The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

NSF
NSF
  • Home
  • The Program
    • NSF Noyce Program Directors
    • NSF Noyce Program Solicitation
    • Consider Becoming an NSF Noyce Principal Investigator
    • Become a Noyce Scholar or Teacher Leader
      • Noyce Scholar Profiles
      • Noyce Alumni Profiles
    • Voices From the Field Videos
  • Project Locator
    • Select from Map
    • Advanced Search
    • Submit Information
  • In the News
    • In the News
  • Meetings
    • 2022 Noyce Summit
    • 2021 Noyce Summer Events
    • 2020 Virtual Noyce Summit
    • Archived Noyce Summit Materials
    • Noyce Regional Meetings
  • Resources
    • Noyce Track 4 Research Book
    • Proposal Preparation Toolkit
    • Noyce Project Videos
    • Noyce Summit Abstract Catalogs
    • Reports
    • Toolkits
    • ARISE Research Community
  • Contact

Michael

RETURN TO SCHOLAR LIST

Noyce Scholar Profile

Michael Coleman

Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S. Chemistry, Masters in Teaching

Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Science, grades 7-12

Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow

Name of Noyce institution:
University of Vermont

Current academic or teaching status:
Graduate Student

School and school district:
Mount Abraham Union Middle/High School, Bristol, VT

Background:

I graduated from Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. After graduation, I enrolled in the Chemistry PhD program at Cornell University. Finding the research component difficult and frustrating, and the lab teaching assistant duties enjoyable and rewarding, I decided to withdraw to pursue a secondary science teaching career. I am now finishing the MAT degree program at the University of Vermont and will be obtaining certification in general science and an endorsement in chemistry.

Why do you want to teach:

I want to teach because it is a career at which I can excel. This is something that is very important to me. Also, while liking the work the job requires, I know it helps others. I cannot think of a more noble profession than educating the future citizens of our civilization.

Describe a memorable teaching experience:

When I learned stoichiometry, it was according to the dimensional analysis method. Later, I became familiar with other techniques including proportions and formulas. However, the first way seemed the easiest. When I began teaching stoichiometry, I assumed the students would pick up the concept best through dimensional analysis–I was very wrong. I resorted to alternatives, which worked much better for them. It turns out that the mathematics curriculum at the school puts a strong emphasis on solving problems with proportions. This experience taught me two things. First, my students may not necessarily learn in the way I thought was easiest. Second, I can improve my students’ learning experience by taking advantage of their strengths, what they already know.

What does the Noyce program mean to you:

The Noyce program has given me an opportunity to pursue teacher certification at a reduced financial cost. Attending an out-of-state public university is not cheap, and I am grateful for the financial compensation the scholarship offers.

What’s New

  • 2022 Noyce Summit
  • Noyce by the Numbers: 20 Years of Noyce
  • Proposal Preparation Webinars
  • Frequently Asked Questions for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
  • Become a Noyce Scholar or Teacher Leader
  • Consider Becoming an NSF Noyce Principal Investigator
  • Noyce Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Check out our ARISE website for research & opportunities!

Checking In

NSF

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant Numbers DUE-2041597 and DUE-1548986. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

  • About Noyce Program
  • AAAS ISEED
  • Subscribe to ARISE
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science