AMSTI Research Synthesis Essay

Based on test scores, Alabama’s Department of Education decided that there needed to be a change in the way students in Alabama learned math and science. Scores put students from Alabama at a disadvantage against students across the nation. Following extensive research, a committee created The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) to help Alabama be competitive in the fields of science and math. The idea behind AMSTI is students learn material best by hands-on exploration. Instead of traditional textbook and lecture instruction, students need to be conducting investigations and discovering knowledge for themselves. AMSTI allows students to gain a conceptual understanding versus just a procedural understanding of mathematical and science theories. Through

Once a school is selected to be an AMSTI school, all of the math, science, technology, and special education teachers along with administration must complete AMSTI training. Faculty must attended AMSTI training for two weeks during the summer at an AMSTI institute for two consecutive summers. Once completed, the attendees will have 120 hours of training in AMSTI. At the institute, teachers will learn about the science and math kits, how to instruct students on the scientific inquiry process, and get to participate in all of the hands-on activities. When training is complete, schools will receive the AMSTI kits with all of the needed equipment and materials to conduct the investigations and activities learned during training. AMSTI sites have refurbishments for all of the kits; therefore, if a kit runs out of a material, teachers simply contact the AMSTI specialist to receive more materials. Also, the kits are refurbished before going to a different teacher. AMSTI is a no-cost program, so schools and districts are not finically responsible for the training, implementation, or