The School of Education Brooklyn College

Program Faculty	Undergraduate Bulletin	Graduate Bulletin
Changing Emphasis

Program Description

The Graduate Program in Middle Childhood Education with a specialization in General Science prepares educators with both the content and pedagogical understanding to meet the unique needs of the scientist-educator in the urban middle school. We seek to empower educators with varied backgrounds in the sciences and science-related fields with the skills to become effective educators of the pre-adolescent. Informed by the National Science Education Standards of the National Research Council for the professional development of science educators, the program involves teachers in learning science content using the process of inquiry. The program aims to prepare both generalists and specialists to teach all of the science disciplines and places an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning within the sciences and across the liberal arts. Through exposure to resources that expand both science knowledge and the ability to access further knowledge the program aims to develop middle childhood science educators who will be both facilitators and practitioners of lifelong learning. We are committed to collegial and self-reflection on the process of teaching and learning science and to working in partnership with educators in local schools.

The Graduate Program in Middle Childhood Education with a specialization in general science emphasizes graduate study that links content and pedagogy. The courses reflect state standards for teacher preparation and national standards for curriculum and instruction recommended by the National Science Teachers Association, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The National Research Council and other recognized professional organizations. The program received national recognition from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) in May 2004.

The Program fulfills the instructional requirements for New York State Certification of teachers of grades 5-9 as either generalists or specialists in biology, chemistry, Earth science or physics. Applicants may be in-service or pre-service. Applicants seeking certification as specialists are expected to enter with a major or the equivalent in one of the science disciplines. For details of matriculation requirements please refer to the current graduate student bulletin.

The program is nationally recognized by the National Science Teachers Association.

Less Emphasis On

	Transmission of teaching knowledge and skills by lectures
	Learning science by lecture and reading
	Separation of science and teaching knowledge
	Separation of theory and practice
	Individual learning
	Teacher as technician
	Teacher as consumer of knowledge about teaching
	Teacher as follower
	Teacher as an individual based in a Classroom
	Teacher as target of change

More Emphasis On

	Inquiry into teaching and learning
	Learning science through investigation and Inquiry
	Integration of science and teaching knowledge
	Integration of theory and practice in school settings
	Collegial and collaborative learning
	Teacher as intellectual, reflective Practitioner
	Teacher as producer of knowledge about Teaching
	Teacher as leader
	Teacher as member of a collegial professional community
	Teacher as source and facilitator of Change

Program Faculty

Eleanor Miele Program Head
Jennifer Adams, Lisa Novemsky, Wayne Powell (Brooklyn College Department of Geology)

Part-Time Faculty

Mary Bomba, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Ingrid Clark, Instructor, New York City Department of Education: Susan Givner, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Alon Gross, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Robert Marx, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Laura Pessutti, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Leah Sarasohn, Instructor, New York City Department of Education; Nedra Tasimowicz, Instructor, New York City Department of Education, Stanley Wolfe.