About CREST
Mission
The Center for Restructuring Education in Science and Technology (CREST) in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University, focuses on providing quality science, mathematics, and technology education from early childhood through adulthood. Crest provides leadership in education by developing partnerships with the education and business communities to conduct teacher professional development, research, and public service. CREST:
- Fosters professional development of leaders in education;
- Conducts research in professional development, teaching, and learning;
- Transforms education and public policy through collaboration and data driven decision making.
CREST Activities
Working with scientists, engineers and educational leaders, the center involves teachers in collaborative programs that are designed to enhance their knowledge of science, technology, and teaching. Underrepresented groups such as females, minorities, and special needs populations are part of the teaching and research focus. CREST activities include:
- Creating professional teacher development programs to enable teachers to be effective learners, facilitators of learning, and mentors;
- Conducting research on science teaching and learning including the implementation of effective teaching strategies, science concept development and assesment, collaborative action research, and the team planning and teaching process;
- Developing student-centered, integrated, hands-on, inquiry-based thematic science curricula and technology applications; and
- Assessing program effectiveness and developing performance assessment strategies and rubrics.
CREST Advisory Board
An advisory board of community leaders in education and business provides guidance and direction for CREST. Board members include:
- Mary Brooner - Motorola
- Chris Dede - Harvard University
- Jack Greene - Fairfax County Public Schools
- Mary Anne Lecos - Retired Educator
- Frank McNally - Connection Two
CREST Staff
- Donna R. Sterling - Director, CREST, Professor of Science Education
- Wendy Frazier - Associate Director, CREST, Assistant Professor of Science Education
- Erin Peters- Assistant Director, CREST, Assistant Professor of Science Education
- Jeanne Bailey - Business Manager
- Faye Huie - Graduate Research Assistant
- Molli Logerwell - Graduate Research Assistant
CREST Funding
CREST depends on funding from sources outside of the university. Among its funders are:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Carnegie Institute of Washington
- National Science Foundation
- State Council for Higher Education in Virginia
- Dominion Virginia Power