Dr. Anna Scott, Science Department Chair in the Upper School at Athens Academy in Athens, Georgia, is passionate about teaching science. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Berry College and two graduate degrees from the University of Georgia, she works to educate students in 9th- through 12th- grades. Dr. Scott also teaches college students in her part-time assistant professor role at the University of Georgia. Working as an educator since 1999, she has taught a wide range of courses, including anatomy, biology, physiology, physical science, and principles of technology.
One of the challenges that my kids face in science is just overcoming a lack of confidence. I'm always trying to get them to be a little more interested and understand the relevance of science.
Dr. Scott understands students may feel slightly nervous about engaging in science classes. They may not feel confident with the subject matter or even enjoy it. “One of the challenges that my kids face in science is just overcoming a lack of confidence. I'm always trying to get them to be a little more interested and understand the relevance of science,” she noted. Some students struggle with big concepts, like photosynthesis, climate change, cellular respiration, or DNA replication. That’s why Dr. Scott works to make “abstract, teeny-tiny things concrete and understandable.”
After serving as a consultant for the original developers of STEM Cases, joining ExploreLearning Collab Crew was a perfect opportunity to continue the critical work of “making tough concepts accessible, scaffolding them appropriately, and then situating them in the context of a real-life story.” Dr. Scott shares her thoughts about teachability, difficulty level, and students' potential reactions to the concepts and enjoys being part of the process. “I think STEM Cases are an awesome product and one of the few times we can say technology is a part of learning and not just something that is flashy beside the learning,” she said.
I feel like I'm helping ExploreLearning keep STEM Cases amazing, which they are. Also, I feel like I'm learning a ton, so it's a total win, win, win, win, win!
As a Collab Crew member, Dr. Scott weighs in on cases at various stages of development. She looks at proposals for new STEM Cases as well as drafts and storyboards throughout the development process, providing input along the way. “I love Collab Crew because it's more like very flexible, very rewarding professional development. I know that sounds crazy because I'm supposed to be doing the company a favor [by] previewing their products, but in the example of STEM Cases, I'm actually learning about a real-life situation or context that we will provide to the students. I'm learning about how the science content applies in those particular contexts, and oftentimes they're not ones that I have ever thought of before,” she noted. “I feel like I'm helping ExploreLearning keep STEM Cases amazing, which they are. Also, I feel like I'm learning a ton, so it's a total win, win, win, win, win!”
Collab Crew virtual meetings fit into Dr. Scott’s busy schedule because she can choose the most convenient times. “They start on time. They end on time. They're very well organized and very well run,” she said. “I get the material to review ahead of time, which also helps to stay on pace. I feel very appreciated when we end our calls.”
Dr. Scott feels that Collab Crew supports her as an educator by asking for product input during development. “So many times, innovations are sort of pushed down our throats as teachers when actually they haven't been informed by a classroom educator who understands what will work and not work in an actual classroom setting,” she observed. Through the partnership of educators and developers, STEM Cases provide authentic learning experiences for students that also work well for teachers. “You really make it clear to me that you value my contribution and that you value my time,” commented Dr. Scott. “I feel like I'm doing something great for the world of science education.”