The Quinnipiac University School of Education’s Science Teaching and Learning Center will host a workshop with Okhee Lee on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Lee is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University. Her research areas include science education, language and culture, and teacher education. She served on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) writing team and as leader of the NGSS Diversity and Equity team. The writing team was composed of 40 members that developed NGSS based on the National Research Council’s framework for K–12 Science Education.
Classroom teachers are invited to participate in the workshop from 8 a.m.-noon on Dec. 7 at the School of Education, 370 Bassett Road, to do a deep dive into NGSS aligned curriculum and instructional for all students, including English learners. Lee will focus on her research associated with instructional strategies and language specific to STEM disciplines when teaching English-language learners. Registration is required for the event.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have the leader of the NGSS Diversity and Equity team come share her work,” said Cindy Kern, assistant teaching professor of education and director of QUeST-LC. “The goal of her research is to ensure that all students have access to meaningful science instruction. Each time I hear Dr. Lee’s empowering words and see classroom teachers become motivated to innovate, create, and inspire their students to understand the natural world, I want more time to learn from her.”
Lee is widely known for advancing research, policy, and practice that simultaneously promote science and language learning for all students, particularly English learners. At present, she leads collaborative research between New York University and Stanford University to develop instructional materials aligned with the NGSS to promote science and language learning for elementary students. She also leads collaborative research with MIT and Vanderbilt University to integrate computational thinking and modeling in NGSS-aligned instructional materials.
Lee also was a member of the steering committee for the Understanding Language Initiative at Stanford University. She has directed research projects funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, Spencer Foundation, and other national and state organizations. She received her doctorate from Michigan State University and came to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development from the University of Miami School of Education.
QUeST-LC is committed to creating an inclusive, excellence-driven community in partnership with K-16 science educators across Connecticut to ensure, through research-based teaching practices, a rich and meaningful educational experience for all students. Its goal is to be a true partner to regional science educators as they negotiate the ever-changing landscape of K-16 education. QUeST-LC strives to learn mutually and in concert with QU alumni, partner Institutes of Higher Education, state representatives, district leadership, K-16 teachers and students. QUeST-LC is responsive to the needs of Quinnipiac alumni as they navigate the college to career transition.