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Science options growing for Neb. science teachersNebraska Studying grasshoppers--or corn or roses or cheese or cattle--soon may offer an expanded science repertoire for future secondary teachers. Entomology, agronomy, horticulture, food and livestock are traditional science courses and degree programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Now CASNR's science coursework could help fulfill natural science endorsement requirements for future Nebraska secondary teachers through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's new NU-Teach Program of Excellence Initiative. Traditional natural science coursework for future secondary teachers includes biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science. Adding agricultural and natural resource sciences is "another way for scientists to contribute to teaching," said Tiffany Heng-Moss, associate professor of entomology and a NU-Teach co-director. It's also a way for future secondary teachers and their students to focus on how agricultural and natural resource sciences affect the world. The NU-Teach initiative is a collaboration among the UNL colleges of arts and sciences, education and human sciences, and agricultural sciences and natural resources, as well as a partnership with CEHS teacher learning and teacher education faculty Ron Bonnstetter, Jon Pedersen and Beth Lewis. Expanding future teacher science choices creates a broader education foundation and better prepares future teachers, said Pedersen, professor and NU-Teach co-director. Pedersen is a 1982 CASNR animal science graduate from Fremont. "Having worked in science education for 20 years at three different institutions, this is the first time I have seen such collaboration as is occurring between the three colleges," Pedersen said. Heng-Moss said NU-Teach supports university priorities of undergraduate education and research, and will increase the number of highly qualified Nebraska science teachers. It also will attract a new audience to CASNR classes, she said. Rather than fulfilling specific science coursework, students will fulfill science competencies, or knowledge areas. Heng-Moss said studying insects, for example, could fulfill some of the competencies for the life sciences. Pedersen said when he was an animal science junior, he realized he wanted to teach, but that would have meant starting his coursework over. With NU-Teach, graduates will have the option to practice science or teach it. "NU-Teach is an opportunity to increase the number of students who potentially become science teachers," Pedersen said. "From a national perspective, it is something special. I know of no other institution that has this collaboration."
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