Svec

Michael Svec

Professor of Education

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As a member of the Education Department, Michael Svec teaches all levels of science methods, introductory courses on international comparative education, culture, identity and schooling, graduate course on culture of American schools, and two May X travel programs on international comparisons and religious, ethnic and national identities. He is the coordinator for the science education interdisciplinary minor. Professional activities include physics and astronomy education, history of astronomy, and inquiry in the K-12 classroom. During the winter and spring of 2005, Dr. Svec was a Fulbright Scholar to the Czech Republic teaching science education courses at Ostrava and Palacky Universities.

Honors

  • Director, American Friends of the Czech Republic
  • Fulbright Scholar to Czech Republic
  • Delegate Hanban/Confucius Institute
  • President of Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education

Education

  • Ph.D., Indiana University-Bloomington
  • B.S., University of Illinois-Urbana​

Publications

  • Svec, M. & Wallace, B. (2023). “Can we start with science?” AND Svec, M. “Diversity in the pond and instruction. Case study and commentary” IN Jeong, S., Bryan, L., Tippins, D., & Sexton, C. (Eds.). Navigating elementary science teaching and learning: Cases of classroom practice and dilemmas. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature.
  • Svec, M., and Mitchell, D. (2021). “The role of mobile technology within elementary Project-Based Learning classrooms.” IN Using mobiles in early childhood and elementary settings. C.C.M. Deaton, S.M. Linder, J. Herron, & R.D. Visser (eds). Charlotte NC: IAP Information Age Publishing. pp. 25-45.
  • Svec, M., and Thomas, P.L. (2016). “The classroom crucible: Preparing teachers from privilege for students of poverty.” IN Working in class: Recognizing how social class shapes our academic work. A. Hurst & S. Nenga (eds). Rowan & Littlefield. pp. 109-124.
  • Svec, M. (2015). “Democracy and decency supporting science teaching.” IN Democracy and decency: What does education have to do with it? P. Carr, P. Thomas, J. Gorlewski, & B. Porfilio (eds). New York: Routledge. pp. 181-195.
  • Svec M., and Winiski M. "SF and speculative novels: Confronting the science and fiction" IN Challenging Genres: Science fiction and speculative fiction. P. Thomas (ed), 2013. Boston: Sense Publishers, pp. 35-57.
  • Svec, M. "Empowerment through cultural inquiries." IN Becoming and being a teacher: Confronting traditional norms to create new democratic realities, P. Thomas (ed). 2013. New York: Peter Lang, pp. 273-283.
  • Nezvalová, D. & Svec, M. (2008). Trends in science teacher training: Experience in the United States and the Czech Republic. International Journal of Learning, 15 (10) 11-22. ISSN 1447-9494.
  • Svec, M. (2007, November). Reflections on Czech Science Teaching. The Science Teacher, 74 (8) 64-67. ISSN 0036-8555.

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