For more than 30 years the Master of Science in Teaching Earth Science (MST) program offered a high quality non-thesis graduate program designed for in-service K-12 teachers. Now, to serve the ever growing need for teachers across the United States to teach science from an integrated Earth System perspective, Wright State University’s Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences is offering a MST program low residency option. This hybrid program combines two-thirds earth science courses from the College of Science and Mathematics and one-third pedagogy courses from the College of Education and Human Services. The MST program is designed for K–12 classroom teachers and other professionals seeking to enhance their ability to teach Earth/space science. Under the direction of William Slattery, Ph.D., the MST program has graduated approximately 200 students, many from Wright State's Lake campus. Slattery accepted a position at Wright State University spring of 1994 where he worked with other science educators to design the first inquiry-based courses in science for pre-service teachers.
Past challenges in growing the program included recruiting out-of-state, but recent technology has removed barriers and supports teaching for the 21st century, according to Slattery. To become more efficient and to gain a broader reach the program offers high quality online science and education courses during the academic year combined with summer field based courses taught by university faculty. The first cohort will graduate in the summer of 2016.
Meet Tanea Hibler as she shares her experience in this program
Tanea Hibler comes from a long line of teachers, she said, "I chose teaching because it's in my blood...".
I have been teaching for almost 9 years, 6 of which have been abroad at international schools (I plan to spend one more year in China before returning to the U.S.). I started teaching while I was still in my first Masters program at Arizona State University. The challenges of teaching were compounded by the fact that I skipped my student teaching, my father was passing from cancer, and I had my first baby during this time as well. When one of my co-workers told me they were moving to the Philippines to teach, I nagged them for information about how they landed the position. Shortly after, I was on my way to teaching in Bangkok, Thailand. My husband and I had nothing to lose, and were up for an adventure. I taught at Wells International School before moving to my current position in Shanghai, China at Concordia International School Shanghai.
Teaching abroad has been amazing, I’ve worked with some great people, learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and I’ve been able to travel, and give my own kids international experiences and a more global perspective of the world. However, now that my husband has become a teacher and landed his first job back in the U.S., I am making plans to repatriate and settle back in Arizona, so our family can be together full time (this school year has been our first time apart as a family).
Last spring I learned about the Wright State University MST (Earth Science) program. I inquired into it a little more and discovered the program was flexible, allowing me to take the majority of classes online. This summer I will be coming to Ohio for my field courses, and I’m quite excited about meeting both the MST students, as well as the professors, in person.
As I am the only person at my school teaching Earth Science and Astronomy, I find being in the MST program extremely valuable. Although reflection is a part of teaching, being in a community of other teachers with various backgrounds, working with amazing professors, keeping up to date on scientific advances and understanding, and participating in active research all contribute to me being a better teacher. And as a teacher if you ever get to a point where you don’t want to grow and learn, it’s probably time for you to step outside of the classroom.
My advice to other teachers is for them to get involved and do things in their community that they are passionate about. Also learning is part of teaching. When your students see your joy of learning it becomes contagious. During my first teaching job I didn’t see myself as a leader, but now I realize that we each have something to offer, but we do it in our own way. With the support of my colleagues and administration I have accomplished more than I’d thought possible, and I’m absolutely proud of being a teacher!
When I return to the U.S., I know that I will be returning as a much better teacher. I appreciate all my experiences that have helped me grow, and I am enjoying the MST courses immensely. I’m so glad that I emailed Dr. Slattery, and that he encouraged me to apply to the program.
