Hello Molloy College Noyce Team,

The focus on "diverse and high needs students" is a plus for this program. I am curious what particular instruction strategies or pedagogies do you teach when ambassadors learn to teach a diverse and high-needs student population?

Cheers,

Annr

That’s a great question! When teaching in diverse and high needs student learning environments educators must gain an understanding of their students unique academic, emotional, and cultural differences so that we can help them on their academic and life journeys. To support a culturally sensitive learning community, we need to design and implement lessons that address all students’ academic needs and learning styles. Teachers must set high expectations for student success, and incorporate culturally responsive pedagogy into daily lessons.  Effective teachers help students set achievable goals and encourage them to focus on long-term improvement, not just grades on current assignments. In high needs districts educators must appreciate and encourage all types of family contributions pertaining to student/classroom/teacher relationships. Not only what is stereotypical. Reach out to families in their home language using google translate and by multiple means of communication. Effective teachers adjust the curriculum to address student differences rather than expect students to modify themselves for the curriculum. Using a variety of instructional techniques for diverse learners, such as peer group learning, cooperative learning, peer tutoring, community problem solving, and self-directed learning. Effective teachers can also help students make personal connections between their current cultural and academic experiences and the world or current events happening in society and how they relate to their lives. 

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Hi Ann,

The boot camp is designed to be a 2-week free session in which prospective teachers can "try out" some hands-on strategies and meet with educators to discuss what it is like to be a teacher of adolescent students in a high need school. We are hoping to recruit STEM students who may have never considered teaching as a profession. This year, there will be both virtual and in-person days as well as a boat trip from CERCOM (see video for more details). 

Your next question is a good one: How do we measure the impacts of your project on the Scholars' professional development as teachers? We have graduated two Ambassadors but due to COVID they are only doing substitute work. We look forward to this September when they will obtain high school positions and we will begin a more formative assessment. Please reach out to me with any questions at acohan@molloy.edu

Sounds great - yes Covid has changed teaching and preparation for teaching quite a bit. Given the limited actual classroom time some have had this year, it will be interesting to follow their progress when we go back to teaching in person. Thank you.

Thank you!

Thank you for your interest in our Noyce Ambassadors Program. Yes, we are able to recruit students from underrepresented groups due to our partnerships with community colleges. Our courses integrate culturally relevant pedagogy and we often have Noyce meetings in which we read articles and discuss best practices for teaching adolescents from diverse backgrounds. For these discussions, I use articles from Educational Leadership.