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home/academics/school of health sciences and rehabilitation studies/Springfield College Faculty Team Receives NSF Subaward | |
Springfield College Faculty Team Receives NSF Subaward |
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 An interdisciplinary team of four faculty members from Springfield College have received a post-institute implementation award after attending the SENCER Summer Institute 2006 in San Jose CA from August 4 to August 7.
The team includes Dr. Katherine Post, Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department in the School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies; Dr. Susan Guyer, of the Athletic Training Department in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; Professor Jeannette Hafey, of the Biology Department in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies; and Dr. Joan Mikalson, of the School of Human Services. SENCER will provide partial support for a multi-year project of curriculum reforms that the Springfield College team is developing to strengthen the link from foundational science courses to clinical human anatomy courses for students in a variety of health sciences professions, including athletic training, emergency medical services management, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Once they enter their careers, graduates of these programs not only deliver professional services to consumers, but also teach students in clinical and classroom settings, and conduct research that advances professional knowledge. Students therefore must graduate with solid experience in applying scientific methods and principles, and in using critical thinking and problem solving skills, to make professional contributions to society. The faculty team stated, “What makes our approach a distinctive and possibly unique application of SENCER ideals is our plan to engage students directly in problem-solving activities across a series of courses, building understanding and team-based critical thinking as students move from pre-professional general education to advanced professional level courses in their majors.” Drs. Post and Guyer teach in the upper level interdisciplinary human anatomy courses and Prof. Hafey teaches anatomy and physiology. Dr. Mikalson served as a SENCER Summer Institute 2004 Advance Representative for the School of Human Services as well as a 2006 team member for Springfield College. Committed to civic engagement in higher education, she is currently one of ten SC faculty members participating in a year-long “Service Learning Professional Development Program,” and will support the development of the peer-led team learning model and the use of active learning strategies within the project. SENCER, which stands for Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities, is a national program for disseminating new approaches to teaching and learning science, technology, engineering, and math for undergraduates. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement promotes rigorous interdisciplinary education using public issues for applied problem-solving. David Burns, executive director of the Center and principal investigator for the SENCER initiative, expressed his appreciation for the leadership that Springfield College is bringing to this national effort: “So many of our most significant civic challenges require a knowledge of science and mathematics. We are pleased to be partnered with Springfield College in focusing the intelligence and capacity of students, faculty, and academic leaders on some of the hardest problems of our time.” Springfield College will be hosting the 2nd Annual SENCER New England Regional Conference in January 2007; the School of Human Services hosted the inaugural regional conference in 2005. Updated: 09/26/2006 |
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