Middle School Modules
Nathan Burd
Science Teacher, The Preuss School UCSD
Nathan is a science teacher whose primary teaching goal is cultivating interest in science careers. He obtained a B.S. in physics at San Francisco State University, where he served as the president of the university’s Physics and Astronomy Club. He obtained his M.Ed. at the University of California San Diego. His interests include Aikido, particle physics, astronomy, and exploring wilderness areas.
Matt Swanson
Science Teacher, Amphitheater Middle School
Matt Swanson is an 8th grade science teacher in Tucson, AZ, where he was born and raised. He enjoys wearing sunglasses almost as much as he enjoys learning about the natural world. He holds a B.A in Philosophy and Environmental Science and a M.Ed., both from the University of Arizona.
High School Modules
Silvia Kolchens
Faculty for Chemistry, Pima Community College
Silvia Kolchens is instructional faculty for chemistry at Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona since 1995. Her regular teaching responsibilities include general chemistry, organic chemistry and more recently solid state chemistry. She received her PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Cologne, Germany, and did postdoctoral work at the University of Arizona. Her professional interests include the development of case studies in environmental chemistry and computer applications in chemistry to engage students actively in learning through inquiry based instruction and visual representations of complex phenomena. Outside the classroom she enjoys exploring the world through hiking, photography, and motorcycling.
Andrew Gloag
High Tech High
Andrew Gloag was born and raised in the North East of England. He studied Physics at Oxford, and for a while was a researcher in fiber optic communication systems. Andrew moved to San Diego in 1999 and now teaches at High Tech High, a project based charter school. His recent projects have involved blending mathematics and art, teaching physics through furniture making, and having his seniors create an interactive hands-on science exhibit for the school.
Other Pre-college Module Contributors
Maureen Rymer
Sweetwater High School
Maureen Rymer has been teaching Physics and Chemistry at Sweetwater High School in National City, California for 27 years. Sweetwater High is a Title 1 school in an inner city community about 10 miles north of the border with Mexico. The school has a large population of English language learners, and is one of the few high schools in California to exit Program
Improvement status after 5 years in the program. Fluent in Spanish, adept at instructing a diverse population of learners, Mrs. Rymer takes joy in creating curriculum to address the needs and interests of her students while exposing them to advances in technology available in this modern age.
