Puerto Rico AMP Teacher Preparation Program
		Dr. Manuel Gomez Program Director

Puerto Rico is undertaking a systemic reform to improve the quality of mathematics and science education from kindergarten to graduate levels to promote the achievement of high performance standards for all students, and to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups participating in science and mathematics fields. PR-AMP/TP builds on, as well, to these reform efforts.

PR-AMP/TP has strengthened collaborative efforts between the College of Education and Natural Science by working together in the design and implementation to increase the number of science and mathematics education majors who become certified Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics teachers and SMET students who obtain a B.S. degree who are also certified as teachers in these areas.

PR-AMP/TP provides for enhancements of core academic experiences through:

• seminars on innovative S&M education strategies that integrate content with pedagogical skills based on the PR-SSI curriculum;

• summer research to strengthen teacher preparation in scientific research and summer internships for SMET students to participate as training assistants in the professional development activities for PR-SSI teachers; and

• workshops on science process and skills, teacher certification requirements, school laws, rights and obligations, cooperative learning, study/learning skills (TaDDEI), and Peer Mentoring

Major accomplishments include:

• increase in the number of students who are certified as physics, chemistry and mathematics teachers from 22 in 1994 to 27 in 1995-96;
• the certification in physics of 42 current science and mathematics teachers in the educational system who had been teaching physics courses without the required certification;
• number of participants engaged in scientific research experiences has been increased from 0 to 21, providing a first time opportunity for science education majors; and
• enhancement of the science and mathematics teacher preparation curriculum by providing participants with additional core academic experiences, as well as special activities to increase their preparation in scientific research.

For more information, contact:

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