Dordt Professor Releases STEM Podcast
Dr. Dave Mulder, professor and chair of the Education Department at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, has launched a new podcast titled It's Good to Be Smart, aimed at providing educators with valuable resources for teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in middle and high school classrooms. According to Mulder, each episode of the podcast is intended to teach content specified in the Next Generation Science Standards.
The podcast is funded by the Noyce grant, which aims to enhance math and science education in rural schools by supporting both prospective and current teachers. Through this grant, Mulder and his team are helping to equip educators with the tools they need to improve STEM education in their classrooms.
Mulder, who has long been dedicated to both effective teaching and curriculum development, combined his passion for science education with his technical skills to create the podcast. His background in creating curriculum materials has fueled his drive to develop resources that are engaging, accessible, and impactful, he said.
Mulder has also led numerous professional development workshops for practicing STEM teachers. But he recognized both a need and desire for more, he said: “I wanted to create something that would be more than a one-off professional development workshop for teachers, something that would be more durable and long-lasting. My hope is that the resources developed in this podcasting project will be the sort of thing that teachers can use for years to come.”
Mulder is also involved in another podcast, Hallway Conversations, with colleagues Dr. Matthew Beimers and Dr. Abby De Groot, which tackles educational topics relevant to Christian educators. His expertise in podcasting, gained from that project, has been instrumental in bringing It's Good to Be Smart to life.
Each season of the podcast, said Mulder, will feature a series of scripted episodes arranged around a theme. The first season is all about the nature of matter, with episodes focusing on atoms, elements, compounds, chemical reactions, and the periodic table. Each episode is also paired with additional teaching materials, like “think sheets” for student brainstorming and reflection.
“Teachers might use the podcast episodes as part of their class sessions, or they might assign them as homework to prepare for a hands-on investigation, or as a follow-up to a lesson,” he added.
Mulder’s goal is to offer a resource that goes beyond the traditional professional development model, providing teachers with content that supports effective STEM instruction over the long term.
”I hope that this podcast will inspire students and teachers alike that it truly is good to be smart, and to remember that ‘smart’ is not something that you are, but rather something you become as you continue learning,” said Mulder.
The first season of It’s Good to Be Smart is available now. Mulder anticipates two more seasons to be released in spring.
