Science Education
Center for Restructuring Education
in Science and T echnology
Volume 1, Issue 2: Fall 2005
College of Education and Human Development
George Mason University
New Master’s Cohort Fall 2005
ASTL Science
Provisionally Licensed Science Teachers
Receive Support
The Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning
(ASTL) Science program welcomes a new group of
master’s students. These science teachers come from
three Virginia school divisions and teach in middle
and high schools.
The New Science Teachers’ Support Network
(NSTSN) is a collaboration of George Mason
University, Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince
William County Public Schools, and Arlington Public
Schools to conduct research on effective support
systems for provisionally licensed science teachers in
middle schools and high schools. The goals of
NSTSN are to help beginning teachers succeed at
teaching and remain in the profession, thus helping to
reduce the teacher shortage in secondary schools.
The program, which is funded by the National Science
Foundation, provides provisionally licensed teachers
with two years of support including tuition, coaches,
and mentors. Dr. Donna R. Sterling is lead
investigator, Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas serves as
program evaluator, and Dr. Wendy Frazier is the
program manager. For more information please check
online at:
http://gse.gmu.edu/centersoffices/crest/researchprogr
ams/nstsn.htm
Modeling Physics Instruction
Greg Matthes and Melissa Booker, FCPS teachers,
co-taught a physics/physical science workshop this
summer and fall based on the highly successful
program at Arizona State University. The Modeling
Physics Instruction program is dedicated to researchbased reform of physics instruction at all grade levels
to meet the needs of diverse students along with
sustained professional growth and support for physics
and physical science teachers. Teachers receive
stipends and equipment for participating in the
course. Funded through the VDOE via NCLB, Title II,
Donna R. Sterling serves as Principal Investigator on
the grant in conjunction with Co-Investigators from
Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public
Schools, and Fairfax County Public Schools. Wendy
Frazier is the evaluator for this program.
Crime Busters and Weather Tamers
Summer 2006
Two sessions of camp will be held in summer 2006
for students entering grades 5-7. During our Crime
Busters session, students will learn and use the
techniques of forensic scientists as they solve a
special “Who Dunnit” mystery. During our Weather
Tamers session, students will learn and use the
techniques of meteorologists and policy makers as
they explore the mysteries of our weather and the
impact of weather on the decisions we make.
Students will use various forms of technology. Space
is limited to 24 students per session on a first-come,
first-served basis. For registration information, call
703 993-2043 or go to:
http://gse.gmu.edu/centersoffices/crest/camp
Summer Science Camp 2005 – Motor Mania
Camp was full with a long waiting list.
Vroom, vroom, vroom, squeal, screech! Motor Mania,
the theme of science camp for summer 2005, was a
roaring success as student scientists investigated
automotive engineering and safety as they designed,
built, and tested model cars. The elementary
preservice teachers, under the guidance of Dr. Wendy
Frazier, did a terrific job creating inquiry-based
lessons to help the students develop science
concepts. The students used multiple forms of
technology and visited with police officers, crash
investigators, and driver’s education instructors. The
experience concluded with a Grand Prix Challenge
where student teams competed in various road
hazard challenges. Middle school students get very
excited about science when they investigate a
science problem that extends over several weeks.
They feel that they are acting like scientists and they
are!
Virginia Earth Science Collaborative
In an effort to support Virginia teachers in obtaining
licensure in Earth Science (the greatest science
shortage area in Virginia), nine colleges and
universities, two non profit organizations, and 71
school divisions have partnered to develop
coursework designed to improve the quality of Earth
Science instruction as well as meet licensure
requirements for teaching, thus increasing the number
of highly qualified Earth Science teachers. Mason’s
Dr. Donna Sterling (CREST) and Dr. Rick Diecchio
(Environmental Science and Policy) are investigators
on this project. Dr. Wendy Frazier (CREST) provides
support. Last summer, two courses, Physical Geology
I and Oceanography, were taught at GMU by Dr.Rick
Diecchio, Dr. Randy McBride, Dr. Mark Krekele, and
Dr. Don Kelso with the assistance of Marty
Lindemann, an earth science teacher from Prince
William County Schools. Next summer, two courses,
Virginia Geology (July) and Astronomy (August), will
be offered. This statewide initiative provides tuition
assistance and room and board for out-of-town
teachers. It is being led by the Mathematics and
Science Center in Richmond, VA. For more
information: http://VirginiaEarthScience.info
Doctoral Student Co-teaching
Advanced Science Methods Course
Mollianne Logerwell is co-teaching EDCI 673
Advanced Methods of Teaching Science in
Secondary School with Dr. Wendy Frazier in Fall
2005. The course targets strategies for meeting the
needs of diverse science learners via action research
as well as the effective use of technology to teach
science concepts. Technology specialists in Spring
2005 were inservice teachers Jay Calfee (biology,
Edison HS, FCPS), Jim Jarvis (Earth science,
Jefferson HS, FCPS), Steve Scholla (physics, Oakton
HS, FCPS), and Donna West (Woodson HS, FCPS).
