To Improve STEM Education, We Must Democratize It
by PRP Group, on 01/17/2022
Being introduced to a democratic STEM teaching framework empowered me to welcome feedback from my students, iterate my approach to teaching to better fit their needs, and create a more equitable learning space.
I became invested in elevating my students’ voices, sharing authority in the classroom, and centering my teaching around developing their ability to think about STEM critically.
The New York City Teaching Fellows program was specifically tailored towards folks who wanted to work in urban, underserved schools. At the time of my acceptance into the program, I had never even been to New York before. To say I felt unprepared to handle the social inequalities and systematic racism facing my Crown Heights, Brooklyn, students is an understatement. I was not confident that I could do the job. Gang violence, a lack of resources, and high teacher turnover plagued our school.
