Jan. 15, 2003

Comments, Suggestions?

OPTIONS: Taking it to the classroom

By Ruth SoRelle, MPH

Baylor College of Medicine in collaboration with Texas A&M University, Rice University, the University of Houston, the Houston Independent School District and funder Houston Endowment are making it easier for scientists to take their enthusiasm for their field into public school classrooms. They have called their self-paced, online program OPTIONS (Opening pathways for teacher instructional opportunities in the natural sciences).

Hands-on experience in the classroom

By creating online lessons that emphasize teaching techniques and classroom management and adding an internship component, the OPTIONS partners have fast-tracked the process of obtaining a teaching certificate for individuals who have doctorates, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in a life science-related field, said Sonia Rahmati Clayton, PhD, and Pam Ferry, both of whom work in the Baylor’s Center for Educational Outreach.

"There is a significant shortage for teachers who have a strong science background and have access to adequate professional development. In addition, a generation of teachers is preparing to retire from the classroom," said Clayton. The National Research Council is seeking ways to get individuals who are highly trained in science into the classroom. One group that it suggested targeting were individuals with doctorates who have decided not to pursue a laboratory career or to go into teaching at the university level.

In their call for a national demonstration project to find ways to entice PhDs to go into teaching at public schools, the officials of the National Research Council wrote, "A significant number of new PhDs in science, mathematics and engineering are seeking careers that make good use of their hard-earned skills but are outside the traditional ones at universities or in industry."

A National Research Council survey of people with doctorates found that 36 percent said they would be interested in teaching in public schools at the middle or high school levels. Yet barriers to such education make it difficult even for individuals with doctorates in science to make that transition.

Those who seek traditional teaching certification are forced to go back to school, and alternative certification programs are inconvenient and often filled to capacity. They are also not designed for the science professional seeking to take his or her knowledge into the classroom.

In the past, those with PhDs who sought to go into the classroom were often employed only in private schools where there are fewer burdensome teaching requirements. Improving science education across-the-board, however, requires upgrading science education in public schools as well.

One of the major benefits of the OPTIONS plan is that the learning is self-paced and convenient because it is no farther away than the person’s computer. They can schedule study time when they have it, and they do not have to leave their current jobs until they are ready to teach full time. The first 20 people who participate in the OPTIONS pilot program will pay nothing, and indeed, they will receive a stipend to complete the online modules.

Those eligible include current graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, science professionals with recent MS or PhD degrees or even recent bachelor of science graduates who have high academic achievement.

The online modules cover topics such as designing instruction, school and classroom environment, promoting student learning, professional roles and responsibilities, nature and history of science and technology applications.

The OPTIONS program prepares would-be science teachers to take the TExES -- the state secondary teacher certification exam, which includes tests on content and teaching skills. Participants will receive an overview of Texas educator standards and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for secondary life science education and an overview of teaching principles for sciences, as well as test structure and types of questions.

They will also be prepared for the state test on teaching life sciences to students in grades 8 through 12. This will be accomplished through online content review modules. The science training is needed because "most PhDs are experts in a highly specialized area of science, and secondary school science teachers need a widely-based knowledge of science," said Clayton. The online modules will cover a range of science topics to remind participants of what most of them already know. There will also be reference material available online.

The program also includes 40 hours of classroom observation with experienced teachers. Participants will be paired for peer support and begin observing at a school such as the Michael E. DeBakey, High School for Health Professions. Gradually, they will begin to take on more responsibility, sharing the teaching and developing a lesson plan. Throughout the program the progress of participants will be evaluated.

Once participants have completed the online course material and field experiences, they will be assisted in finding placement in HISD or any other Harris County classroom at full salary. For one to three years, they will be assigned experienced teacher mentors who will help them through the first years of teaching experience. First-year teaching salaries for PhDs range from $36,824 to $59,7250.

"The Texas A&M College of Education, e-Education group is developing the online instructional materials covering life science pedagogy and classroom management," the online modules, said Ferry, "while Baylor College of Medicine will develop an online biology resource with educational materials, lesson plans, references and other tools to assist new teachers as they enter secondary school class rooms." Clayton and Nancy Moreno, PhD, an associate professor and associate director of the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor will oversee the development of biology online resources and work with participants on teaching strategies and classroom management methods.

"The applications are out and we are very excited about placing highly qualified science teachers in our schools," said Clayton.

© Copyright 2003 Baylor College of Medicine. All Rights Reserved. MLE.