Hello Science Enthusiast!

As a STEM educator, do you feel that high quality science and engineering practices need to be showcased more often? I certainly do and I aim to devote my energy and passion for STEM education to creating a website and blog for us. Yes! Celebrating science and STEM education will be at the forefront here. Other academic studies will not be ignored though. I believe that cross disciplinary themes add richness to education and help us accomplish our mission as educators which is to ignite all students’ inherent interest in the natural world.

Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to people’s lives across the world and I was no exception. For me, my 5 year professional plan to pursue science communication, consulting, and coaching was accelerated by two years. Thankfully I had not put off professional goal setting over the last few years and, because of this, my unexpected professional shift was not devastating. In fact, I was gifted with time to fully pursue my plan. (Let this be a lesson for the procrastinators out there- start dreaming, planning, and acting on your 5 or 10 year plan now.) So, I spent the winter of 2020-21 in quarantine working as hard as ever on continued professional growth in science education. I participated in many webinars, took a course on 3D learning, conducted lots of research, and reflected on my -ahem- 28 year career as a secondary ed science teacher. I know reflection is encouraged and practiced in our field- and it should be- but the days turning into weeks and then months of reflection in my current life scenario has been a joyously profound personal and professional experience. All I can say is this- if you have the opportunity for a sabbatical, plan for it (research & finances) and then go for it!

This website began as a global education guide initiated as a window into my experience in the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program (2018-19), which involved a global education course, a symposium in Washington D.C., and a life changing international field experience in Morocco (a French Protectorate from 1912-1956). All of my research, reflections, photos, and blog posts about the culture and education system of Morocco are still contained here and I invite you to check them out in the “Global Education” and “Science Blog Posts” archives.

A couple of years ago, as I was working on my National Geographic certification, I conceived my professional mission statement,

“My mission is to create scientifically and geographically literate students who,

• have passion for discovery of the natural world around them
• have the knowledge, the confidence and the skills to communicate ideas respectfully and,
• have the drive to become positive agents of change as globally competent citizens”

As I reflect on my mission, I see that a few tweaks can transform it into one that is appropriate for science educators across the globe whose work I whole-heartedly respect because of its’ relevance and importance for vital societies and sustainable ecosystems.

Thus, my mission becomes,

“My mission is to support our talented scientifically and geographically literate educators who,

• have passion for discovery of the natural world around them
• have the knowledge, the confidence and the skills to inspire all students to learn science, understand scientific processes, and
• have the drive to become positive agents of change as globally competent teacher leader citizens”

How can my mission be achieved?

The answer lies within us. I aim to celebrate the work of STEM educators across the world and inspire each of us to nurture your love for science in our classrooms as we strive to implement culturally responsive, socially and emotionally informed, student centered 3D learning routines. Let’s see how we can become more skillful and fulfilled in our profession while allowing our unique attributes as educators to shine!

I plan to regularly post “science features” along with cross disciplinary connections to human history and culture. I hope that you will find them interesting and perhaps useful for some of your classroom lessons. Maybe some cross-discipline collaborations could result? I have lots of other resources on this website too. See the descriptions below.

Sincerely, Laurel Cardellichio

Information Available on this Website:

The pages comprising this website have a wealth of information with resources on global STEM education, three dimensional learning strategies, and information about my professional values, services, and credentials. These pages will be built upon and updated regularly to reflect the current trends in science education.

• Go to the “My Professional Portfolio” link for:
  • My teacher leader philosophy and professional credentials
  • Examples of my practice as a high school science teacher. Look for exemplars of inquiry-based instruction, scientific modeling, and lessons incorporating cross-disciplinary and culturally responsive themes.
• Go to the “STEM Education” link for:
  • My experience obtaining the NASA Endeavor STEM Teacher certification, Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, New York State Science Learning Standards and more.
• Go to the “Global Education” link for:
  • My Fulbright Teachers for Global Classroom’s experience including global education coursework and my international field experience in Morocco.  You will read about my research guiding questions about STEM education and sustainable farming practices in Morocco.
  • A list of Digital Learning Resources to use for global education, Global Education Student Assessment Inventory, the Asia Society’s Global Education Competencies, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and other resources to globalize lessons
  • An Education Week article calling for global education leadership and partnerships
  • A list of local/regional community resources
• Go to the “Interdisciplinary Education” link for:
  • The National Geographic Learning Framework and the National Geographic Disciplinary Perspectives
• Go to the “Consulting & Coaching” link for:
  • To see my professional learning offerings (can be tailored to client’s needs)
• Go to the “Science Blog Posts” link for:
  • Science Feature blog posts.
  • Please go to the archives section for March 2019 to access my blog posts during my Fulbright Fellowship trip to Morocco. Here you will find daily postings about the Moroccan education system and culture.
  • I welcome all readers’ responses, questions, feedback. Your postings will be visible as soon as possible, but please allow at least 24 hours for approval.

Please note: “This website is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the participant’s own and do not represent the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, the U.S. Department of State, or IREX.”