History, Science, and Social Justice
Many organizations, including WCS, are acknowledging and reckoning with historical injustices within the fields of biological science and conservation, in order to move forward and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in the STEM field. Science is not objective and history is written largely by those in power. Education often perpetuates dominant narratives, but we can change that: as teachers we have the power to tell a more complete story, one that centers the voices of people who have been marginalized and oppressed. In this workshop, you will use primary sources from the WCS archives to explore how the inequalities of the present have deep roots in the inequalities of the past, identify classroom strategies to center the voices of people who have been marginalized and oppressed, and learn to teach about race and racism in ways that are historically and scientifically accurate and that will empower students as scientists, learners, and social justice advocates.
Location: Online - blended synchronous (live) and asynchronous (on your own)
Date & Time: June 3, 2021 8:00-3:00
Price: $50
COURSE IS ELIGIBLE FOR: 6 CTLE Hours
REGISTRATION CLOSED
For more information about On-Site Professional Development, please contact: teacherinfo@wcs.org or (718) 220-5136
Meet Your Instructor
Dave Johnston (he/him)
Dave Johnston is the Director of Professional Development for Educators at the WCS. He oversees a unit of professional development and graduate program educators, working across all five NYC based WCS parks. He has worked in the classroom as a Living Environment teacher and has over 15 years experience working as an informal science educator. He holds a BA in Physical Anthropology from Penn State University and an M.Ed. in Science Education from City College of New York. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Teacher Education and Teacher Development from Montclair State University. His research is focused on the implementation of inquiry-based learning in informal science settings.