‘MTSU On the Record’ examines APTeach program for chemistry educators

Another educational adjustment prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of a recebt “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Dr. Greg Rushton

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Greg Rushton, a professor of chemistry in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, first aired June 16 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can hear their conversation above.

Along with two professors from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rushton operates a grant-funded project called “APTeach.” The program aims to create communities of teachers across the country who teach chemistry to advanced placement students in high schools.

Through APTeach’s Zoom webinars, teachers share ideas and best practices for teaching chemistry online and preparing students for what might be their first online chemistry exams.

Rushton said sometimes teachers are thrust into leading chemistry classes even though they have life science backgrounds and chemistry isn’t their discipline of choice.

“Because there’s a shortage of folks in the physical sciences, and they go to other things besides teaching, you’re ultimately left with a population that wasn’t prepared and wasn’t intending to teach subjects outside of their discipline,” Rushton said.

To find out more about APTeach, visit https://apteach.org/story.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.