Additionally, Tony Rugari (physics, Edison HS, FCPS)
provided support in meeting the needs of diverse
learners. Technology specialists in Fall 2005 are Jay
Calfee, Jim Jarvis, and Donna West. Many thanks to
our inservice teachers for helping make GMU’s
advanced science methods based on authentic
practice.
Awards
 Jay Raines received the 2005-2006 CEHD SEL
Master’s Degree $500 Student Fellowship Award.
 Stephanie Roche received the CEHD Program
Award for Science Education Leadership at the
spring graduation awards ceremony.
 Mollianne Logerwell was selected as a favorite
teacher by a former student and National Society of
High School Scholars member to be a Claes Nobel
Educator of Distinction.
Congratulations Jay, Stephanie, and Molli!
Student and Faculty
Presentations and Publications
 Amy B. Mannikko & Donna R. Sterling (2005,
October). Making sense of topographic maps.
Science Scope 29(2), 34-40.
 Anastasia Kitsantas, Donna R. Sterling, Wendy
Frazier, Jennifer Hansen, & Mollianne G. Logerwell
(2005, August). Teacher Efficacy, Perceived
Organizational Support, and Commitment of
Science Teachers Participating in a Teacher
Support Program. Paper presented at the 11th
biennial international conference of the European
Association for Research in Learning and
Instruction, Nicosia, Cyprus.
 Stephanie Roche & Donna R. Sterling (2005,
Summer). Presenting mitosis. Science Scope
28(8), 52-53.
 Donna R. Sterling (2005, May). National
Perspectives and Trends on Teaching and
Learning of Mathematics and Science. Keynote
presentation given at the Visioning Process 2015
meeting at the Virginia Mathematics and Science
Center, Richmond, VA.
 Donna R. Sterling, Anastasia Kitsantas, Juanita Jo
Matkins, & Wendy Frazier (2005, April). The New
Science Teachers’ Support Network: Examining Its
Impact on Teachers’ Self-efficacy and Use of
Technology. Paper presented at the annual
international conference of the National Association
for Research in Science Teaching, Dallas, TX.
 Donna R. Sterling, Juanita Jo Matkins, Mollianne
George, M., & Wendy M. Frazier (2005, April).
Beyond Surviving: Making Next Year Easier for
Beginning Teachers. National Science Teachers
Association, Dallas, TX.
Student Funding
CREST actively seeks to support science education
students.
 Mollianne Logerwell received a 20-hour graduate
research assistantship and tuition credit to assist
with CREST activities and to conduct research on
the New Science Teachers’ Support Network, an
NSF funded research program.
 Jennifer Hansen received a 10-hour graduate
research assistantship and tuition credit to conduct
research on the New Science Teachers’ Support
Network.
 Omar Qargha received a 10-hour graduate
research assistantship and tuition credit to conduct
research on the New Science Teachers’ Support
Network.
 Ramachandra Yellapragada received a 10-hour
graduate research assistantship and tuition credit
to be the CREST Database Manager and
Webmaster.
Alumni Accolades
Kelly W. Garton was honored by a former student with
a US Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition award
from the U.S. Department of Education. He is
currently teaching at Walt Whitman High School in
Maryland.
Alfred Hall is Director of Professional Development for
Memphis City Schools. His role is to provide
intensive, ongoing support for all teachers in the
district, in all content areas, while attempting to the
build the capacity within schools to develop
Professional Learning Communities.
CREST
The Center for Restructuring Education in Science
and Technology (CREST) at George Mason
University, focuses on providing quality science,
mathematics, and technology education from early
childhood through adulthood. For information check
online at: http://gse.gmu.edu/centersoffices/crest/
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