Curator Mordecai Mac Low Answers Questions About MAT Program

Wednesday, January 18 11:55 am

Curator Mordecai-Mark Mac Low answers a few questions about the Museum's Master of Arts in Teaching program. © AMNH/D. Finnin

“Change lives. Teach science.” That is the call to action for the Museum’s new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program for people who are passionate about science and more—learning to teach science to middle and high school students. Mordecai-Mark Mac Low, curator in the Museum’s Department of Astrophysics, is one of the Museum scientists who will also be a faculty member of this urban teacher residency program, for which final applications are due on January 31. Mac Low recently answered a few questions about the program.

What’s the advantage of basing a program like this at the Museum?

The Museum is small and flexible enough to allow the integration of educators and research scientists into a single program of teacher education. We also have the advantage of a long tradition of educating teachers in hands-on science using Museum exhibits and collections.

How does directly involving research scientists shape teacher education?

Learning science from active scientists brings two advantages. First, the process of how science is done can be directly observed and discussed, and second, active researchers are the people best placed to understand how the vast amount of detailed knowledge available fits together into big-picture concepts.

What’s the greatest need in our nation’s education system that this program will be addressing?

The need for science teachers who understand and can communicate real science, not just a flattened textbook version that turns students away from understanding the many problems our nation faces.

Applications, due January 31, are available online.

You can also join the MAT mailing list to receive updates.