UGA STEM Dawg Fidel Agbor works with Hilsman Middle School students Haley Baker, Trevaughn Thomas and Michael Ohana. |
UGA STEM students get a taste of teaching in service learning class
Nicknamed STEM Dawgs for their focus on science, technology, engineering and math, students taking EDUC 2460L are getting hands-on teaching experience in Clarke County's Hilsman Middle School and Jackson County's Benton Elementary School.
Cindy Rhoten, MA '09 | Apr 6, 2009
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In the midst of a recession where jobs are vanishing at an alarming rate, more and more University of Georgia students majoring in science, mathematics, engineering and technology are beginning to consider a career teaching in Georgia public schools.
With Georgia facing a critical shortage of math and science teachers, the College of Education is offering a class that provides these students with an opportunity to better understand teaching and even gives them a first-hand experience working in a classroom setting.
Nicknamed STEM Dawgs for their focus on science, technology, engineering and math, the students taking EDUC 2460L are required to attend a one-hour seminar on campus and work twice a week with local students at Hilsman Middle School in Clarke County and Benton Elementary School in Jackson County through tutoring, projects and academic extension activities.
UGA STEM Dawg Rose Wade works with Hilsman Middle School students Kwyana Jones and Antoinette Starks. |
The course is similar to one offered in 2007, but focuses more directly on recruiting STEM majors to consider becoming educators, said Marianne Causey, an adjunct lecturer at the College of Education, who designed the course’s objectives in accordance with the Georgia Performance Standards.
“The goal of this course is to give STEM students a first-hand opportunity to see what really goes into effectively preparing, teaching and enriching students in the sciences,” she said. “Because of the service learning nature of the class, students are able to enter and impact the community in a positive way while still learning the required content of the course.”
Causey, who taught in Clarke County public schools for 31 years and served as both a school counselor and middle school teacher, is on site for every class – leading, modeling, providing leadership and structure for the UGA students.
“I was searching for an elective and needed 4 credit hours. This course fit perfectly and has helped to give me hands-on positive experience in the field of teaching at the middle school level,” said Jason Bedgood, a senior from Adrian majoring in engineering and technology education. “I have the opportunity to apply the information from my educational classes to the classroom for a short time every week.”
UGA STEM Dawg Mandy Bragg works with Hilsman Middle School student Brooklyn Boster. |
Bedgood, who expects to graduate in December, said the course has reinforced his decision to teach even more than other education courses he has taken.
“I face challenges with the students but I always feel that they benefit from me being there and I always look forward to going,” he said.
Mandy Bragg, a junior from Cumming, majoring in middle school education, said that while she has wanted to be a teacher for a long time, this course confirmed that she has made the right decision.
“The most gratifying part of this experience has been when the students greet us with big smiles on their faces and are excited to see us,” said Bragg. “The first day most of them came in with some sort of attitude that implied that they did not want to be there, and now they run down to the media center and are always so excited.”
Fidel Abgor, a junior from Marietta majoring in finance, said he took the course because he needed an elective and he wanted to get more involved with Athens.
“I always wanted to teach high school after I get done with my business career, whatever it is I decide to do. I always believed that teaching students from solid life experience is really valuable for them. Kids need to learn both standard curriculum and life lessons,” he said.
Abgor, who is working with sixth graders, said he wasn't prepared for that age group but that they've grown on him.
“If I decide to teach, I think I'd still do high school,” he said. “This class has certainly taught me to have more respect for what teachers have to handle though! I also learned that the kids really grow to love you a lot. It's really rewarding.”
And teaching science and math in public schools will soon become even more rewarding. The state legislature recently approved a bill to boost pay for math and science teachers beginning in the 2010 school year.
The measure allows new secondary school teachers with proper math or science certification to start at the salary of a fifth year teacher. That's a boost of about $4,561, to $37,985 a year, under the state salary schedule. The teacher's salary would then continue to rise a step every year for five years. After that, the increase would be tied to student performance.
In 2008, 14.3 percent of all Georgia math teachers were not fully certified, according to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Another 18.6 percent of physical science teachers and 16.2 percent of life sciences teachers lacked full certification, the commission said.
The shortfall in Georgia mirrors what education officials say is a national trend.
The Georgia legislation focuses on high schools but would also reward elementary school teachers who increase their competency in math and science by handing them a $1,000 annual bonus if they earn an endorsement from the Professional Standards Commission.
See story in the April 20 edition of the Athens Banner-Herald.
Cindy Rhoten is a College of Education publications assistant and a master's student in public relations.
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