Dalton State College is hosting several programs this summer that are designed to increase student achievement in the areas of science and mathematics.

A $41,200 grant from the state’s Board of Regents’ Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) is providing funding for both the PRISM Summer Institute for Teachers, to be held at Southeast High School, and for a new PRISM program for Latino teens, which is being held in conjunction with the Summer Academy on the Dalton State campus.

PRISM is an initiative of the University System of Georgia which was funded in 2003 by a five-year, $34.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

“Last summer, the College sponsored its first PRISM Summer Institute for Teachers, which provided area teachers with an excellent opportunity to improve their content knowledge of math and science, and to develop new strategies for the instruction of these subjects,” says Dr. Mary Edwards, Chair of the Division of Education at Dalton State.

The Summer Institute, to take place during the last week of June at Southeast High School, is a week-long program in which participating teachers are provided with challenging coursework, instructional strategies, learning technologies and assessment instruments that can be used in their classrooms.

National consultants are brought in to deliver the content and pedagogy in target areas in science and math, Edwards says, noting that such units as cells and microorganisms, landforms in Georgia, number sense and numeration, etc. are taught during the week.

“These teachers gain additional content and pedagogical skills that will enable them to more effectively teach their students in accordance with the new Georgia Performance Standards requirements for students in fourth through eighth grades,” Edwards says.

Funding provides for 25 participants in the math program and 25 participants in the science program, Edwards says, noting that those who take part in the program can earn Professional Learning Units (PLUs).

On the Dalton State campus, a new PRISM program has been initiated this year to provide enrichment opportunities in math and science for recent Latino high school graduates. The PRISM Academy is being held in conjunction with the College’s annual Summer Academy, an academic enrichment program for middle and high school Latino youths.

“About 20 Latino high school graduates are participating in math and science courses taught by two Dalton State College professors,” says Jo-Anne Schick, Coordinator of the PRISM Academy.

“These classes have been designed to encourage the students’ interest in these subject areas so that they might continue at Dalton State in mathematics or science or education,” she adds.

“This innovative collaboration will provide students from the Dalton-Whitfield community with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in the future.”