The Division of Education was awarded $2.6 million to create Science Pedagogy, Inquiry, and Research in Teaching Across Settings (SPIRITAS) in partnership with the New York Hall of Science and 5 Queens high schools--Flushing, Forest Hills, Francis Lewis, Long Island City, and Newton High. The project will focus on preparing 50 new science teachers who engage in a long-term, clinically rich internship at one of the partnering schools.
This award comes off the heels of the New York State “Race to the Top” grant. The competition called for proposals from collegiate or non-collegiate institutions within New York State in partnership with one or more high needs school(s) to develop a Graduate Level Clinically Rich Teacher Preparation Pilot Program. There were 11 awardees in total--American Museum of Natural History, Fordham University, Mercy College, New York University, CUNY Lehman College, SUNY Albany, Syracuse University, Union Graduate College, SUNY Oswego, Adelphi University, and CUNY Queens College.
The SPIRITAS program is based on the belief that exploring how students learn at different ages and in various locations provides teachers a better understanding of how children absorb information and create engaging, suitable teaching based upon children's questions, experience, and abilities. It is an ideal program for new science graduates who plan to become teachers as well as for individuals who want a career change. This two-year Masters Degree program culminates in both a Master of Arts Degree and a New York State Teaching Certificate.
QC faculty will co-plan the curriculum accordingly so the coursework reflects the activities designed to occur in a variety of settings--museums, classrooms, playgrounds, and other community settings. Candidates in the program will participate in activities that engage them with school children across all grade and developmental levels and across formal (school) and informal (science museum, community) settings. SPIRITAS students will begin their training at the Hall of Science where they will plan, implement and brainstorm the process and results of activities for young children who come to the museum.
