Preservice teachers gain classroom experience

More than 80 elementary and middle school students participated in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) 2024 Summer Scholars STEM Institute. The program designed for students in fourth to eighth grade occurred during June and is supported by the Tommy and Chantal Bagwell Foundation, Jackson EMC Foundation, Habersham EMC Foundation and the United Way of Hall County.

In its 10th year, the summer program is overseen by UNG College of Education(COE) associate professor Dr. Max Vazquez Dominguez, who shared that 19 COE students helped facilitate the STEM Institute as preservice teachers.

"Our preservice teachers gained a rich experience developing lesson plans in science and engineering in 12 days and implementing them for 15 days under the supervision of UNG faculty and experienced instructors," Vazquez Dominguez said. "This summer course also provided preservice teachers with the opportunity to take the science methods course before they got to their senior year."