Why Study 6-12 Secondary Biology Education
Students who wish to combine their CoSTEM biology knowledge and skills with the COE pedagogy education courses can learn best science practices that engage 6-12 students to conduct more of an inquiry-based approach in the classroom. Students will learn how encourage 6-12 students to take a more active role in figuring out how natural events work instead of being taught those lessons by an instructor.
A student’s academic interests include a serious and sincere commitment to wanting to teach relevant everyday events as a basis of science instruction that fosters interest and curiosity. Academic interests include understanding the process of conducting hands-on science experiments in a 6-12 classroom. As a result, 6-12 students are encouraged to develop exploratory questions and hypotheses to explain events or science phenomena. Possible hobbies as a science teacher might include enjoying nature and the outdoors.
The biology program concentrates on investigating all living organisms’ origin, distribution, structure, and function. Biology helps students understand the living world and the ways it’s many species (including humans) function, evolve, and interact. Advances in medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and many other areas of biology have brought improvements in the quality of life.
Today in Tennessee, over 7,000 teachers are already eligible to retire by 2024. A teacher shortage in math and science is a continued issue in the state and nation. The new streamlined undergraduate program allows the College of STEM students to complete the combined College of Education pedagogy courses in a four-year period with a bachelor’s of science degree.
Students will benefit from both the College of STEM sciences and the College of Education pedagogy in earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. The collaboration between both colleges provides unique expertise and practical insight for biology students to learn how to implement strategies that can engage 6-12 students to learn biology.
The Biology Program is an advanced degree appropriate for those seeking teaching licensure who have completed the prerequisite science courses in their undergraduate degree program. The program will equip teachers to become proficient leaders in science education, and aligned with state standards for science and the national frameworks for science education.
What will I learn
- Students will learn the 5E model of instruction-Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, & Evaluate.
- Students will learn how to write a lesson plan using the edTPA lesson plan template
- Students will learn the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Students will learn how to integrate core subjects such as math and reading with Biology.
- Students will learn the required sciences in chemistry, geology, and biology to help them have a well-rounded understanding of biology
