DALLAS, June 19, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- William Scanlon needed support on the structure of different molecules and cellular functions during an online NMSI AP Biology student study session this spring.
"The NMSI coach made anything I didn't understand easier to understand," said William, who recently completed his 10th-grade year at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California. "Now, I don't have trouble with it anymore."
Thousands of teachers and students who were scheduled for in-person sessions this spring and summer will receive NMSI's online-only trainings and study supports that are live and recorded.
Online delivery is not new for NMSI, which is building on its experience to maintain and grow supports for students, teachers and school systems across the country. Focusing on its mission to serve students furthest from opportunity, NMSI is working with school partners to determine digital access needs and will help them connect to hardware and broadband providers to remove barriers to academic achievement.
"Education is vital to a healthy, strong community, which is why we're expanding access to NMSI's online supports during this time of need," said Bernard Harris, Jr., NMSI's CEO. Harris is a medical doctor who was the first African-American astronaut to complete a spacewalk.
From July 13-24, NMSI will provide online summer teacher and school leadership trainings.
For the 2020-21 school year, NMSI is planning for blended (in person and online) teacher trainings and will continue offering online student study supports. The in-person teacher sessions will move online if necessary, according to health guidelines. Along with scheduled teacher and student sessions during the summer, fall and spring, as well as other support options from NMSI coaches and teacher cohorts, students and teachers now will have 24-7 access to NMSI supports via on-demand online modules.
NMSI also offers free video lessons in math, science and English, available via YouTube, that include work students can do to apply what they have learned.
John Urschel, a former lineman for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and an MIT doctoral candidate, said he provided a video for the project because he wants to inspire more students to understand and appreciate math.
"Math is foundational to everything in our lives, and I'm happy to do what I can to show young people that they can be successful in it," said Urschel, author of "Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football." "I'm also happy to provide help to teachers and to families struggling to deliver online education. It's a challenging time, but we'll get through it together."
Along with Urschel, NMSI's video lessons come from teachers from across the country who each have a record of successfully preparing students for college. Those and hundreds of other teachers help NMSI deliver two of the nonprofit's primary programs.
The Laying the Foundation program helps grades 3-12 teachers prepare students for rigorous high school courses, such as those under the College Board's Advanced Placement® program. The flagship College Readiness Program supports AP® teachers and students and helps school systems reform how they manage access to advanced courses.
In addition to LTF and CRP, NMSI supports students of military members through its Military Families Mission. It also increases access to computer science education in grades K-12 and helps prepare pre-service STEM teachers through a partnership with the UTeach Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.
About NMSI
Founded in 2007, the National Math and Science Initiative increases student access and achievement in rigorous courses, particularly for students furthest from opportunity, by providing evidenced-based educator training, classroom and lab supplies and unique student study sessions led by highly accomplished teachers. The nonprofit has reached more than 2 million students and 50,000 teachers across the country through in-person, online-only and blended services. Bring the College Readiness Program to your school or contact us for more information.
Media Contact
Angela Chambers
Communications Manager, NMSI
P: 214-525-3046 | E: [email protected]
SOURCE National Math and Science Initiative
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