Christopher Emdin
Professional Background
Educational Background
M.S. in Natural Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2003)
- Specialization in Science, Mathematics and Technology
- Dean K. Harrison University Fellow
Scholarly Interests
The use of new theoretical frameworks to transform science education
Urban science education reform
Selected Publications
Emdin, C. (2007). Exploring the contexts of Urban science Classrooms: Part 2- The role of rituals in communal practice. Cultural Studies of Science Education (2) 2, 351-373
Emdin, C. (2008) .The Three C’s for urban science education.. Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 89, No. 10, June 2008, pp. 772-775. June 2008
Emdin, C. (In press) Affiliation and Alienation : Hip hop, rap and urban science education. Journal of Curriculum Studies
honors and awards
Strage Prize
- The Prize supports the production of a web video to highlight original and innovative work of a junior faculty member at Teachers College. For more information, visit this link.
2008:
- ASTE (Association for Science Teacher Education): Best paper on Innovation in Teaching Science Teachers
- PDK-Phi Delta Kappa International Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation
- PDK -Phi Delta Kappa 2008-09 class Emerging Leader
grants
- Co-author on application for U.S Department of Education Upward Bound grant for students with “high academic risk of failure” #84.07A and 84.07M (in process)
- Fund For Teachers Grant for studying the impact of science education leadership in urban schools $5000 Awarded June 2005
- Advisory Board members for NSF grant: Girl Talk: Using cogenerative dialogues to expand girls agency in science. P.I Kate Scantlebury Ph.D, University of Delaware (In Process)
- External reviewer for NSF grant on studies of African American teachers in science. P.I Jianzhong Xu Ph.D, Mississippi State University
publications
Emdin, C., (In press) Affiliation and Alienation : Hip hop, rap and urban science education. Journal of Curriculum Studies
Emdin, C. (In Press). Investigating intersubjectivity and grammar in the third space: On urban classrooms and new possibilities. Cultural Studies of Science Education
Emdin, C. (2007). Exploring the contexts of urban Science Classrooms: Part 1-Investigating corporate and communal practice. Cultural Studies of Science Education (2) 2, 319-341
Parsons, E., Pitts, W. Emdin, C., (2007). Using the Macro to unpack the corporate | communal dialectic. Cultural Studies of Science Education (2) 2, 342-350
Emdin, C. (2007). Exploring the contexts of Urban science Classrooms: Part 2- The role of rituals in communal practice. Cultural Studies of Science Education (2) 2, 351-373
Bennett, L., Collins, J., & Emdin, C. (2007). A metalogue on urban schools and science classrooms: Student voices on research products. Cultural Studies of Science Education (2,) 2 387-392
Emdin, C & Lehner, E. (2006). Situating cogenerative dialogue in a cosmopolitan ethic. Forum: Qualitative Social Research
[On-line Journal], 7(2), Art. 39.
Emdin, C. (2006). Teaching and Learning Science in an Urban School: Analogy as a key to communal Science Pedagogy. 2006 E-Yearbook of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research. 46-52
Stith, I, Scantlebury, K, LaVan, S, Emdin, C, Lehner, E & Kim, M. (2006). The ethics of cogenerative dialogue: A cogenerative dialogue. Forum: Qualitative Social Research [On-line Journal], 7(2), Art. 44.
Emdin, C . (2006). Teaching and learning science in an urban school: Analogy as a key to communal science pedagogy. 2006 AERA SIG Yearbook of Urban Learning,Teaching, and Research.
Emdin, C. (2006). Beyond coteaching: Power dynamics, cosmopolitanism and the psychoanalytic dimension. Forum: Qualitative
service to p-12 community
Marie Curie High School, Bronx, NY
- Designed and developed interdisciplinary science curriculum immersed in regional, city, and state technology, mathematics and science standards
- Implemented cogenerative dialogues in all science classes as a foundation of effective science instruction for urban students
- Developed critical thinking skills through hands on physics and chemistry activities
- Focused learning objectives to improve science fluency, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills
- Grounded all lessons, units, and projects in technology and multimedia resources
- Utilized Power-point presentations in all conceptual physics lessons
- Developed effective distributed classroom management policies that infused students modes of learning
- Established connections across physics and chemistry curriculum
- Collaborated with community and museum educational programs such as the American Museum of Natural History and Queens Hall of Science
- Prepared students for success on New York State Regents examinations.
