Creating and Implementing an Early Induction Program for Science Education Alumni

Abstract

Beginner science teachers can face jitters, nervousness, and insecurity during their first few years of teaching. Moving from the college classroom to your own classroom can be a daunting task, but they do not have to do it alone. There can be a structured program that provides support and guidance to beginner teachers in the early stages of their carriers. These are called early induction programs. Through the literature review of early induction programs implemented at other secondary schools and institutions of higher education, a blueprint was created to implement a program at The College at Brockport. The work involved included collecting alumni contact information, sending correspondence to alumni, and creating a digital medium to serve as the platform of the early induction program. This project seeks to provide beginner science teachers with a support community to share and collect ideas from their Brockport science program peers.