Copyright ©2004

AMSTI

Webmaster

Frequently Asked Questions about the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative

What is an AMSTI School?

An AMSTI School is a school that receives all of the benefits of the initiative including extensive professional development, equipment, supplies, and materials (including refurbishment), and at-school support by math and science specialists at no cost to the school!  Students in AMSTI Schools learn math, science, and technology through activity-based, inquiry approaches consistent with the latest research on effective math and science instruction.

What grades and subjects may receive services from AMSTI?

AMSTI is the Alabama Department of Education’s initiative to improve math and science teaching statewide.  The initiative serves math and science teachers in Grades K-12.  In addition, all school administrators and special education teachers that teach or are involved in supporting math and science instruction are eligible for services.

How may my school participate in AMSTI?

The design of AMSTI requires that AMSTI Schools must be either located within the geographical inservice area or directly adjacent to an inservice area that has an AMSTI service site, called an AMSTI site.  Each AMSTI site supplies teachers with the professional development, resources, and local support necessary for high-quality math and science instruction.  Schools apply to the AMSTI site to become AMSTI Schools.  Currently, AMSTI sites are located in the following regions (area served defined by the local inservice center region): Jacksonville State University, The University of Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Montevallo, University of North Alabama, University of South Alabama, Wallace State Community College Selma-Alabama State University, Auburn University, Athens State University, and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. 

Applications to become an AMSTI School are provided only at AMSTI recruitment sessions.  These sessions are typically held once a year in each region of the state.  Local superintendents and principals are mailed a letter from the State Department of Education informing them of the time and locations of the recruitment sessions.  The principal, a math teacher, and a science teacher from a school interested in becoming an AMSTI school must attend the recruitment session in order to receive an application.  At the session, AMSTI staff provide details of what schools can expect from AMSTI and the commitments the participants must make to be considered.  The attendees are also provided with a PowerPoint presentation so they can more fully share the AMSTI process with their faculties. Schools interested in attending AMSTI then submit the application they received at the recruitment session.  

Must an AMSTI site be located within a school’s geographical inservice region in order for the school to become an AMSTI School?

AMSTI sites may serve schools within their geographical inservice region or in an inservice region directly adjacent to the AMSTI site’s region, provided all schools within the region that qualify and wish to be served are being served.  Once an AMSTI site is established in the adjacent inservice region, it assumes responsibility for delivering AMSTI to schools in its area.  Schools that do not have an AMSTI site in their inservice region or in a directly adjacent inservice region are not yet eligible to become AMSTI Schools. 

What are the requirements for a school to become an AMSTI School?

Math teachers, science teachers, special education teachers teaching or involved in supporting math and science instruction, and administrators in AMSTI Schools agree to attend two-week long Summer Institutes for two consecutive summers and participate in additional professional development during the school year.  AMSTI Schools also agree to a number of other requirements including designating local school lead teachers in math and science, structuring scheduling so as to allow for learning teams, organizing planning/implementation teams, and forming business partnerships.  The school also agrees to let selected teachers participate in advanced trainer certification sessions during the school year.  The school/school system is responsible for delivery and return of AMSTI modules according to the schedule set by the local AMSTI site.  A list of all requirements can be obtained by contacting an AMSTI site or the Alabama Department of Education.

What does it cost to become an AMSTI School?

There is no direct cost to a school for participating in AMSTI.  The local AMSTI site provides stipends for teachers attending the Summer Institute, all equipment, supplies, and materials furnished to teachers for implementing hands -on, inquiry-based math and science (including refurbishment), and the on-site support.  Indirect costs schools or school systems may incur include allowing selected teachers to participate in advanced trainer certification sessions during the school year.  The school/school system is also responsible for delivery and return of AMSTI modules according to the schedule set by the local AMSTI site.

If an AMSTI site is not currently available to serve my school, how may the school participate in AMSTI?

There are a number of ways that schools may receive many of the instructional benefits of AMSTI until an AMSTI site is available in their service area. 

