The West campus has decided to reach out to a new student demographic — middle schoolers.

ASU West associate professor Ray Buss, of the College of Teacher Education and Leadership recently secured a Board of Regents grant for CTEL professors and ASU staff, who are collaborating to develop online courses to broaden the knowledge base of middle-school science teachers.

Currently, there are three online courses in the works that will be taught in a pilot program in the fall of 2008. CTEL is working with both the Glendale and Isaac elementary school districts in piloting these new classes. A small group of middle school teachers from these districts will take part in the pilot classes, which according to Buss will be “focusing on life science, physical science and earth/space science.”

Buss said the purpose of the program is to ensure that middle school science teachers are fully capable of instructing in all fields of science.

“By broadening [teachers’] knowledge, they can provide more instruction and develop more meaningful learning opportunities for their students, therein providing more sound learning opportunities,” Buss said.

Once the pilot program is complete, teachers from all over Arizona will be able to start taking any or all of the three online classes in the spring 2009 semester. Undergraduate students planning to pursue teaching careers are eligible to take the classes as well.

“I think this program could definitely go a long way for the public schools of Arizona,” said Fallon Yaro, an elementary education senior. “I plan to teach here in Arizona and to see the public institutions working together is impressive.”

Buss added that CTEL will continue to work on improving the educational system in the state.

“There are lots of dollars that we have received to help foster higher academic achievement at Arizona schools,” he said.

Buss and fellow CTEL faculty member Ron Zambo collaborated on the “Improving Teacher Quality” proposal that lead to $122,499 in Arizona Board of Regents grants.

In regards to the program’s long-term outcome, Buss said, “I anticipate that the learning going on in these middle-school science classrooms will be beneficial to the students as more of them are well prepared to attend the university and contribute to the economic development and growth of the state.”

Reach the reporter at joseph.hermiz@asu.edu.