“I always wanted to work at a private university with a
reputable academic record, high ideals and a diverse student
population – and I found it all at St. John’s,” says Edith
Chasen-Cerreta, an Assistant Professor in the Online Learning
program of St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Professor Chasen-Cerreta always wanted to teach. Her interest in
university-level teaching developed during her years as a graduate
student at Boston University. “In graduate school I had a teaching
assistantship. I became attracted to university-level teaching as a
result of my graduate work teaching physics and geology to students
at the college level.”
Her first instance of web-based teaching began as a supplement to
her geology lecture course on campus. With the creation of a
Online Learning program, Professor Chasen-Cerreta says she was
able to fully incorporate technology into the class itself.
“Learning online enables my students to more directly and
interactively experience what they’re learning about. Experiencing
an earthquake is unquestionably safer online, and understanding
principles of physics can be infinitely more engaging while
watching a break-neck speed simulation of a roller coaster. I
always yearned to teach online and incorporate this kind of
technology into the class itself.”
Professor Chasen-Cerreta currently teaches geology and physics in
the classroom and online and says one of the greatest benefits of
teaching online is having the ability to utilize technology not
possible in a classroom setting.
“I address both visual and audio-types of learners by incorporating
photos, slides, podcasts and other media, which accommodates
different types of learning styles. Students are encouraged to
track their own progress throughout the course so they don't get
lost in the info or go off-track.”
Professor Chasen-Cerreta is a member of several national
organizations including the American Institute of Physics/American
Crystallographic Association, and the American Association for the
Advancement of Science.
She has been the winner of numerous awards during her 29 years of
teaching at the University including the Exceptional Service Award
in 2005 and the Teaching and Scholarship Award for 2003. She is
also a faculty member in the Scientific Inquiry section of the
Institute for Core Studies and was invited by the Provost to be one
of the first-year lead faculty participants in the University's
Title III Grant – Transforming Teaching with Technology – a project
on the cutting-edge in the use of technology in education.
One word of advice Professor Chasen-Cerreta always offers to
students interested in pursuing a career in the sciences is to take
introductory science courses to see which field of science
interests them the most. “There is a huge difference between the
various sciences - someone with a scientific leaning may enjoy
learning about one more than the other. I actually discovered my
passion for physics and geology while taking my last two
introductory science courses during my junior year of
college.”
Professor Chasen-Cerreta’s enthusiasm for online teaching is vital
to the success of the Online Learning program, “I love teaching
at St. John’s. There are so many different teaching approaches
among the faculty that it is easy to learn new techniques from
colleagues. The students who come here are wonderful to teach,
eager to learn and friendly to each other and the faculty.”