Noyce Scholar Profile
Peter Carmichael
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Earth Science Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Earth Science, grade 8
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
York College CUNY
Current academic or teaching status:
New Earth Science Teacher
School and school district:
Irwin Altwin Middle School MS 172
Background:
My hobbies include surfing, writing music and photography. I worked in Human Resources for eight years prior to beginning my teaching pursuit. I have traveled to many different places throughout North America as well as visited: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Greece, Costa Rica and Hawaii.
Why do you want to teach:
The reason I would like to have a teaching career is to give back to the community through education and share my love of science and teaching.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I was the Mouse Squad Team Leader at Q284 – York Early College Academy. As an innovative youth development program, Mouse Squad prepares and supports students in establishing and managing leading-edge technical support help desks in their schools. Mouse Squad improves a school’s ability to use technology to enhance learning, while providing a powerful, hands-on 21st century learning experience for students. One of the students was terribly shy and had a hard time trusting adult figures. My strategy was to find a way to connect with him so that he could feel more comfortable with participating in Mouse Squad’s activities. I noticed that he liked the musician “Fifty Cent” and played him all the time on his IPOD. My approach was to bond with him through music. At the beginning of every Mouse Squad meeting, I started with an opening task. I choose a task specifically for him. It was “Name your favorite song and how computer technology was used to make that song?” This assignment started a discussion and showed him that I enjoy rap music too. I built on that and had the Mouse Squad enter the National Do-It-Yourself Contest. The group and I decided that we were going to film a video on how to build a web page using PowerPoint. When it was time to choose a narrator for the video, I encouraged the shy student to volunteer. I felt this strategy would be a positive and safe experience for him to overcome his shyness. I am proud to say he did a fantastic job. The group did well at the National Do-It-Yourself contest, we earned second place in the competition. Additionally, the Principal of the school watched the video in front of the group and praised the shy student and the group for their efforts. I have seen growth in this student since then in his public speaking efforts. He is now in the 10th grade and is speaking louder and clearer than ever before. Given the time that I spent with the student, I felt my strategies were successful in enhancing his natural abilities and confidence. In addition, I accomplished this task while providing support and guidance to the entire group. As a result of their success, I rewarded the Mouse Squad members with gift certificates from I-Tunes. I am currently a student teacher at his school and proud to witness his development. The shy student is a straight A student and given time and the proper encouragement, I believe that he will make a strong contribution and be successful in any subject he chooses.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This prestigious program has allowed me to gaid valuable experience with students, provided me with financial help during my student teaching and allowed me to attend fabulous workshops.
