Teachers 'n Training: Building Formal STEM Teaching Efficacy through Informal Science Teaching Experience

The Teachers ‘n Training (TNT) program is a collaborative series of immersion experiences and teaching opportunities for preservice teachers designed to increase their ability, comfort level, and competence to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts. Teacher candidates engage in meaningful experiences with STEM professionals who guide them in the development and implementation of inquiry-based STEM lessons in an informal setting. In this paper, we describe the TNT program, report findings from its first year, and outline plans for subsequent years.