SDSU, YMCA Partner for New Course
Future math and science teachers will work with an after-school program at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in southeast San Diego.
Beginning this fall, the College of Sciences will offer a new undergraduate course focused on creating new learning connections for diverse communities. The course will provide students the opportunity to learn about teaching mathematics and science in an informal setting.
Partnering with the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, students from San Diego State University will participate in a course for future teachers. "Math 296: Informal Learning in Math and Science" is for prospective math and science high school teachers, as well as people interested in pursuing a career in math or science teaching.
Discovery and exploration
Once a week the class will meet after school at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in southeast San Diego to engage students from the community in a variety of discovery and exploration projects. San Diego State University students will:
- Work on innovative math and science education projects designed by top math and science education researchers
- Learn about how students think and learn in out-of-school settings
- Work with high school students on challenging problems and activities that might not otherwise be available in a formal school setting
- Design and implement their own math and science activities
“Mathematics and science are not only learned inside of the classroom,” said Alexander Chizhik, professor in the SDSU School of Teacher Education, who was integral in developing the new community engagement course.
“Often our greatest opportunities for discovery and exploration take place in informal settings, including after-school programs, museums and when encountering everyday life.”
The course exposes SDSU students to ways teachers can use informal educational opportunities in the classroom.
“Student proficiency in the areas of math and science, especially in urban schools is gaining national attention,” said SDSU Director of Diversity Aaron Bruce. “This is an excellent initiative that benefits our students as well as folks in the community.”
Leveraging intuition
The new partnership with the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA helps educators learn more about how they can leverage students’ intuition to understand math and science, Bruce said.
“We are pleased to serve as an important learning laboratory for this initiative with SDSU,” said Michael Brunker, executive director of the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA.
Brunker initially came to San Diego in 1980 to coach men's basketball at San Diego State (1980-1987) and has been an advocate for student achievement in the community for more than 30 years.
“Failure is not an option when it comes to helping kids graduate from college,” Brunker said.
“The more students are exposed to learning in an informal setting, the greater the likelihood that they will focus on academic excellence, going to college and graduating.”
Brunker, who was the first in his family to graduate from college, emphasized the importance of commitment in a community with young people who are often the first in their family to graduate from high school.
He noted that although athletic ability is good, most young people are not going to compete in sports at the professional level. In that vein, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA stresses that academic success cannot be overlooked.
“Jackie Robinson, who took the plate as the first African-American in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947, also attended colleges in California and received five honorary degrees throughout his life,” Brunker said.
“SDSU has created an excellent way to get college students valuable experience in the real world.”
More information
For more information, please contact Alexander Chizhik at 619-594-1222 or [email protected].
