Virginia Vandergon inspires the teachers of tomorrow

Assistant biology professor Virginia Vandergon had noticed a kind of unease among many of the aspiring teachers in her sciences classes at Cal State Northridge.

“Their attitude about science just wasn't positive,” Vandergon observed. “It wasn't negative, either; it was just that they were a little leery of it.”

A geneticist with earlier classroom experience at the high school level, Vandergon was familiar with research that got at the root of that “unease.” Teachers who are insecure about subject matter, she had learned, impart their own insecurity or negativity to their young students.

Together with Maureen Rubin of CSUN's Center for Community Service-Learning, Vandergon decided to attack the problem. The result was “Tomorrow's Scientists,” conducted entirely by Northridge teaching credential students. The program brings San Fernando Valley middle school students, many from underrepresented groups, to intensive on-campus bi-weekly science education classes during CSUN's fall and spring sessions.

“Tomorrow's Scientists” has had a twofold benefit: the middle school pupils retain enthusiasm for science, and the young CSUN teacher candidates learn how to integrate science into their curricula. “Northridge students have indicated they have learned a great deal about how to prepare content-rich yet fun and engaging lectures in science,” Vandergon said. “And that is how new scientists are born.”