News Release

UW Science Education Takes First STEP June 11, 2007 -- Recent graduate Christopher Harnden says a new University of Wyoming program pairing College of Education undergraduates with graduate researchers gave him a competitive edge. Harnden, of Worland, participated in the launch of the Science Teacher Education Program (STEP) sponsored by Wyoming National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research). The program gives secondary science education majors an opportunity for hand-on research experience at the college level. It also supports them in creating lesson plans based on the research to use in their student teaching residency. "I wasn't even planning to do the program and then a friend convinced me to get involved because it would help with my student teaching," Harnden says. "It was one of the best educational opportunities I've had at UW." STEP fellowships are awarded to science education majors the spring semester of their junior year. The three-semester program carries a stipend for both the STEP fellow and the mentor graduate student. Funding is also available to the secondary school for lab equipment associated with the STEP lesson plan, which remains with the classroom for future use. The program begins in the summer when the science educator assists during six weeks of summer graduate research. Harnden was paired with UW zoology and physiology graduate student Lusha Tronstad to assist her with her research into the illegal introduction of lake trout into Yellowstone National Park. Previous to STEP, Harnden had no experience with research or the scientific method at the college level. "STEP provided me with credibility. I was no longer a science educator going into the classroom trying to portray concepts without having a single day of experience in the lab," Harnden says, jokingly adding, "and the practical application eliminated the students from asking, 'When am I ever going to use this&?apos;" The program benefitted students in Harden’s temporary Laramie junior high and high school classrooms, too. "The biology class I was placed in was more health focused, but I was able to use STEP to apply the research and scientific methods and do lesson planning. Lusha also came in as a guest and talked about her research, which really impressed the students," Harnden says. Before his exposure to the hard science at UW, Harnden says he was unaware of the important research going on at his own university. "Being part of STEP opened my eyes to what the university is doing in terms of research and opportunities available to students outside of the College of Education," he says. "STEP is an incredible program and one that all science educators need to have."