Profile
Although Mr. Maita's formal education focused on physics, he has taught a wide array of subjects including biology, chemistry, physics, genetics, geoscience, integrated science, calculus, and engineering. Last summer Mr. Maita began working with a cohort of teachers in a partnership between Loyola University, Northwestern University, and the Illinois State Board of Education piloting the Next Generation Science Exemplar System, or NGSX 2.0. The focus of this project is to engage teachers in working with the practices and disciplinary core ideas in the National Research Council's Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards. Mr. Maita looks forward to continuing this work with the cohort and in his classroom in the following years. Recently Mr. Maita was selected as a MSU-Wipro STEM and Leadership Fellow, and will be piloting his work in creating project-based learning experiences using authentic audiences to create a transformative educational experience.
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Philosophy |
Contact |
My goal as a science instructor is to create the framework for my students to develop a disciplinary mindset – to see the world through the eyes of a scientist, both in terms of wonder and appreciation for the natural world, as well as with the dispositions of a scientist, such as being skeptical of claims and valuing failure as a route to success. Project-based learning and phenomena-driven inquiry are the pedagogical strategies I implement in my classroom to engage students in science as a practice. Project-based learning gives context and meaning to classic science content, and provides ample opportunity for students to share and reflect on learning as units develop. Using phenomena to drive inquiry brings content into the real world, sparks student interest and imagination, and keeps the classroom learner-centered.
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