Environmental Studies - Science Teacher Certification Program

Faculty and Staff

Teaching Approaches - Science Teacher Certification Program - Environmental Studies - Antioch University New England

Teaching Approaches

Science teacher certification courses are hands-on, minds-on, student-centered, and problem-solving based. For example, Problem-Solving and Inquiry-Based Approaches to Science Teaching engages students in a variety of classroom and field based problems—involving simple machines, self-sustaining biospheres, and microscopic life—as a means to immerse students first-hand in the challenges and rewards of teaching through problem solving.

“...we pride ourselves on walking our talk and modeling what we teach.”

Curriculum Design models democratic, coherent, constructivist-based, active assessment, and other approaches to teaching while challenging students to employ these ideas in the development of a curriculum they hope to use while student teaching. Each student’s curriculum is presented in a convening environment by which their classmates are used as consultants to help improve the curriculum’s design based on the developer’s own concerns and criticisms.

Exploring Possibilities in Education involves visiting four very progressive middle and high schools in New England, observing science classes, conferencing with teachers, interviewing administrators, and lunching with students to help figure out what makes a great school and what makes a great teacher.

Science Teaching Methods takes place at the Compass School in Westminster, Vermont and allows students to create and test lessons with middle and high school students.

These courses are a small sampling reflecting our approach to teaching through immersion, direct experience, and real problems. As importantly, we pride ourselves on walking our talk and modeling what we teach.

Last Updated: 4/21/08