Middle School 219, Bronx, NY
- Implemented general science curriculum that infused biology, chemistry and physical sciences
- Incorporated students ways of knowing into the curriculum and mentored student co-teachers
- Enhanced “Science in the Community” curriculum: Utilizing science examples from students’ neighborhoods in general and physical science classes
- Integrated technology and multimedia resources into lessons via Power-Point, Excel and various multi-media tools
- Established strategies for working with disadvantaged youth on state wide 8th grade science exam
Community Intermediate School 148, Bronx, NY
- Implemented general science / physical science curriculum with hands on activities
- Developed “Science in the Community” curriculum: Utilizing science examples from students’ neighborhoods into curriculum used throughout school district
- Integrated technology and multimedia resources into lessons via Power-Point, Excel and various multi-media tools
- Established strategies for working with disadvantaged youth on state wide exams
- Established Science club for students that presented experiments and investigations at state wide science fair in Albany N.Y
professional presentations
Emdin, C. (2008) Access to Science for Marginalized Groups through Hip hop culture and Cogenerative Dialogues. Penn Ethnography Forum. Philadelphia, PA
Emdin, C. (2008) Providing Science Agency to Marginalized Students in Urban Classrooms Through Neo-Indigenous Cosmopolitanism. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association. New York, NY
Emdin,C. (2008). A search for student culture in the Science Curriculum: Focusing on Hip hop and science education. Paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies. New York, NY
Emdin, C. (2008). Producing Success in Science Through Culturally adaptive Teaching and Learning. Paper presented at the Association for Science Teacher Education. St. Louis, Missouri
Emdin, C. (2008). Hybridized teacher and Student identities, Creolized Science and Emotionality in Urban Science Classrooms. Paper presented at the Association for Science Teacher Education. St. Louis, Missouri
Emdin, C. (2007). Computers, Digital Camcorders, and Voice Analysis Software in the Urban Science Classroom. Workshop at NYSCATE (New York State Association for Computing and Technology in Education). Rochester, NY
Emdin, C. (Oct 2007) Equity in Mathematics and Science Education: Critical Issues in Leadership Deveopment. Mentoring in Academia. Portland, oregon
Emdin, C. (2007). Providing agency for othered populations in urban science classrooms: Attaining neo-indegenous cosmopolitanism. Paper presented at New York University Sharing Our Success Conference. New York, NY.
Emdin, C. (2007). Coteaching as a means to facilitate collaboration and communalism. Paper presented at the University of Pennsylvania Ethnography in Education in Trying Times. Pennsylvania, PA
Emdin, C. (2007). Neo-indigenous cosmopolitanism: New methods for teaching in urban settings. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum studies. Chicago, IL
Emdin, C. (2007). Rethinking professional development relationships: coteaching as a means for investigating, changing and renewing praxis. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. New Orleans, NO
Emdin, C. (2007). Cogenerative dialogues and School Culture: The emergence of democratic practice within an urban school. Paper presented at the Annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. New York, NY.
Emdin, C. (2007). Creating new paradigms for teacher practices in science classrooms. Paper presented at the Association for Science Teacher Education. Clearwater, FLA.
Emdin, C. (2006). Cogenerative dialogue in the physics and living environment classrooms. Paper presented at New York University Sharing Our Success Conference. New York, NY.
Emdin, C. (2006). Utilizing the mutually sustaining nature of student rituals to support African American and Latino/a science success. Paper presented at the annual meeting for the American Educational Researchers Association. San Francisco, CA
Tobin, K., Emdin, C., Bayne, G., & Lehner, E. (2006). Expanding the ways in which students participate in science education. Paper-set presented at the annual meeting for the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. San Francisco, CA.
