Teaching Science and Engineering from edX

Some people think that teaching is simply a matter of knowing the content material and having the right kind of personality and experience. In fact, research evidence suggests that people can become effective teachers if they learn:

the content of their discipline
the different ways students learn this content and the problems they face with it
how to manage learning in practice in a classroom.

This MOOC focuses on the second and third of these elements.

The ways in which students learn in science and engineering programs, and the problems they typically face, have been the subject of a great deal of research in the last two decades. We have based this MOOC on that research evidence, with a focus on the ways in that teaching assistants can help students to maximise their learning in university-level programmes.

Teaching is a hands-on activity and to learn how to teach you will need practical experience. Alongside such practical experience, this MOOC will help you understand what strategies are likely to be appropriate and why, and will also give you some guidance on when and where to use them. While classroom experience is valuable, this MOOC can equip you with the knowledge to plan and evaluate your own teaching and to make good decisions in the classroom.

In this MOOC we have tried to practice what we preach. You will find, therefore, that in addition to watching videos you will be encouraged to take notes, to sometimes stop the video and complete thinking tasks, and to test your own recall and understanding of the material with quiz questions and forum prompts. We would encourage you to use these opportunities to learn but also to reflect upon them and to ask yourself if you could do something similar in your own teaching.

This MOOC runs for 8 weeks and is designed to have an activity to submit each week. This weekly approach will allow you to benefit most from opportunities to interact with other participants, however you can complete the activities in a time frame that suits you.

What's inside

Learning objectives

What does recent research say about teaching science or engineering
What should students learn about experimentation, problem-solving and managing projects
What is good practice in presenting, questioning and giving feedback

How to manage a class and to facilitate group work
How to apply these skills when teaching exercises, labs, and projects
Ways to assess learning that are fair, valid and reliable

What does recent research say about teaching science or engineering
What should students learn about experimentation, problem-solving and managing projects
What is good practice in presenting, questioning and giving feedback
How to manage a class and to facilitate group work
How to apply these skills when teaching exercises, labs, and projects
Ways to assess learning that are fair, valid and reliable

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces students to what science and engineering education research has to say about the subject

Focuses on the role of teaching assistants and how they can promote student learning in university programs

Covers a range of methods and strategies for effective science and engineering teaching

Provides ample opportunities for interaction and discussion with other participants

Facilitates reflection on personal teaching practices and encourages the application of new strategies

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Teaching Science and Engineering with these activities:

Review fundamental concepts

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Strengthen your foundational knowledge by reviewing the fundamental concepts of science and engineering.

Browse courses on Science

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Identify areas where your knowledge is weak
Review textbooks, notes, or online resources
Attend workshops or tutorials to reinforce your understanding

Join a study group

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Collaborate with peers to enhance your understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find a study group or create your own
Meet regularly to discuss the material
Work together on assignments and projects

Follow tutorials on teaching methods

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Enhance your teaching effectiveness by learning from experienced educators through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on Teaching Methods

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Search for tutorials on specific teaching methods
Watch the tutorials and take notes
Apply the techniques in your own teaching

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Review "How People Learn"

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Examine the science of how people learn and apply it to your teaching practice.

View Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-3
Summarize the key concepts of each chapter
Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own teaching

Design and deliver a lesson plan

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Develop and implement a lesson plan that effectively engages students and promotes learning.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

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Determine the learning objectives
Select appropriate instructional materials
Design engaging activities
Evaluate the effectiveness of the lesson plan

Solve science and engineering problems

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Strengthen your problem-solving skills by solving a variety of scientific and engineering problems.

Browse courses on Problem Solving

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Identify the problem and its constraints
Brainstorm possible solutions
Evaluate and select the best solution
Implement the solution and test its effectiveness

Attend science and engineering conferences

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Expand your professional network and stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field.

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Identify relevant conferences
Attend presentations and workshops
Meet and connect with researchers and professionals

Volunteer as a teaching assistant

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Gain practical experience by assisting in science and engineering courses.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify opportunities for teaching assistantships
Apply for and secure a teaching assistant position
Support students with their learning and assignments
Receive feedback and guidance from experienced instructors

Design and implement a research project

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Conduct a research project to apply your knowledge and skills while making a meaningful contribution to the field.

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Identify a research question
Design a research methodology
Conduct the research
Analyze the data
Write a research paper

Career center

Learners who complete Teaching Science and Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Educational Psychologist

Educational Psychologists may have a background in teaching or school counseling before doing graduate work in educational psychology. Advanced coursework that leads to a masters or doctorate in educational psychology may cover advanced research methods and statistical techniques. Teaching Science and Engineering offers experience in formative and summative assessment. Learning about and practicing strategies to enhance student learning and critical thinking skills would be of use to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Psychologist

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers plan, develop, implement, and evaluate instructional materials and programs for educational institutions and corporations. Teaching Science and Engineering offers an opportunity to practice identifying the needs of learners, selecting and organizing content, and developing learning activities that can be directly applied to a role in curriculum development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

School Administrator

School Administrators plan, direct, and coordinate the academic and business activities of schools. Teaching Science and Engineering can help one develop skills in managing a classroom, facilitating group work, and assessing learning that could all be of value to a school administrator.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Administrator

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop, deliver, and evaluate instructional programs, primarily for corporate training and development. Many instructional designers come from backgrounds in formal education, while others have backgrounds in business or instructional technology. Teaching Science and Engineering could help someone from any of these backgrounds be better prepared for this role because it offers insights into effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Science Teacher

Science Teachers instruct students in science at secondary schools. Most Science Teachers have a bachelor's degree in science or science education, often with a focus in secondary science education. Some Science Teachers have a Master's degree. Teaching Science and Engineering provides insights into effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques that could help prepare an individual to become a Science Teacher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Science Writer

Science Writers explain scientific and technical information to lay audiences through written content, such as magazine and newspaper articles, blogs, press releases, case studies, annual reports, and web content. Teaching Science and Engineering could be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective communication techniques to teach complex, technical information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches support teachers in improving their teaching skills and knowledge. Many previous Instructional Coaches have backgrounds in teaching. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants help individuals and organizations improve educational outcomes. Consultants may specialize in a particular area of education, such as curriculum development, special needs, or technology integration. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

Academic Librarian

Academic Librarians help students, faculty, and staff find and use information resources. Many Academic Librarians have a master's degree in library science. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Academic Librarian

Higher Education Administrator

Higher Education Administrators plan, direct, and coordinate academic and administrative functions of colleges and universities. Most Higher Education Administrators have a master's degree or doctorate in higher education administration or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Higher Education Administrator

Education Policy Analyst

Education Policy Analysts research, analyze, and make recommendations on education policies and programs. Most Education Policy Analysts have a master's degree or doctorate in education policy or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Policy Analyst

Education Researcher

Education Researchers conduct research to improve teaching and learning. Most Education Researchers have a master's degree or doctorate in education research or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Researcher

Curriculum Coordinator

Curriculum Coordinators develop, implement, and evaluate curriculum and instructional programs for schools and districts. Many Curriculum Coordinators have a master's degree in education or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Coordinator

Training Manager

Training Managers plan, develop, and implement training programs for employees in businesses and organizations. Many Training Managers have a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents that explain complex technical information. Many Technical Writers have a bachelor's degree in technical writing or a related field. Teaching Science and Engineering may be useful to this role, as it provides experience applying effective teaching strategies, learning theory, and assessment techniques to technical writing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer