Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 505 - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMISSION › Chapter 505-3 - EDUCATOR PREPARATION RULES › Rule 505-3-.94 - STEM Education Endorsement Program

Current through Rules and
			 Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
Purpose.
This rule states
			 field-specific content standards for approving endorsement programs that
			 prepare individuals to model STEM content pedagogy in the field and at the
			 grade level of their base certification and supplements requirements in Rule
			 505-3-.01, REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS
			 FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION
			 PROGRAMS.
(2)
In-Field
			 Statement
. Completers of the STEM Endorsement program have strengthened
			 and enhanced competency in STEM content and instruction for teaching students
			 in the field(s) and at the grade levels of their base certificate(s).
(3)
Requirements.
(a) A GaPSC approved professional educator
			 preparation provider may seek state approval to offer this field as either a
			 stand-alone endorsement program or as an endorsement program embedded in a
			 GaPSC-approved initial preparation program or an advanced (degree-only)
			 preparation program. In addition to meeting all applicable approval
			 requirements and standards, embedded endorsement programs must meet
			 requirements specified in paragraph (e) 3. (ix) of GaPSC educator preparation
			 rule 505-3-.01,
			 REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND
			 EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
(b)
			 To receive approval, a GaPSC-approved educator preparation provider shall offer
			 a preparation program described in program planning forms, catalogs, and
			 syllabi addressing the following standards for the preparation of teachers of
			 STEM and STEM related content:
1. The program
			 will prepare candidates who demonstrate their understanding of STEM education
			 as an interdisciplinary endeavor by demonstrating their ability to apply
			 rigorous content across STEM and STEM related disciplines as indicated by the
			 following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate a
			 comprehensive understanding of and the ability to integrate STEM content
			 standards;
(ii) Candidates will be
			 able to articulate a clear definition and understanding of what STEM education
			 is and what it looks like in practice as both interdisciplinary and process
			 driven;
(iii) Candidates will
			 demonstrate the ability to apply integrated STEM and STEM related content to
			 answer complex questions, to investigate local, regional and global issues to
			 make connections and to develop solutions for challenges and real world
			 problems; and
(iv) Candidates will
			 demonstrate knowledge of the benefits of STEM education for all citizens,
			 enabling them to make informed decisions about challenges facing the next
			 generation, for future STEM workforce development and related career
			 opportunities and the skills necessary to be successful in them.
2. The program will prepare
			 candidates who demonstrate that they understand and can engage learners in the
			 ways of thinking and habits of mind used in STEM and STEM related disciplines
			 as indicated by the following:
(i) Candidates
			 will demonstrate the ability to think critically, evaluate complex data, draw
			 evidence-based conclusions, engage in effective argumentation and communicate
			 effectively in written format.
(ii)
			 Candidates will demonstrate the ability to engage students in STEM reasoning
			 that reveals how STEM professionals think and solve problems.
(iii) Candidates will demonstrate the
			 dispositions necessary to be effective interdisciplinary STEM educators (i.e.,
			 life-long learning, value collaborations, flexible, high tolerance for
			 ambiguity, risk taker, innovative, committed to the profession, self-reflective
			 perseverance).
3. The
			 program will prepare candidates who understand and demonstrate the role of
			 meaningful collaboration and partnerships as evidenced by the following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
			 to work effectively within a STEM focused multidisciplinary professional
			 learning community to achieve a common goal and to co-plan authentic STEM based
			 experiences and interdisciplinary lessons;
(ii) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
			 to involve business partners in identifying and solving relevant problems;
			 and
(iii) Candidates will
			 demonstrate the ability to engage local STEM experts in their
			 programs.
4. The program
			 will prepare candidates who demonstrate the ability to engage students using
			 STEM and STEM related discipline pedagogical practices as indicated by the
			 following:
(i) Candidates will demonstrate the
			 ability to effectively engage students in engineering design processes to solve
			 open-ended problems or complete design challenges;
(ii) Candidates will demonstrate the ability
			 to effectively engage students in authentic or investigative research to answer
			 relevant questions;
(iii) Candidate
			 will demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in using STEM
			 reasoning abilities (i.e., computational reasoning, model-based reasoning,
			 quantitative reasoning, engineering design-based reasoning and complex systems
			 thinking);
(iv) Candidates will
			 demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in experiential
			 learning;
(v) Candidates will
			 demonstrate the ability to effectively engage students in project management
			 techniques;
(vi) Candidates will
			 demonstrate proficiency in differentiating instruction related to integrated
			 STEM concepts;
(vii) Candidates
			 will demonstrate the ability to effectively assess students using
			 interdisciplinary STEM performance tasks, and portfolio assessments and create
			 rubrics for these assessments;
(vii) Candidates will be able to demonstrate
			 the ability to facilitate student-led learning and to apply knowledge and
			 skills to novel, relevant and authentic situations;
(viii) Candidates will demonstrate the
			 implementation of authentic teaching and learning strategies, including
			 project-based learning, problem-based learning, and place-based
			 education;
(ix) Candidates will
			 foster a learning environment which encourages risk taking, innovation and
			 creativity; and
(x) Candidates will
			 demonstrate the ability to facilitate student-led team-based learning with
			 appropriate etiquette.
5.
			 The program will provide candidates with authentic experiences in STEM and STEM
			 related careers and teaching environments (a clinical component) as indicated
			 by the following:
(i) Candidates will show
			 evidence of an interaction with a STEM related business or externships with
			 STEM professionals to gain perspective of what it is to work in a STEM or STEM
			 related field;
(ii) Candidates will
			 show evidence of field based experiences that includes observation of
			 classrooms, collaborative planning and interview of teachers in an integrated
			 STEM education environment that is evidenced by reflective documentation;
			 and
(iii) Candidates will complete
			 an interdisciplinary STEM culminating project.