As a student, I facilitate my own learning by rewarding curiosity, testing observation-based conclusions, and finding technology that can assist me in remembering and contextualizing important details relating to my investigations. In my mind, a sound education functions as an indexing system, where new information is given provenance, significance, and context.
I want students to have a lasting understanding of the framework within which Scientific thought occurs and understand the relationships between claim, evidence, and reasoning. Knowledge of what forms a hypothesis and what constitutes a theory can help elevate the public discourse in general; a student's long-term understanding of both scientific inquiry and mathematical reasoning can help them in life. I believe that all disciplines, crafts, and professions benefit from scientific methods of inquiry and analysis and that everyone can participate.
My goal is to deliver on the promise of an inclusive, equitable, and relevant education. Fulfilling this promise manifests as a commitment to promoting both science literacy and mathematical reasoning in the classroom.
Teachers are often the individuals that first introduce children to explanations, questions, words, and cultures different from those that they encounter at home or within their familial network. It is important that we make introductions to scientific thought in a way that promotes a lasting relationship between students and learning.
I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can increase cognitive complexity, without an explicit connection to linguistic complexity in my lessons. I fret over the abstraction of numbers. In the classroom, adding more words and numbers does not advance scientific literacy as well as a chart, an interactive map, or a student-created narrative with imagery can. Scientific terms and concepts can be daunting, but presenting content in an engaging manner relevant to student interests while rewarding curiosity and inquisitiveness helps make these concepts more approachable.
In my experience, everyone learns best in a setting where curiosity is rewarded, exploration is encouraged, and people know that their learning has real value in the world around them.
Jasmine Bird is a dynamically passionate, engaging teacher who specializes in the sciences. I learn something new every time I talk with her. She integrates contemporary technology tools to bring the world into the classroom and empower students to bring their work to audiences beyond the classroom. She brings a wide variety of strategies to meet students’ needs as their learning is the puzzle she is fascinated to solve.
Flynn Ross, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Teacher Education
ETEP Program Coordinator