story by Claire Miller
In her classroom, Palak Jani (M.Ed. ’24) finds the most engaging ways to connect with her 11th grade students about physics.
“I begin my lessons with real-world phenomena to spark curiosity in their mind,” said Jani, who works at Give Center West in Gwinnett County, an alternative school setting for students with behavioral challenges. “I incorporate project-based learning that connects STEM concepts to real-world issues, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding through projects or creating exhibits.”
She’s one of several science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers from Gwinnett County Public Schools earning their master's degrees in STEM education at Georgia State University, thanks to funding from the school district and Associate Professor Natalie King’s Alan T. Waterman Award from the National Science Foundation.
The master’s program stood out to her because she could build on her work in the classroom and better support her students.
“I applied to the STEM education program at Georgia State because I wanted to deepen my understanding of how to teach science in ways that resonate with students in my specialty school setting,” she said. “Teaching at a specialty school where students are trying to overcome their behavior challenges made me realize the importance of bringing back the love and motivation for science in their mind.”
Jani has learned more about designing lessons that encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills while gaining technology and engineering skillsets.
She also facilitated a collaborative session during a department meeting at her school, using what she learned in the master’s program about creating high-quality learning opportunities for all students.
“My peers’ expertise, their engagement with the information and envisioning their ideas in their classrooms through the lens of equity was rewarding,” she said. “I believe that in the future, if we have more open communication as a team, we will get better at adapting a holistic approach to STEM education.”
Jani will graduate this fall with her master’s degree and has plans to collaborate with the engineering teacher at her school to provide her students with more opportunities to learn about STEM careers.
She’s also considering pursuing a specialist in education or doctoral degree so that she can use what she’s learned about STEM education to drive meaningful change in education.
“This degree isn’t just a personal milestone for me,” she said. “It’s a testament to what we can achieve as educators when we reflect, adapt and invest in inclusive and transformative education.”