Conference Award - Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program DUE Serving Projects in the Midwest

Conference Award - Midwest Noyce Regional Conference at Indianapolis, Indiana Funding for IUPUI and PU to host the annual Midwest Noyce Regional Conferences for the last three years 2010, 2011, and 2012 PI: Kim S. Nguyen, CoPIs: Kathleen Marrs, Signe Kastberg, and John Staver

Theme-based 2010 Preparing Excellent STEM Teachers for Urban & Rural High-Need Schools 2011 Developing Noyce Scholars for Excellent STEM Teaching 2012 Common Core, NGSS and Digital Learners: STEM Teaching at the Crossroads Speakers by Invitation - $500 Honorarium Participants’ Expenses Covered by Grant Four Participants per Project in 15 States, 150 capacity OPPERATIONAL FEATURES

Timing for Scheduling a STEM Teacher Conference Lacking Local PD Support to Scholar Teachers Communication Problems to Sustaining the Networks Information Dissemination – Retaining New Knowledge Lack of Institutional Recognition for PI’s work COMMON CHALLENGES

Funding to host the Annual Noyce Northeast Regional Conferences for the last two years 2011 and 2012 Gregory Phelan, SUNY Cortland (NY) Lisa Gonsalves, UMass Boston (MA) and Sheila Vaidya, Drexel University (PA)

OPERATIONAL FEATURES  Theme-based 2011 Teacher Collaboration: Supporting the Noyce Teacher Community to Improve Teaching and Learning 2012 Learning from Each Other for Excellent STEM Teaching in High-Need Schools  Keynote Speakers by Invitation - $400 Honorarium  Participant’s Expenses Covered by Grant  Four Participants per Project 12 States (CT, DE, MD, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, WV, VT) Capacity: 200 “Overall it was a fun, exciting and inspiring conference and also, it provided some tools necessary for effective teaching in high-need schools.”

 Representation  45 Programs 2011  50 Programs 2012  Attendance Philadelphia: Scholars 73 Administrators 12 Special Guests Boston: Scholars 93 Administrators 13 Special Guests 8 Master Teachers Hands-on Sessions OPERATIONAL FEATURES “Nicely done. Not too long. Very good keynotes! Nice, impressive turnout of both scholars and program people.” Pre-/Post- Conference Workshops

Overall Evaluation - Why did you attend? (1 most important reason)

Overall Evaluation 1.Connection. The smaller scale and intimacy of the regional conference allows participants to feel more comfortable connecting with each other. 2.Regional Relevance. Sessions and information geared towards needs of attendees in region 3.Phone a Friend. The regional conference fosters the sense that support from other Scholars/PIs is always available to participants 4.PI/Scholar Interaction. The informal and intimate atmosphere of the regional conference allows PI/Scholar interaction in a way that could not occur in any other way. One PI indicated that one of her scholars felt comfortable enough at the conference to approach her and discuss difficulty with a placement. She indicated that this conversation would never have happened in the more formal setting of the college/program. (Source: 2012 Overall Conference Evaluation) Regional Conference Benefits