Joshua A. Ellis Receives $100K NSF Grant to Equip STEM Teachers
December 04, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana needs 2,500+ teachers. Among teaching specialties, the
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects face some of the
greatest staffing shortfalls. LSU Science/STEM Education Associate Professor Joshua Ellis, PhD, received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for $101,264. The project titled Collaborative Research: Investigating the
Impact of Video-based Analysis of Classroom Teaching on STEM Teacher Preparation,
Effectiveness, and Retention aims to equip teachers and teacher candidates with skills
and inclusive approaches to STEM teaching. 
This research uses videos of STEM teaching to engage teacher candidates and new teachers. The goal is to build skills in noticing inclusive approaches to STEM teaching. The project will include approximately 200 future and current STEM teachers in video-based analysis through teacher preparation programs at seven institutions geographically spread across the country. The research is designed to investigate the impact of a video-based approach on STEM teacher effectiveness and retention in high-need schools. The project has the potential to produce new insights about this model of using videos for preparing and retaining effective STEM teachers in high-need schools. The grant complements the recently publicized NSF grant awarded to the GeauxTeach STEM program at LSU.
“This Noyce Track 4 grant will greatly support our understanding of how technology-assisted video-based tasks can help our teacher candidates develop their capacities for inclusive STEM teaching,” Ellis states. “Our partnership spans seven institutions and has the potential to support hundreds of future science teachers and thousands of K-12 students in high-need schools across the country,” said Ellis. These universities include Vanderbilt University, Texas State University San Marcos, Teachers College Columbia University, West Chester University, University of Northern Iowa, Louisiana State University, and Kennesaw State University.
“Together with the Noyce Track 1 grant that our GeauxTeach STEM program received earlier this year, we’re demonstrating our commitment to preparing LSU students to become highly successful STEM teachers for young minds in Louisiana and beyond,” said Ellis.
"This work holds great promise for helping improve the effectiveness of teachers in disciplines critical to the future of Louisiana and the nation," said the college’s Associate Dean for Academic Programs & Institutional Effectiveness and LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education Interim Director, Eugene Kennedy, PhD.
Findings from this research will help better understand STEM teacher education at LSU and other universities can prepare future teachers across the United States to teach more effectively in high-need schools.
Joshua A. Ellis, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Science and STEM Education in Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education at Louisiana State University. Ellis is the Co-Director of the GeauxTeach STEM program. Previously held positions include president of the Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education and co-chair of the Science Education Special Interest Group.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.
About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education
A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.
Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.