Summer Mathematics and Science Institute
July 6 - July 23, 2009

This is a joint project of the City of Worcester Public Schools and the Department of Education at the College of the Holy Cross. It is sponsored by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

The goal of the grant is to strengthen teachers' ability to improve their students' mathematics skills, especially in contexts linked to science. A special focus of this project is on middle school STEM learning since research indicates that the competencies of and curricular choices made by middle school students can determine the trajectory of their high school science and mathematics careers. A special emphasis is placed on discovery-based, content-driven approaches that will allow students to "discover" scientific facts and principles in their classrooms and laboratories through the use of mathematical techniques. Participants will be encouraged to consider how the activities in this workshop align with the Massachusetts Frameworks for Mathematics, Science, and Technology/Engineering.

Professor Diane Bukatko, the Chair of the Deparment of Education at Holy Cross is the principal investigator.