[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8933-8934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4453]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed continuing information collection. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register at 67 FR 16454 and no comments were received. NSF is 
forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this 
second notice.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of NSF's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic,, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer 
for National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of 
the submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 or send e-mail to [email protected].
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Quantitative Evaluation for the National 
Science Foundation's Centers for Learning and Teaching.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-(new).
    1. Abstract: This document has been prepared to support the 
clearance of data collection instruments to be used in the evaluation 
of the National Science Foundations's (NSF) Centers for Learning and 
Teaching (CLT). The CLT program calls for a systematic approach to the 
development and enhancement of the instructional workforce 
(kindergarten through graduate school) where professionals are educated 
in an environment of research and practice. For science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) educators, a Center will provide 
opportunities to enhance content knowledge, develop teaching strategies 
that lead to improved

[[Page 8934]]

student learning, facilitate the implementation of high quality 
instructional materials and information technology, and develop skills 
in using various strategies for assessing student learning. For 
graduate students, post-doctoral students, and interns, a Center will 
provide study and research opportunities with the goal of improving 
learning, teaching, and assessment across the educational continuum.
    CLT centers are funded as Elementary, Secondary, and Informal 
Education (ESIE) Centers, or Higher Education Centers. The goals of the 
ESIE Centers include (1) Increasing the numbers of K-12 STEM educators 
in both formal and informal settings who have current content 
knowledge, implement standards-based instruction, and use information 
technology as an aid to learning; (2) rebuilding and diversifying the 
human resource base that forms the national infrastructure for STEM, 
including basic and advanced education for graduate and post-doctoral 
students who will specialize in STEM education; and (3) providing 
substantive opportunities for research into the nature of learning, 
teaching, and educational reform. The goals of the Higher Education 
Centers address (1) Increasing the numbers of STEM faculty who 
implement effective teaching practice and assessment; (2) providing 
professional development for graduate and post-doctoral student in STEM 
disciplines to develop their skills as educators and to develop 
graduate programs in STEM education in disciplinary departments; and 
(3) providing substantive opportunities for research into the nature of 
learning, teaching, and educational reform in higher education.
    This study addresses the following research questions: In what ways 
and to what extent are CLTs reflecting the models proposed? To what 
extent are the CLT centers meeting the goals of the CLT program? What 
is the value-added of creating CLTs for the achievement of the desired 
educational outcomes? To what extent does the portfolio of CLT 
activities appropriately meet national STEM ecuation needs?
    The data to address these questions will be gathered via surveys of 
the following groups: CLT faculty; CLT graduate students; CLT 
postdoctoral participants: CLT project directors; representatives of 
IHE partners; and participating K-12 teachers. All the surveys will be 
sample surveys with the exception of the project director survey, which 
will be the population. The evaluation surveys will build on the annual 
data collected from projects for the purpose of GPRA.
    In addition to the surveys, a number of small site-specific studies 
will be conducted to examine the outcomes of various Center activities 
(e.g., new teacher preparation programs, new courses and curricula, 
professional development for faculty and K-12 teachers). Meta analysis 
techniques will be employed to calculate effect sizes across similar 
studies.
    2. Expected Respondents: The expected respondents are: CLT faculty; 
CLT graduate students; CLT postdoctoral participants: CLT project 
directors; representatives of IHE partners; and participating K-12 
teachers.
    3. Burden on the Public: The total estimate for this collection is 
237.5 burden hours for a maximum of 360 participants assuming a 100% 
response rate. The burden on the public is negligible; the study is 
limited to project participants that have received funding from the NSF 
CLT program.

    Dated: February 20, 2003.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 03-4453 Filed 2-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M