Science Education

Introduction

The Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Program is a visionary and practical program designed to enrich the training and education of K-12 pre-service and in-service teachers and, through them, their students. From a collaboration of the disciplines of education, chemistry, geology, biology, physics/astronomy, mathematics and engineering technology, the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Program (SMATE) offers an opportunity for teachers and future teachers to gain specific skills and broaden talents within their chosen discipline.

The General Science major is offered at three levels: Elementary for students intending to teach grades K-8, Middle School for students intending to teach science in grades 4-9, and Secondary for students intending to teach science in middle or high school. Students planning to be teachers and major in one of the sciences or mathematics should consult with the appropriate science education advisor in the appropriate science or mathematics department or with the director of science education regarding the General Science major.

For further information and advisement, consult with an advisor or the director of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Dr. Edward Geary, phone 360-650-3637, Science, Math and Technology Education Building, SL 250D, e-mail Edward.Geary@wwu.edu. or Lori Torres, Program Manager, SL 220, phone 360.660.7605, e-mail Lori.Torres@wwu.edu.

Faculty

EDWARD E. GEARY (2013) SMATE Director and Professor. BS, Stanford University; MS, PhD, Cornell University.
ALEJANDRO ACEVEDO-GUTIÉRREZ (2002) Associate Professor. BSc, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, Mexico; PhD, Texas A&M University.
EMILY BORDA (2005) Associate Professor. BS-Chemistry, Gonzaga University; MEd-Educational Leadership and Policy, MS, PhD-Chemistry, University of Washington.
ANDREW BOUDREAUX (2008) Associate Professor, BS, University of California Berkeley (1993), PhD, University of Washington.
DONALD BURGESS (2004) Associate Professor. MS Education-Biology, State University of New York, Cortland.
SUSAN M. DEBARI (1998) Professor. BA, Cornell University; PhD, Stanford University.
DEBORAH A. DONOVAN (1998) Professor. BSc, MSc, University of California-Davis; PhD, University of British Columbia.
SCOTT R. LINNEMAN (2000) Professor. BA, Carleton College; PhD, University of Wyoming.
CHRIS OHANA (1999) Associate Professor. BA, University of California- Berkeley; MA, University of Oregon; PhD, Iowa State University.

Other Departmental Information

Facilities and Resources

Pivotal to this program is a facility designed to accommodate this academic vision. The 19,000 square foot facility contains our state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, one each specifically tailored to elementary and secondary education. They surround a Learning Resource Center with more than 15,000 books on standards, assessment, curriculum and activities. It also contains collections of classic and current materials, laboratory resources, educational technology, and expertise that students, faculty, the local community and teachers from around the state can draw upon either on site or in the schools. In both its approach and facilities, the SMATE Program is a national model for teacher training in undergraduate mathematics, science and technology education. Additionally, the SMATE faculty are engaged in a number of research projects that connect the preservice program to the K-12 schools and offer students the opportunity to gain unique experiences. Numerous scholarships and paid research experiences are available each year for future teachers of science.

To find out more about the Irwin L. Slesnick STEM Education Resource Center and SMATE facilities, contact Jamie Harrington, assistant director of the SMATE program, at 360-650-3647, by e-mail at Jamie.Harrington@wwu.edu, visit the website, http://www.smate.wwu.edu/smate/, or stop by the Science, Math and Technology Education Building, Science Lecture 220.

Graduate Study

For a concentration leading to a Master of Education degree in natural science/science education see the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Graduate

Courses

Science Education

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400, 500 are described in the University Academic Policies section of this catalog.