EHHS Featured Faculty – 10 Questions – Sonya Wisdom
Featured Faculty spotlights EHHS professors who share their background, experiences, interests, and advice for students.
Sonya Wisdom, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Science Education at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University. Before receiving her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in science education at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University, she taught middle school science for 14 years in Athens, Georgia and Nassau, The Bahamas.
What subject(s) do you teach?
Most semesters I teach science methods classes and integrated science and social studies methods classes for the Middle Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education programs. I have also taught science methods classes for the MAT Program in early childhood education, the First Year Experience course to freshmen, and generalist middle childhood education courses.
What inspired you to follow your chosen path of study?
First, my love of people. I love meeting new people and teaching has allowed me to meet thousands of people in several countries over my teaching career. Second, my love of learning inspired me to choose teaching as a profession. I am very curious about almost everything in life and becoming an educator has always provided a way for me to learn new things, new ways of thinking and doing, and how other people learn about and perceive the world. I’ve always been able to use this knowledge professionally to help others learn. I believe I am a better instructor because I am always learning about another way to examine an issue or different solutions to a problem, usually from my students.
What's one of your favorite memories from your student days?
My favorite memories as a student are from high school. I had a great chemistry teacher, Mr. Leon Smith, who was always excited about whatever topic in chemistry he was teaching, and I developed a love for science – and chemistry in particular - as a result of his classes. I also developed a love for environmental science during high school. Some of my high school teachers would often take students on field trips to the Appalachian Mountains and to nearby national parks on the weekends. My love of the outdoors also blossomed during this time, and I have a great memory of physically being in clouds at the top of a mountain for the first time on one of these field trips.
What do you think every student should experience in college?
I think every student should experience opportunities to do research. As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work in a biochemistry lab with two professors beginning my sophomore year. I worked with the same two professors until the end of my senior year. I was able to see the connection between the coursework I was taking and research that was addressing questions about real-life challenges in science. I loved listening to the professors discuss what they were trying to figure out in their research and how committed they were to finding answers. They never gave up and were always positive and creative. It was a great learning environment to be a part of. Being surrounded by constant brainstorming and problem-solving was exciting and challenging at the same time. My curiosity about the world and how to solve problems was honed during these experiences in the lab.
What academic or career advice would you give to students?
Choose an academic path or career that allows you to be curious and provides endless possibilities for learning and improving your abilities.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I now enjoy observing the transition of teacher candidates to practicing teachers. I love seeing my students develop their own style of teaching, create learning environments that reflect their instructional strengths, and experience joy from the successes of their own students.
How do you contribute to student success?
I try to establish a learning environment during the first class of every course I teach where collaboration, respect, curiosity, risk-taking, deep thinking, and problem-solving, reflection, and laughter are alive and well. I believe developing positive interrelationships among students and between myself and my students are crucial to student success. I love helping them overcome any challenge in my classes they are not feeling confident about. I try to always be available to brainstorm ideas for lesson plans with them and figure out solutions to whatever instructional challenge they are experiencing.
What would students be surprised to learn about you?
I love awards shows, live concerts (all types!), and line dancing.
What is the best and most challenging thing about being a teacher?
The best thing about being a teacher is that I am never bored when I am teaching. I know without a doubt that I am lucky to be in a profession where I can experience something new and interesting almost every day, especially from my students.
The most challenging aspect of being a teacher-educator for me today is encouraging teacher candidates to appreciate the rewards of taking risks in their thinking about how to teach their subject area, or about the purpose of education in general today, and trying new instructional methods even when faced with current curricular limitations in schools.
How do you show your school spirit?
I think I show my school spirit by always trying to keep up with what’s happening on campus and being enthusiastic about what I’m doing in every class I teach.