First math and science education program at an engineering school offered at Illinois Institute of Technology this fall
Illinois Institute of Technology is pleased to announce the arrival of two new faculty members who will help put IIT at the forefront of math and science education. Norman Lederman, Ph.D., will chair IIT’s new department of math and science education, and Judith Sweeney Lederman, Ph.D., will serve in IIT’s new math and science education department and will serve as director of science at the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School.
The couple will take a novel approach to producing and training better math and science educators by offering courses specifically geared towards math and science education within an engineering school setting. For decades, both teachers and policy-makers have recognized that educators often lack adequate understanding of math and science to teach these subjects effectively, says Norman Lederman. “Adding math and science education courses to the offerings of an engineering school like IIT makes sense because engineering schools excel at math and science,” he explains.
The Ledermans’ new programs will be the first to offer math and science education degrees at a science and engineering school.
The Ledermans plan to offer three math and science education programs over the next two years. The first program, which the Ledermans expect to launch this fall, will certify undergraduate students earning their bachelor’s degrees in math or science to teach in Illinois. The second program will grant a masters degree in math and science education to experienced teachers.
The third program will offer a Ph.D. in math and science education. Norman Lederman first came to the attention of IIT through Leon Lederman, (no relation), Nobel Laureate physicist on IIT’s faculty and a leading national advocate for improved math and science secondary education.
“Once we knew about Norman and Judy Lederman, we did everything we could to attract them here,” said David Baker, vice president for external affairs and liaison between IIT’s new Math and Science Education program and the Chicago Public Schools. “ The Ledermans’ commitment to inquiry-based science education and Judith’s strong experience in urban settings make them the ideal duo to shape IIT’s program.”
The Ledermans come from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, where they were both highly involved in developing innovative science and math education courses geared towards teaching teachers how to convey math and science concepts.
Norman Lederman earned his Ph.D. in science education from Syracuse University after receiving an M.S. in secondary education from Bradley University. He also holds an M.S. in biology from New York University. At Oregon State University, Norman Lederman served as professor of math and science education and director of the Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education. He also held faculty positions at the State University of New York at Albany and Syracuse University. He was a high school biology teacher in Eureka, Ill for five years and taught for three years at North Syracuse High School.
He also brings with him a $2.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, which was awarded to him while he was at Oregon State University. The grant will fund workshops and give academic support to help teachers understand and teach scientific inquiry and the nature of science.
Judith Lederman last served as an assistant professor of science and math education at Oregon State University. Before that, she was curator of education at the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned her M.S. in natural science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Mass., and a baccalaureate degree in secondary education from Rhode Island College in Providence, R.I. She has taught at Providence College and the University of Rhode Island. Lederman holds an honorary Ph.D. from Rhode Island College.
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.
