Being summer, and with the new academic year fast approaching, this would be a good time to share education-related news: I have been elected to the Governing Board of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT). My term of office is two years-July 2023 through June 2025.
The AACT is an initiative of the American Chemical Society (ACS) created in 2014 to serve as a professional community by and for K-12 chemistry (and science for pre-high-school) teachers. AACT membership, while predominantly K-12 teachers, also includes people from colleges and universities, industrial personnel, and chemistry professionals in non-traditional roles such as individuals from museums.
The AACT has an enormous amount of resources for teachers and is always looking to expand its collection and improve access and distribution. It also provides networking opportunities for teacher-to-teacher connection and for teacher-to-chemistry professional connection, all with an eye towards improving the quality of chemistry and science instruction generally, towards providing support for teachers (including those at the beginning of their careers), and towards enhancing support for students interested in chemistry or chemistry pedagogy. Among AACT's goals are to increase the number and quality of networking and communication opportunities among current and future AACT members, to promote cultural responsiveness in classrooms, to champion inclusiveness and DEI among teachers and students, and to increase participation and impact of relevant professional development opportunities for all educators.
With my election to the AACT's Governing Board, the AAAS Communities now have a direct link the AACT's many programs. One of the most interesting--and fun!--is the ACS Science Coaches program, a joint ACS and AACT educational outreach program that pairs chemists (the "coaches") with AACT teacher members in elementary, middle, and high schools. Anyone with a chemistry background or expertise is encouraged to apply as a coach. In the past, coaches have included chemistry professionals, chemistry graduate students, chemistry professors, retired and semi-retired professionals, and former or retired chemistry teachers. Coaches have undertaken all sorts of tasks when supporting teachers, ranging from collaborating directly with their teacher-coachee in front of students to working behind-the-scenes with lesson planning and lab design, answering students' questions, making science fairs happen, prepping for Chemistry Olympiad, and creating real-world connections to chemistry by describing their research or their jobs or by taking classes on field trips. The program is flexible based on the teacher-coachee's needs and the coaches goals.
I encourage all of us to participate or spread the word so that experienced professionals with chemical industry, chemical research, or chemistry teaching backgrounds can participate in this important way in which we can share our knowledge and experience with both novice and experienced teachers. It's a chance to be creative and to inspire the next generation of chemists and chemistry teachers!
And one more thing: If you are or if you know elementary and middle school teachers! The AACT and its programs are most definitely for elementary and middle school folks, too! Don't be shy or intimidated just because the subject is called "science" rather than chemistry. No imposter syndrome allowed. If science is being taught, the AACT is there to provide support.
The AACT web site URL is teachchemistry.org.
The ACS Science Coaches web site is https://www.acs.org/education/outreach/science-coaches.html.
Please feel free to explore them. And please share our enthusiasm for science teaching and improvement of instruction with the chemistry and education professionals you know.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss the AACT and how the members of the AAAS Communities can become involved.
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Elliot Richman, PhD
AAAS Superhero
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
AAAS Communities & Sections: Chemistry, Physics, History & Philosophy of Science, Science In History, Ask A Scientist, Climate Change Connections, Covid-19 & Emerging Infectious Diseases, LSEN, STEAM Enthusiasts,
AACT: Member, American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) Governing Board
ACS: Associate, American Chemical Society Committee on Senior Chemists
richmanelliot@gmail.com------------------------------