Seattle Pacific University

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Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community.

NextGen STEM implementation at Seattle Pacific University works most closely with the following Working Groups: Education for Sustainability (leveraging the expertise of the Working Group and the experiences in other institutions, learning how to integrate EfS into the curriculum); Pedagogical Content Knowledge (fostering collaboration among education faculty and disciplinary faculty in STEM fields and sharing PCK expertise); Computer Science (leverage the expertise developed by the Working Group to develop curriculum that focuses on computational thinking and integrates computer science, and consider endorsements and certifications in Computer Science), and Clinical Practice (developing expertise and framework to structure mentor modules).

Metrics of successful implementation of NextGen STEM Teacher Preparation include:

By 2020: work to increase and strengthen collaborations between colleges; analyze (including through student surveys) undergraduate students' experiences including in teaching methods courses with support from NextGen Working Groups; incorporate Computer Science competencies in course.

By 2025: our teacher candidates have a seamless experience as undergraduates navigating the different units in the University.

Barriers and strengths:

• Pre-service teachers have high course load; students do not experience seamless transitions from different schools; few education students in STEM fields, no systemic recruitment strategies for STEM teaching.
• SPU has commitment to personalized instruction and an expert, creative faculty. Students in the Elementary Ed Integrated Studies program have strong content knowledge and exposure.