Encourage and assist students in presenting the results of their research and applied learning work at campus-wide, regional, national, and international professional venues. Capstone experience wherein students present results of their integrative experience; receive graduation designation as 'CINSAM Scholars'
- Recruit the best local science and mathematics students to NKU
- Educate a citizenry with a refined sense on inquiry and analysis that embodies integration of knowledge.
- Offer venues for the informal discussion of issues in science, mathematics, and science/mathematics education, e.g. a CINSAM cafe. Offer an annual symposium or lecture series. Produce news releases on science/math activities. Address issues in science and mathematics through local media- including the roles science and mathematics play in society as well as providing assistance to the public in evaluating scientific claims related to public policy or consumer issues. Develop electronic media such as the World Wide Web for the promotion of science and mathematics. Offer summer programs for high school students. Other outreach efforts for P-12 students; e.g. competitions, science fair, invention camp, etc.
- Offer venues for the informal discussion of issues in science, mathematics, and science/mathematics education, e.g. a CINSAM cafe. Offer an annual symposium or lecture series. Produce news releases on science/math activities. Address issues in science and mathematics through local media- including the roles science and mathematics play in society as well as providing assistance to the public in evaluating scientific claims related to public policy or consumer issues. Develop electronic media such as the World Wide Web for the promotion of science and mathematics. Offer summer programs for high school students. Other outreach efforts for P-12 students; e.g. competitions, science fair, invention camp, etc.
- Support the Kentucky Center for Mathematics (KCM)
- Promote and develop the capacity of the KCM, especially with external parties including legislators, KDE, and CPE.Serve as the NKU administrative unit for KCM. Assist in seeking external funds for the KCM. Support planning for the KCM and encouraging its alignment with University goals in as much as this is possible.