UTeach at UT Austin Promotes STEM Teaching and Learning

The UTeach program at the University of Texas at Austin aims to serve underrepresented populations while inspiring students to explore opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Part of the College of Natural Sciences, the program offers teaching opportunities to both undergraduate students and degree holders. From their very first semester, students work in pairs to develop lesson plans and deliver instruction in local classrooms.

A branch of UTeach, UTeach Outreach originated as a course that paired UT students with community teachers to assist with hands-on lessons. The course served a symbiotic purpose, providing real-world experience to aspiring teachers while providing much-needed classroom support for teachers in under-resourced schools.

The UTeach Outreach program has since expanded to work on various community-based projects, including after-school clubs and summer camps. Each year, approximately 200 UT students and volunteers visit Austin-area schools to teach inquiry-based science classes, as well as to serve as mentors for more than 30 after-school clubs.

UTeach Outreach participants practice the concept of service learning, an educational pedagogy that places equal emphasis on their own learning and service to the larger community. Students can complete their own coursework while achieving a positive impact in their communities, all while building connections with fellow UT students. Taken for class credit, UTeach Outreach courses provide a unique opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining fieldwork experience and engaging with the community.

In addition to learning in the classroom, UTeach Outreach participants mentor a variety of after-school STEM clubs. In this less formal setting, participants improve communication and leadership skills while inspiring students to explore their interests in STEM areas.

Finally, UTeach Outreach operates a number of summer programs designed to inspire students through hands-on STEM content. Ideally, students begin in sixth or seventh grade and take the five-week academic courses for four consecutive summers. Using engaging inquiry-based techniques, the courses prepare students for advanced high school coursework in STEM areas.

For degree holders and eligible upperclassmen, UTeach Accelerate qualifies individuals to teach secondary STEM courses in as little as a year. This pathway streamlines coursework and provides intensive coaching that helps candidates use project- and inquiry-based learning to engage students. After a year of rigorous coursework from master teachers and UT faculty, qualified candidates receive a recommendation for a full-time paid teaching position, or they may elect to complete one semester of student teaching before acquiring full certification.

During their year of preparatory coursework, UTeach Accelerate candidates receive personal mentorship to help them meet their educator preparation requirements. To enter the UTeach Accelerate program, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and sufficient STEM credit hours to meet UTeach content requirements.

Additional UTeach initiatives include UTeach Maker, a micro-credentialing program that invites UTeach participants to refine their teaching skills. Working one-on-one with Maker mentors, participants enhance their resumes and develop skills to infuse STEM learning with creativity and invention. Graduates of the selective UTeach Maker program will serve approximately 1,600 students in the classroom.

To learn more about how UTeach addresses educational needs in the Austin community, or to read about the program’s various initiatives, visit uteach.utexas.edu.

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