Mission
Mathematics, Science, and Technology programs focus on issues of educational practice and related professions in mathematics, science, technology, and cognate human sciences, including the relationships among these disciplines. Our modern world has been transformed by the achievements in pure and applied disciplines grounded in mathematics, science and technology. Current reforms in education place increasing significance on broad-based public understanding of these three fields of human endeavor. The study of communication and technology in education is broadly based and enriched by cultural and historical wisdom that provides a scholarly perspective on the role of media and technology in society and particularly in educational subject areas. Within this unifying view, the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology includes specialized programs to address the needs of professional practitioners in each area.
The Department incorporates the programs in three areas: Mathematics Education; Science Education; and Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design (CMLTD).
The Mathematics and Science Education programs include scholars who address the preparation of mathematics and science teachers and teacher educators and focus particularly on the acquisition of scientific and mathematical literacy to foster future development of science and technology; the understanding of environmental sciences, and improved global stewardship of the environment and the link between science and society; the use of computers, computer modeling, and instrumentation in mathematics and science instruction. These scholars have extensive international experience in their subject-matter disciplines and in educational theory and practice.
Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design (CMLTD) provides a cluster of degree programs for students who seek to develop leadership capacities for use of information and communication technologies in education across subject domains. The programs prepare candidates for leadership roles in integrating digital technologies into education and society, and for entry into creative work in the educational uses of new media. CMLTD doctoral programs develop scholars who use the social and human sciences to study how applications of advanced technologies in education act as powerful social and historical forces, empowering educators to seek new solutions to established problems. Graduate study in CMLTD is tightly integrated with design and implementation projects situated in several externally funded centers and institutes at Teachers College and Columbia University. This program is led by faculty with extensive international experience and also links the College to ongoing university initiatives in communication and information technologies. Faculty and students of this program examine technology as well as the role of computers and other media of communication on education and the assessment of educational performance in a wide variety of institutional settings. The program includes areas such as literacy, teacher education, game theory, technology design, and culture.
Each program has a unique focus or perspective, but the faculty share common scholarly perspectives, educational ideals, and a strong commitment to the improvement of society through improved scholarly practice in the educating professions and enhancement of human potential.