AMSTI—An Initiative to Improve Science and Math Education in Alabama

What is AMSTI? The acronym stands for Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative. The goal of AMSTI is to provide well-trained teachers and the equipment, materials, and resources needed for hands-on, activity-based math and science education. With AMSTI’s support, students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in post-secondary studies and in the work force. The initiative is funded by the Alabama Department of Education. Regional AMSTI master sites provide all services and resources at no cost to participating schools.

A variety of materials for FOSS kits and the other AMSTI curicula are stored in these red bins, ready for replenishing consumable items and refurbishing any broken equipment in the returned kits.

Students from the University of Alabama in Huntsville are part of the refurbishment team for the kits supplied by the AMSTI site.

AMSTI got its start in January 2000 when the Alabama Department of Education appointed a blue-ribbon committee comprised of K–12 educators, higher education representatives, and business leaders to design the most effective statewide initiative for improving math and science teaching. The committee explored every step possible in creating AMSTI, including reviewing the research into best practices and incorporating what they learned to improve for math and science teaching.

The warehouse at the AMSTI site at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) keeps a suply of FOSS Science Stories on hand to replenish the kits.

AMSTI sites provide almost all of the equipment, supplies, and resources needed to effectively engage students with hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Equipment includes labware, chemicals, global-positioning devices, plants with growth containers, and many other items. The resources arrive packaged in kits ready for immediate use. Each kit is customized for the specific activities to be taught. Once students complete the activities, the kit is returned to a materials center where it is refurbished to like-new condition. FOSS modules make up part of the Alabama course of study.

Once teachers complete the summer institute, AMSTI also provides extensive on-site support and mentoring. Math and science specialists from the site regularly visit the schools where they serve as mentors, helping teachers implement what was learned during the summer. Such support is vital for teachers to become comfortable and skilled at inquiry-based, hands-on learning. This is just a snapshot of AMSTI. To find out more, visit online at http://www.amsti.org/index.html.

AMSTI site staff and students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville: Reba Turk (second from left, UAH Science Specialist), Carolyn Pistorius (third from left, Assistant Site Director/UAH Science Specialist), Patsy Hensley (fourth from left, Materials Center Manager), and Carol Crowley (far right, UAH Sr. Staff Assistant/Buyer).

Editor’s Note

TThe AMSTI UAH site maintains a separate warehouse for housing the refurbished kits before they are loaded into trucks to deliver to the various schols..

In November 2007, I had the opportunity to travel to Alabama to visit to two AMSTI sites, one in Huntsville and another in Florence. Imagine walking into a warehouse full of FOSS kits! It was a real treat to a FOSS developer to see such active use of the FOSS program. Many thanks to the staff who provided the tours of their facilities. These are just a few photos of the two sites.

In February 2008, the AMSTI Center at the University of Montevallo hosted the national FOSS Materials Management Institute in collaboration with the FOSS Project at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Special thanks to the Montevallo AMSTI staff for this opportunity.

Brent Putman (Materials Manager) and Sheley Hollis (Site Director) lead the team that maintains the kits for the AMSTI site at the University of Northern Alabama in Florence, Alabama.