The University of Alabama SciTeach Plan
The UA SciTeach Program is designed to enhance science teacher preparation and professional development offered in the UA Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s Secondary Science Education Program by focusing on increasing the number pre-service and inservice science teachers graduating from the University of Alabama. This Program involves collaborative involvement of the Secondary Science Professional Development Community (PD) to effectively carry out the comprehensive and synergistic vision of this plan. Many “elements” of SciTeach are represented to reflect the extent to which this program will support our students from beginning to end, and beyond, drawing on a wealth of expertise from across the secondary and post-secondary community of science educators to enable research based science teacher education instruction and program delivery. There are four major target areas, 1) teaching, 2) recruitment, 3) sustaining, and 4) extending current restructuring activities are presented as examples of specific approaches the Secondary Science Education faculty envision putting changes into place. We anticipate that through the input and involvement of PD Community members, we can put this vision into immediate action leading to long term sustained change.
Highlights of the UA SciTeach Pre-service Teacher Education Program
The University of Alabama SciTeach’s mission is to recruit, prepare, and retain qualified secondary science teachers. The program serves this mission by providing full teaching certification for pre-service majors in biology, physics, chemistry obtaining science (and engineering), and science education degrees. The program built on previous programs and efforts at the University of Alabama over the last four years. The guiding points of the innovative program development include:
Highlights of the UA SciTeach Pre-service Teacher Education Program
The University of Alabama SciTeach’s mission is to recruit, prepare, and retain qualified secondary science teachers. The program serves this mission by providing full teaching certification for pre-service majors in biology, physics, chemistry obtaining science (and engineering), and science education degrees. The program built on previous programs and efforts at the University of Alabama over the last four years. The guiding points of the innovative program development include:
- A program offering an array of student benefits that feature science teacher preparation through a science based community of educators incorporating diverse stakeholders.
- Collaboration between the Colleges of Education, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering.
- Active recruitment of prospective and current undergraduate and graduate science and engineering students for majors leading toward teacher certification.
- Intensive early career experiences through a science education learning community [Freshman and Sophomore and Graduate Learning Community.
- Program of study plans enabling students to graduate with both a degree and certification in a timely fashion.
- A focus on developing a deep understanding of content knowledge in the science disciplines and incorporating effective pedagogies using technology in teaching.
- Guidance and inspiration provided by faculty and highly experienced secondary science teachers who all serve as master teachers in the program.
- Courses taught by faculty who are actively engaged in research in science and the teaching and learning of science.
- Integrated teaching of courses that focus on teaching science based on recent research in science teaching and learning.
- Program development and outcomes are a focus of ongoing evaluation and research.