Overview

Continued Revision of Public School Programs

The MAT Program's partnership with public schools in the Hudson Valley and New York City emphasizes the need for educational change. MAT faculty offer courses on topics specific to broadening teacher expertise and constructing curricula. For example, a new curriculum might merge the study of biology and chemistry curricula in such a way as to make for better learning in both fields. Teachers from participating schools, MAT students, and MAT faculty meet regularly to pose critical questions regarding education. These meetings propel students and mentors to engage in research that leads to productive changes and, in turn, to further questions.

In most public schools, there is little time or support for the kinds of questions and investigations that can help teachers shift their practices to accommodate individual learning needs in the classroom. The MAT Program's partnership with public schools, coupled with the high level of disciplinary expertise and current educational research made available to MAT students, creates an extraordinary opportunity for current and future teachers alike. The MAT Program provides future teachers with essential learning, and structures their educational experience so as to incorporate the dynamic relationships among all members of a school's community.