How to Cultivate the Next Generation of Science Teachers
Dr. Meenakshi Sharma
Our guest this week is Dr. Meenakshi Sharma. From her unique perspective as a professor of science education who trains pre-service teachers, Dr. Sharma recently wrote an article detailing characteristics of elementary teachers who effectively implement the Next Generation Science Standards. Dr. Sharma joins us to discuss these characteristics, explain how they are grounded in using real-world phenomena, and describe why this shift in science teacher training is so important.
About Our Guest
Dr. Meenakshi Sharma is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in Tift College of Education at Mercer University in Georgia. Her work centers around science teacher education and students’ learning of science in K-12 classrooms. She specifically focuses on inquiry-oriented science teaching as aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and STEM education (adapted from https://education.mercer.edu/faculty-and-staff/meenakshi-sharma/)
Links:
- 5 characteristics of an effective science teacher – from a researcher who trains them (The Conversation)
- Phenomena for NGSS
- Next Generation Science Storylines
- Nature Journaling Curriculum
- Lab Out Loud Episode 181: The Socioscientific Issues Approach – Addressing Controversial Issues in the Science Classroom
Featured image courtesy of Meenakshi Sharma
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