Name: Aurora Tyagi
Bio:
Aurora has been a Chicago Public School teacher for 13 years teaching chemistry, physics, and mathematics. She is a lifelong learner who is very curious and passionate. Aurora graduated with B.S. in Civil Engineering (1981) from Philippines, MA in Education (2001) from Saint Xavier University, Chicago, and a Master’s degree in Chemistry Education (2011) from Illinois State University. Currently, she is a part of the MSU Wipro STEM and Leadership Program.
Your twitter handle: @TyagiAurora
Your website address: http://aetyagi.weebly.com/
Your favorite quote related to teaching/learning: “Every individual has potential to learn and grow but they need a challenging environment and direction from a person who understands humanity and its nature."
Book Recommendation:
The book I recommend for STEM Educators is “Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works” (2013) by Will Richardson. This book has many examples of multidisciplinary instructional activities on how to create multimodal representations for teachers and student’s sample work. In addition, “The Math Myth” by Andrew Hacker is also an interesting read. It illuminates how mandating higher mathematics for everyone prevents other talents from being developed and even serves as an irrational barrier to graduation and careers.
1. Looking back.
Having my own children and experiencing a parent volunteer in our school inspired me to change my career path and become an educator.. In making this transition to become a high school teacher, while taking care of four children, I definitely learned to overcome some challenges. But, a career that can make a difference by providing an opportunity to prepare our future leaders and mold their minds and habits is very rewarding and worth every challenge. My prior experience in the field of engineering and as a mother, along with my curiosity to know something new are some values I bring to my career.
2. Where I am now?
Being an educator and an MSUrbanSTEM fellow has widened my vision on how technology can be embedded in the teaching and learning experience for me and my students. The knowledge I garnered during this fellowship helped me overcome my reservations towards online exposure. I have slowly embraced and learned to use multimedia tools and resources to engage students’ learning to achieve content and skill goals. Now, I see the cellphone (with an added training on self discipline) as a tool that can be very useful to achieving learning goals in a lesson. My quiet way of leading through the work I do within my classroom walls is now global because of the MSUrbanSTEM fellowship experiences. One’s work is useful if accessible to all.
3. Looking forward.
Looking forward, my mission is always to improve student learning. Both content and skills are important in order to be a knowledgeable member of the society who can make sound decisions. A year of experience with this project is just a starting point. I am looking forward to improving each year because of the changing instrumental and missional goals in our school. I am teaching under a curriculum transition from traditional to STEM curriculum that is evolving. Both instrumental and missional goals complement one another it is like an analogy of finding the sweet spot (like in TPACK). Achieving this balance depends on what my school can afford; or, to be practical, in my classroom, it depends on what decisions I can or cannot control. Teaching in an urban school does not stop at just teaching the content. It includes other unwritten or passion-based extra work that a teacher does, like writing grants, surveying discount stores for instructional materials, keeping an eye on other schools’ “garbage” because it is your gold, and being flexible and agile to change when needed to solve problem. In five years, I am confident that Brooks College Prep will be a distinguished STEM school in Chicago, of which I am proud to be a part.
4. Summing up.
This I believe… STEM is our present and how well we integrate multi-disciplines in our educational system, we can widen the bridge into a humane and literate society now and into the future.
Bio:
Aurora has been a Chicago Public School teacher for 13 years teaching chemistry, physics, and mathematics. She is a lifelong learner who is very curious and passionate. Aurora graduated with B.S. in Civil Engineering (1981) from Philippines, MA in Education (2001) from Saint Xavier University, Chicago, and a Master’s degree in Chemistry Education (2011) from Illinois State University. Currently, she is a part of the MSU Wipro STEM and Leadership Program.
Your twitter handle: @TyagiAurora
Your website address: http://aetyagi.weebly.com/
Your favorite quote related to teaching/learning: “Every individual has potential to learn and grow but they need a challenging environment and direction from a person who understands humanity and its nature."
Book Recommendation:
The book I recommend for STEM Educators is “Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works” (2013) by Will Richardson. This book has many examples of multidisciplinary instructional activities on how to create multimodal representations for teachers and student’s sample work. In addition, “The Math Myth” by Andrew Hacker is also an interesting read. It illuminates how mandating higher mathematics for everyone prevents other talents from being developed and even serves as an irrational barrier to graduation and careers.
1. Looking back.
Having my own children and experiencing a parent volunteer in our school inspired me to change my career path and become an educator.. In making this transition to become a high school teacher, while taking care of four children, I definitely learned to overcome some challenges. But, a career that can make a difference by providing an opportunity to prepare our future leaders and mold their minds and habits is very rewarding and worth every challenge. My prior experience in the field of engineering and as a mother, along with my curiosity to know something new are some values I bring to my career.
2. Where I am now?
Being an educator and an MSUrbanSTEM fellow has widened my vision on how technology can be embedded in the teaching and learning experience for me and my students. The knowledge I garnered during this fellowship helped me overcome my reservations towards online exposure. I have slowly embraced and learned to use multimedia tools and resources to engage students’ learning to achieve content and skill goals. Now, I see the cellphone (with an added training on self discipline) as a tool that can be very useful to achieving learning goals in a lesson. My quiet way of leading through the work I do within my classroom walls is now global because of the MSUrbanSTEM fellowship experiences. One’s work is useful if accessible to all.
3. Looking forward.
Looking forward, my mission is always to improve student learning. Both content and skills are important in order to be a knowledgeable member of the society who can make sound decisions. A year of experience with this project is just a starting point. I am looking forward to improving each year because of the changing instrumental and missional goals in our school. I am teaching under a curriculum transition from traditional to STEM curriculum that is evolving. Both instrumental and missional goals complement one another it is like an analogy of finding the sweet spot (like in TPACK). Achieving this balance depends on what my school can afford; or, to be practical, in my classroom, it depends on what decisions I can or cannot control. Teaching in an urban school does not stop at just teaching the content. It includes other unwritten or passion-based extra work that a teacher does, like writing grants, surveying discount stores for instructional materials, keeping an eye on other schools’ “garbage” because it is your gold, and being flexible and agile to change when needed to solve problem. In five years, I am confident that Brooks College Prep will be a distinguished STEM school in Chicago, of which I am proud to be a part.
4. Summing up.
This I believe… STEM is our present and how well we integrate multi-disciplines in our educational system, we can widen the bridge into a humane and literate society now and into the future.
