The Catalyst Center for the Advancement of Research in Teaching and Learning Math and Science at California State University Fullerton brings together science and math education experts across two colleges and seven departments to advance research in teaching and learning across the entire spectrum of math and science education, from preschool through graduate education and including informal education.
Designed to advance research in teaching and learning in science and mathematics, the Catalyst Center will disseminate research that informs policy and practice in five key areas:
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Research on Teaching and Learning in Math and Science focuses on improving understanding of the ways students learn math and science and the best practices of teaching STEM subjects with the ultimate goal of improving achievement in preK-graduate math and science students.
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Research on Cyberlearning to Improve Math and Science Teaching and Learning focuses on advancement of research on the capacity of math and science faculty, teachers, and students to use information, communication, scientific, and educational technologies to improve teaching and learning.
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Research on Recruitment and Preparation of Math and Science Teachers focuses on the identification of innovative and effective strategies for recruiting and preparing high quality preK-14 math and science teachers.
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Research on Enriching the Professional Development and Experience of Teachers focuses on identifying best practices in designing, implementing, and evaluate meaningful professional development experiences for math and science preK-14 teachers that translate into improved teacher quality and student performance in math and science classrooms.
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Program Evaluation on Math and Science Education objectives are to establish the Catalyst Center as a leader in developing and implementing evaluation approaches that robustly assess success of math and science education projects and programs; and to improve dissemination of program evaluation findings for grants and projects to inform local, regional, and national education communities.
CATALYST CENTER Faculty Fellows include Martin Bonsangue, Mathematics; Mark Ellis, Secondary Education; Cynthia Gautreau, Elementary and Bilingual Education; Maria Grant, Secondary Education; Bill Hoese, Biological Sciences; Jeff Knott, Geological Sciences; Michael Loverude, Physics; Barbara Gonzalez, Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Ruth Yopp-Edwards, Elementary and Bilingual Education.
The CATALYST CENTER is led by Director Victoria Costa under the administration of Deans Steve Murray (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics) and Claire Cavallaro (College of Education). This project is funded through the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) and is championed by the Office of Congressman Ed Royce, Congressional District 40th.
