IMPACT OF THE GK12 PROGRAM:
Teacher: “I am certainly not
the same teacher that I was
before this experience…(this
has) changed the way that I
approach the education of my
students”
Ph.D. Student:
Interested?
If you are interested in
learning more about this
program or have additional
questions, please email Faith
Weeks (fweeks@purdue.edu)
for more information.
“participating in GK12 was
the single best decision I have
made in my professional life
and it will forever influence
my career path in the future”
PFF/PFP
GK-12
Program
Teachers and Graduate
Students Working
Together to Enhance
Education
NEXT STEP
If you would like to participate
in this program all you need to
do is send an informal one page
(maximum) biography of
yourself, your teaching style,
and a description of your
classes/subject/ proposed
curriculum to Faith Weeks
(fweeks@purdue.edu). This
information will be used to
match you with a Purdue
graduate student for the Fall
2011 semester.
Purdue University
Graduate School
Ernest C. Young Hall
155 S. Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN
47907
Purdue University
Graduate School
PFF/PFP GK-12
Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
 Modeled on a very successful program
funded by the NSF
 Ph.D. students serve as “visiting
scholars” in local middle schools
 Teachers and Ph.D. students work
together to integrate research and new
approaches into classrooms
 Ph.D. students will observe the
classroom first, then gradually assist
teachers – working up to teaching a
lesson as the primary teacher
PROGRAM GOALS
1. Provide training, mentoring, and
experiences for graduate students to
develop their abilities as potential
future faculty and professionals
2. Enhance quality of education in
middle schools
3. Provide professional opportunities
and content support for middle school
teachers
4. Foster partnerships between the
university and local schools
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Teachers:
 Primary: Act as a mentor to your participant
 Incorporate your participant into the classroom,
using them as a resource
 Educate your participant on the ins and outs of
teaching in a middle school
 Co-teach with your participant, modeling how to
be an effective teacher and creating lesson plans
 Work with your participant to create an inquirybased lesson plan based on their research and
determine materials necessary for the lesson
 Submit a one page final reflective essay about
the participant’s lesson plan
 Assist in teaching at least one session of the
participant’s lesson plan
PROGRAM TIMELINE
August 31st
 Deadline to Sign Up to Participate
September 2nd
 Teacher Orientation
 Teacher/Participant Meet & Greet
 3:45pm-5:40pm at Tecumseh
September 12th – November 18th
 Participants in the Classroom
Week of November 7th
 Final Week for Participant Lesson Plans
in the Classroom
Ph.D. Students:
 Attend training and check in meetings to learn
more about lesson planning and teaching in a
middle school
 Commit to being in the classroom for 1 day per
week (roughly 7 hours)
 Obtain a service learning grant from Purdue
University to support any classroom costs
 Create a inquiry-based lesson plan based on
their Ph.D. research
 Submit a weekly reflective journal on experiences
in the classroom
 Submit final lesson plan, all associated
materials, and a one page final reflective essay
about their lesson plan
 Observe the classroom then co-teach with the
teacher for both teacher and participant lesson
plans
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Teachers:
Enhance lesson plans and teaching
Add new lessons based on research
Content matter support
Increased understanding of “research”
Your Students:
Exciting new curriculum additions
New role models in the classroom
Participants:
New way to apply their research
Improved teaching abilities & knowledge
Better understanding of K-12 education
Enhanced communication skills