• Schools are encouraged to examine the resources provided by AMSTI and to provide at least some of these resources (and associated professional development) to their teachers.  Focused professional development should also be provided with these resources.  Lists of math pullout units and science modules used by AMSTI are available by clicking the Resources button to the left.

• Teachers in Grades K-8 are encouraged to participate in GLOBE, one of the science components of AMSTI.   Information about GLOBE may be obtained at http://www.globe.gov,or from Robin Nelson, AMSTI-GLOBE Coordinator, robin@amsti.org. You may also visit the AMSTI-GLOBE website, www.amsti.org/globe.

• Grades 9-12 science teachers are encouraged to participate in Alabama Science In Motion, the high school component of AMSTI.  Alabama Science In Motion information may be obtained from Ms. Amy Albritton, AMSTI Secondary Science Specialist, at aalbritton@alsde.edu (334) 353-9874, or Chris McDuffie, AMSTI/ASIM Secondary Science Specialist, cmcduffie@alsde.edu (334) 353-8289.

• Administrators and teachers are encouraged to visit AMSTI Schools to see firsthand how AMSTI is addressing math and science instruction.  Visits to schools may be arranged by contacting a regional AMSTI site.  See contact information button to the left.

• Provide teachers and administrators with opportunities to learn more about the instructional strategies and resources supplied by AMSTI.  Certified AMSTI trainers are available to deliver AMSTI awareness sessions as well as deliver in-depth professional development.  Contact information is available from an AMSTI site or the Alabama Department of Education.

• Send a team to an Alabama LASER Strategic Planning Institute or awareness session. LASER helps school systems become aware of and plan for the many factors involved with systemic reform of science teaching.  Additional information about LASER can be obtained at www.uab.edu/laser/ or by contacting Dr. Lee Meadows (lmeadows@uab.edu, 205-934-8371) or Beverly Radford (bevrad@uab.edu, 205-934-6885).

• Encourage math and science teachers to become actively involved with state organizations that support hands -on inquiry-based math and science.  Such organizations include the Alabama Council of Teacher of Mathematics (http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~tsmith/ACTM.htm) and the Alabama Science Teacher Association (http://www.teachscience.net/Home.htm).

• Develop school-level Teacher Leaders for math and science and use them to assist in improving math and science instruction within the local school.  Such teachers should be well versed in implementing activity-based inquiry instruction and have an ability to work well with both students and other teachers.

• Schedule for and implement learning teams (sometimes referred to as study groups) within your school.  Teachers need opportunities to collaborate, support each other and improve their knowledge and skills as they begin to implement the new methods of teaching math and science called for by AMSTI.

• Schools across the state who do not have access to an AMSTI site may request to send a school team to a Leadership Academy for Math, Science, and Technology (LAMST) during the summer.  LAMST provides initial AMSTI training to a school leadership team composed of the principal, a math lead teacher, and a science lead teacher.  Almost all costs associated with the training are provided free for LAMST participants (travel, lodging, stipends, and materials).  More information about LAMST can be obtained under the Upcoming Events button to the left.

What is the relationship between Alabama Science In Motion (ASIM) and AMSTI?

ASIM already existed when AMSTI was being designed.  ASIM was so successful that the AMSTI Design Committee adopted ASIM as the high school science component of AMSTI.  Science teachers of biology, chemistry, and physics in Grades 9-12 receive AMSTI training and support from ASIM; whereas, math teachers in these grades are serviced by the local AMSTI site.  Additional information regarding the relationship of ASIM and AMSTI can be obtained by contacting Ms. Amy Albritton, AMSTI Secondary Science Specialist, at aalbritton@alsde.edu (334) 353-9874, or Chris McDuffie, AMSTI/ASIM Secondary Science Specialist, at cmcduffie@alsde.edu (334)353-8259.

For additional information about AMSTI:

Email: questions@amsti.org

Phone: (800) 846-0948  

(Top)