The STEMM Education Research Collaborative: A Carolina Seminar Series 

Future Science Educators (FuSE) Presents: Strategy, Curriculum, & Classrooms - Career pathways and techniques in science education – With Dr. Rachel Penton, PhD, Education and Engagement Associate, the Allen Institute - Wed May 14 @ 1p-2p EDT (10a-11a PDT)

Event Description: Dr. Rachel Penton, PhD, has served as a teaching assistant and associate professor, and director of undergraduate advising for a major/minor in higher education – and currently serves as an education and engagement associate at the Allen Institute. Her role is to strategize and plan all undergraduate education efforts – including faculty development and educational resource design - which relies on her extensive experience with the myriad of teaching methods she’s used (and knowledge of any that she hasn't). Dr. Penton will give an overview about her career pathway and provide lessons learned to aspiring science educators about what she does now, the strategy she has established in her current role, and why she has selected the resources they design and run, and how that is informed by how different teaching methods work across different educational settings. This will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes of her decision-making as an educational developer based on her experience as an educator. She will also refer participants to resources for active learning strategies (such as the CREATE method and creative ways to teach difficult concepts) and how to apply them to a variety of settings.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Penton has served as a teaching assistant and associate professor, and director of undergraduate advising for a major/minor in higher education – and currently serves as an education and engagement associate at the Allen Institute. Her role is to strategize and plan all undergraduate education efforts – including faculty development and educational resource design - which relies on her extensive experience with the myriad of teaching methods she’s used (and knowledge of any that she hasn't). Dr. Penton will give an overview about her career pathway and provide lessons learned to aspiring science educators about what she does now, the strategy she has established in her current role, and why she has selected the resources they design and run, and how that is informed by how different teaching methods work across different educational settings.  This will provide attendees with a behind-the-scenes of her decision-making as an educational developer based on her experience as an educator.  She will also refer participants to resources for active learning strategies (such as the CREATE method and creative ways to teach difficult concepts) and how to apply them to a variety of settings.