Educator Shellie Harshberger, EdD, is one of the first students to earn the online Doctor of Education in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the IU Bloomington School of Education. She came to the program having taught biological sciences for 17 years: she was an adjunct instructor for IU’s Advance College Project and taught anatomy and physiology at Ivy Tech Community College.
Harshberger found something special about IU’s online program. She describes it as “choice and voice,” and it meant a lot to her throughout her graduate career.
“We had the flexibility to make choices, to find our own area of interest within a broad subject area.” For Harshberger, the ability to choose started with the first class in her master’s program. She chose to create a hummingbird environment, a passion that remains to this day. And although students had choices, she says, “we were held to standards and deadlines, which ensured we met the rigors of the courses and program. We were accountable."
Put simply, “The professors made it clear they really cared about our success in class.”
Learning while teaching
Harshberger, like many adult learners, shoe-horned earning her degree into an already full life.
Her classes required about 10 hours of dedicated time each week. “When you’re really interested in a subject you’ve chosen, you don’t begrudge the time it takes away from family and other commitments. Schoolwork seems less daunting. You tap into your own power.”
Engaging her students
As a teacher specializing in adolescent education, Harshberger is committed to giving “choice and voice” to her own students.
“When students have the autonomy to find their own interests, they have room to succeed. They get to focus on what captures their interest. They take greater ownership of the learning tasks ahead of them.” She encourages students to find peers who share common interests. As “study buddies,” these students work together to build a final project of their choice—a PowerPoint presentation or a Kahoot (a game-based learning platform). The shared experience, Harshberger believes, enhances learning and ensures accountability.
For Harshberger, teaching is personal. “Adolescents represent a challenging group. But I’m direct,” she says. “High school kids respect that. If they know you care, and if you build a strong relationship with them, you’ll be amazed at what they’ll do for you. If I sense someone’s behind or struggling, I ask them to tell me what they need. Extra time? Just a chance to talk? This involves a lot of emails, but being straightforward has its rewards."
In the future, Harshberger plans to teach pre-service teachers. She sees herself as a leader and mentor for other students, keen to keep finding new ways she can contribute to the academic community.
About the EdD
The EdD in Science Curriculum and Instruction provides students with a richer understanding of their area of scientific expertise, as well as the most effective techniques to teach it in a classroom setting.