Sept. 29, 2006 -- Four faculty members at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro have been awarded a National Science Foundation grant entitled CSI: Arkansas.

Dr. Karen Yanowitz of the Department of Psychology and Counseling, Dr. Ann Ross of the Department of Teacher Education, and Dr. Staria Vanderpool and Dr. Tanja McKay of the Department of Biological Sciences prepared the successful grant proposal.

One goal of this three-year project, funded at slightly more than $1 million, is to improve science education and use of technology in high school classrooms. The other goal is to increase the number of students who pursue post-secondary education for career preparation in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, often referred to as STEM disciplines, or information technology, often referred to as IT.

The researchers will conduct summer workshops for teachers and students, using forensic sciences as an integrating theme and using a team-based problem solving approach.

The consortium of school districts that will participate in this project have historically had small numbers of students headed for STEM or IT careers.

"Increasing the number of students who engage in post-secondary education and STEM or IT career preparation can have a profound effect on the social and economic climate of the region, as well as dramatically affecting the future lives of our participants," according to Dr. Yanowitz, who is serving as principal investigator for the project.

Initially, the participating schools are Forrest City School District, Lee County School District, Cross County School District, and the Earle and Marion School Districts in Crittenden County.

More participants will be recruited from Arkansas and the surrounding states of Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi. Mentors will assist teachers during the year, and the teachers will engage in a variety of follow-up activities.

The Northeast Arkansas Regional Partnership for Science/Math Education, directed by Jannie Trautwein and Cynthia Miller, will be integrally involved throughout the project.

Parents and school counselors will also be invited to participate in sessions, to help give them tools to encourage students to continue in post-secondary education, specifically in science and technology career preparation.

"The field of forensic sciences was chosen as an integrating theme for the project because it allows teachers to integrate an inquiry-based approach to pedagogy through a wide variety of activities," Yanowitz added. "Work-force skill development will also be facilitated by engaging in team based problem-solving activities. Parents and school counselors will also be invited to participate in sessions, to help give them tools to encourage students to continue in post-secondary education, and specifically in STEM career preparation."

The project will include evaluation methods to determine the benefits to the participating teachers and students. This information will provide long-term benefits by analyzing the most effective methods of encouraging students to participate in activities that will lead to post-secondary education and STEM/IT career preparation.

Contact: Dr. Karen Yanowitz, 870-972-3064