Emdin, C. (2006). Approaching democratic science classrooms: Cogenerative dialogue as a cosmopolitan act. Paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies. Berkeley, CA
Emdin, C. (2006). Expanding students’ roles in urban social science and science education: Cogenerative dialogues as seedbeds for learning science. Paper presented at University of Pennsylvania Ethnography Forum. Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Emdin, C. (2006). Hip hop, symbolic violence and war: Negotiating the terrain of cultural misalignment within inner city schools. Paper presented at Teachers College : Threat N Youth Cultural studies Conference. New York, NY
Emdin, C. (2005). Engaging in ethnographic research within the science classroom. Paper presented at Queens College Ethnography in education forum. Queens, NY
Emdin, C. (2005). Utilizing technology in the science classroom. Paper presented at New York State Association for Computing and Technology in Education. Albany, NY
Emdin, C. (2005). Implementing cogenerative dialogues in new science classrooms in urban high schools. Paper presented at Third Annual New Visions Small Schools Conference. Bronx, NY
professional experiences
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Course assignments: Physical science methods, Urban Science Education Seminar, Methods of Research in Science Education, Multicultural science education, Physical Science Curriculum and Methods
Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY
- Course assignments: Methods of Science Instruction in Middle and High School, Methods of Research in Education
- Supervise middle and high school science teachers/student teachers in classrooms
- Supervise students’ thesis for completion of Masters in science education
- Plan and coordinate courses offered in Masters in science education program
- Advise graduate and undergraduate students in science education program
- Member of Middle and High school education curriculum committee
Queens College, City University of New York, Queens, NY
- Advise undergraduate students in science education teaching assignments
- Course assignments: Methods of Elementary Science Education
active professional organizations
MSTC 4007: Urban and multicultural science education
Students will explore the intersections of policy, science and society and the impact these have on standard K-12 urban science curriculum and multicultural teaching practices. Drawing from scholarship in policy, curriculum, and teaching, this course explores major issues faced in urban science education, including: (1) the issue of resources (physical, human, and social) in urban schools and how urban science education programs might draw from local resources in meeting the needs of urban learners, (2) the issue of what roles might teachers, administrators, policy makers, and curriculum writers play in the design and implementation of empowering curricular and pedagogical practices in urban science classrooms, and (3) the issue of multicultural science education in terms of both content and pedagogy. This course challenges commonly used practices where multiculturalism is often taught as one distinct and often separate component of the science curriculum. This course provides students with both research-based and field-based experiences.
MSTC 4047: Physical science curriculum and methods laboratory
Discussion of middle or secondary school curricula each offered in separate semesters, stressing laboratory activity. May be taken twice, once for each grade level.
MSTC 5041: The nature and practice of science
This course is one of the required core courses in the science education doctoral and advanced masters programs. It is designed to help students develop an adequate understanding of the nature of science or of how science is practiced. In this course, through the analysis of a number of current issues and problems in science and the extensive use of case studies, students will address questions such as: What is science? What distinguishes science from other ways of knowing? What standards of evidence and scientific explanations, processes, and conventions are used in science? What philosophical, social, ethical, and historical perspectives are important in understanding the nature of science?
MSTC 5047: Science teacher education
MSTC 5047 is a required core course in the Science Education doctoral and advanced masters programs. The course concerns both inservice and preservice teacher education. In the course, students will conduct research with preservice teachers, as well as practicing and expert teachers. We will examine the classic and contemporary knowledge base of teacher education, as well as current issues and questions in the education of science teaching professionals. Open to students who are not in the Science Program with the professor's permission.
Centers and Projects
Website: http://www.tc.edu/hsp
The Harlem Schools Partnership (HSP) for STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a collaborative effort of Teachers College (TC), and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at Columbia University in association with the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) and with support from the General Electric Foundation.
The mission of the HSP is to improve STEM education by helping schools create rich environments for STEM teaching and learning. We accomplish this through professional development that strengthens curriculum, increases teacher knowledge of STEM content and teaching practices, diversifies assessment of student learning, and ensures that English Language Learners are successful in STEM. The intended outcome is that HSP schools will be models of excellence for STEM teaching and learning, and that participating teachers will become leaders and mentors for others at their schools and in the Department of Education.




