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My name is Dr. Jessica Riccio
and I am a part of the Math, Science, and Technology department here at Teachers College
but I run the Pre-service Program in Science Education.
So, since my primary role is running the Pre-Service Teacher Education Program in Science,
what I do is I prepare teachers on theory related to science education and practice related to science education.
So, the courses that I teach are all part of the M.A degree for 36 points.
So, I’m responsible for classes called,
“Science in Secondary School,” “Student Teaching in Science,” “Student Practicum in Science,”
and I also teach other courses related to biology education and biology methods.
Now, one of the things that I can say that’s unique about me here in the program
is that I actually participated in the program before I ended up as a faculty member.
So, years and years ago, I actually went through an M.A. program here at Teachers College,
specifically in Physiology, and while I was here,
I learned more about content but I realized I wanted to learn more about science education.
I had always thought I wanted to become a teacher
but I wanted to be the best teacher I could possibly be.
So, I actually went through the teacher education program here in the college
and I was really inspired by my teachers and professors
and how serious they were and how connected they were.
So, what I did is I actually became a New York City teacher
and for many years I was just a plain, old New York City teacher,
teaching science in the schools here in the city
and then I decided, you know what, I wanted to continue with my degree
and I came back to create my own doctoral studies here in the program,
and in 2008 I received my own Doctorate in Science Education.
And the thing that always drew me back to TC was what I spoke about before:
the idea that practice and research were together in a way that I felt like
what I did and what I learned here in the college I can really use in my classroom.
It is very exciting to work with students.
It is also very exciting to work with my students’ students when they become student teachers.
I really love the opportunity to get into New York City classrooms
and see students who are in 5th through 12th grade learning about science
and being excited about science for the first time
and seeing the opportunities where my student teachers are able to really get out there
and unlock the students’ capabilities and make them understand, like,
“I am a scientist! I can be a scientist! Look at this, I can do this investigation.”
So, whether it’s students in the classroom or students in my masters program
or even doctoral students that I help to advise,
students in general just, you know,
really are the core of the what the Program in Science Education is about.
Part of my research that makes me so excited to be someone who’s here is interdisciplinary research
where I work with faculty members from the Reading Specialist Program,
faculty members from Social Studies, faculty members from Science and Math, and we all collaborate together
and it’s that collaboration that really keeps me inspired to continue to do research
and also inspired to be part of a team.
So it’s nice to pursue your own interest and your own research
but, at the same time, it’s also nice to have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers
in a way to find new ways to accomplish research that you wouldn’t think of doing before.