A selection of courses and activities leading to a certificate
in chemistry education offers high-achieving students who are interested in
the sciences and education the opportunity to receive valuable training and
experience in chemistry education. This certificate is available to both
chemistry majors and nonmajors; is offered to top-performing students in general chemistry and organic chemistry; and is an excellent opportunity to work
closely with professors who may then provide informed letters of
recommendation. The certificate is a credential that demonstrates outreach and
leadership skills important for students pursuing a career path in chemistry,
education, or the health sciences.
The certificate requires coursework in general
chemistry, organic chemistry, and the teaching pedagogy of peer instruction. It
also requires two courses that provide firsthand chemistry teaching
experiences. Participants will learn to use modern online tools for
teaching, plan and execute a chemistry lecture demonstration to a live class in
coordination with the Rutgers Chemistry Lecture Demonstration Facility, and videotape
themselves teaching in front of a large classroom. Each participant receives
written and oral feedback on his or her teaching from students, peers, and
professors, and discusses experiences and ways to teach better.
By the end of the certificate program, students
will develop and refine their teaching-related skills including
critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and problem solving. They will
improve their mastery of general and organic chemistry. Finally, each
participant in the certificate program will create a teaching portfolio
that contains a record of chemistry education training and teaching experience
that may become a permanent part of his or her professional credentials.
Chemistry Course
Requirements- 01:160:161-162 or 163-164 General Chemistry I,II (4,4) (8 credits total)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:160:307-308 or 315-316 Organic Chemistry I,II
(4,4) (8 credits total)
- 01:160:311 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
Education and Experiential
Course Requirements- 01:090:322 Pedagogy of Peer-Led Learning (3)
- 01:160:493-494 Internship in
Chemistry (variable) (2 credits total required)
- 01:160:499 Introduction
to Teaching Chemistry Lab (3)
Notes: A total of 2 credits of 01:160:493-494 are required. An internship in chemistry can be taken for one or more credits, and students can
select an internship in either general chemistry or organic chemistry. A total
of 2 credits must be taken, but students have flexibility to take either general chemistry or organic chemistry internships, or both. These 2 credits may be taken
over two semesters (1 credit each semester), or in the same semester. If an
internship is taken for multiple credits in a semester, students should enroll
for only one internship, either general chemistry or organic chemistry.
Written
Requirements
Weekly Reflections
Participants in the certificate program are
expected to post a blog for each week that they teach. These blog posts will
serve as a reflection on what worked well and what could be improved. The blogs
also serve as a basis for peer discussion. Teaching interns (TI) and lab teaching assistants (TA) are expected to read
the blogs, comment on them, and engage in discussion. These reflections will be
monitored by professors and the head TI and lab TA, who will also make comments
and give advice where needed.
Teaching Portfolio
Students must
create and maintain a portfolio detailing their different teaching experiences
and their outcomes. At the end of each semester of
teaching, students must submit an updated portfolio, including a summary
of all feedback and evaluations, for review. Examples of teaching portfolios will be given to each participant,
who will be guided in the development of his or her own portfolio. Each participant keeps the final teaching portfolio as part of their
professional portfolio.
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