William Tai
University of Idaho

I am a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Idaho majoring in STEM Education and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the university, responsible for teaching classes in teacher preparation and educational technology. I am an Idaho certificated teacher in secondary mathematics, science, and Japanese. I am also the President of the University of Idaho STEM Education Research and Support Group, facilitating support for graduate and undergraduate students in various academic and professional endeavors.

Last April, I presented in Best Practices in Teacher Education at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) conference in San Diego about integrating mathematics and science into the secondary classroom and, as an activity extension, to secondary science preservice teachers. My research interests include using task analysis frameworks to structure integrated math and science tasks, and content knowledge analyses in secondary mathematics and science teacher preparation.

My dissertation topic is about the use of an authentic and collaborative inquiry-based research project between secondary science and secondary mathematics preservice teachers to measure teacher efficacy in mono-, inter-, and multi-disciplinary subject knowledge, professional identity formation, and the acceptance and use of technology integration in the classroom.

I believe I am a good candidate to fulfill the role and responsibilities of GSA Representative to the Teacher Education Division because of my passion as a teacher educator and my overall goal of bringing research into practice. I want to be more involved in AECT not just as an aspiring academic professional, but as well as a supporting member in the community of practice that is AECT.