Discover powerful abilities that can allow you to drive profound change. Build them in a uniquely challenging environment that lets you bring your passion for science, technology or mathematics to the world. Gain a skillset that gives you the potential to shape the future – no matter where your Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths career takes you.
These New Zealanders have used teaching to accelerate their Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths careers, drawing on the powerful teaching skillset to explore STEM in ways they never dreamed possible.
Skills that can allow you to shape the future
Find out what's in the teaching skillset, and how it can help you launch your STEM career.
Leadership
Scientific breakthroughs don't happen in a vacuum – you'll need a team around you. Develop skills relating to facilitation, evaluation, conflict management and performance focus – all things that can help you manage a team in a learning environment or beyond in your chosen STEM field.
Persuasion
Get the skills to drive your STEM research right now, in a teaching environment. Learn skills relating to public speaking, presentation, change management and explaining complex ideas – really useful for future career moves such as securing commitments to support your research, getting new ventures off the ground or growing productive collaborations.
Innovation
If you want to succeed in a STEM career, you'll need to break new ground. Grow skills that include user-centred design, problem solving, constant learning and applying technology – skills you'll need if you want to take your career to places no one's been before.
Having a teaching degree has really allowed me to be a better scientist.”
- Dr. Richard Levy, GNS Science
A combination of motivators like no other
There are things you'll enjoy as a STEM teacher that no other profession can offer you. In combination, they make teaching a smart place to launch your STEM career.
A decent starting salary – especially in comparison to entry level jobs in some scientific fields – makes teaching a compelling option. It's like getting paid while you learn valuable skills that could help you launch your career in teaching or in a STEM field.
Every 10 weeks or so, you get at least two weeks out of the classroom. This time is your own – which means you can use it to prepare for the term ahead as well as having the option to pursue other areas of interest, including research, professional opportunities and other work in a STEM field. It's a great opportunity to achieve the best of both worlds.
The teaching profession offers multiple opportunities to pursue your STEM-related study alongside your work as a teacher. Dive into your STEM interests in your downtime, or even take time out from teaching.
With qualified STEM teachers in high demand, a teaching qualification can take you anywhere in New Zealand and beyond.
Process
Attaining the teaching skillset involves study, placement, qualification and finding a job as a teacher to start using and refining your skillset in the workplace.
To be selected to study for a teaching qualification, you'll need to show strong academic success and great communication skills – as well as the right personal qualities to take on the challenge of inspiring the next generation of STEM achievers.
For entry requirements for specific courses, you can check with the tertiary institutions – view their information.
For STEM students reaching the end of their undergraduate degrees, graduate and postgraduate teaching qualifications are available.
Part of the preparation for teaching involves getting hands-on experience in the classroom environment as a student teacher. You'll often start out as an observer, then be assigned some teaching duties by the teacher who is mentoring you. The amount of time you'll spend as a student teacher depends on which course you're doing, and at which tertiary institution. The details regarding placement may vary between teaching courses.
The Ministry of Education works with a contracted recruiter to help qualified teaching graduates into teaching roles around the country. More information coming soon.
I did an education degree alongside my science because I figured it was going to be something that led to a career.”
- Shelley Hersey, LEARNZ
Ready to accelerate your STEM career?
If you're a graduate and you're interested in becoming a secondary teacher in a STEM field, TeachNZ are currently offering scholarships to help you launch your teaching career.
To apply, you'll need to have started the process of enrolling in an approved Graduate Diploma/Master of Teaching course commencing at the start of the 2017 academic year. Applications close 7 February 2017.
Teaching courses are available at the following New Zealand tertiary institutions:
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
- See courses
Get more information on available postgraduate teaching courses.
More infoMeet the Accelerators
These New Zealanders have used teaching to accelerate their Science, Technology or Maths careers, drawing on the powerful teaching skillset to explore STEM in ways they never dreamed possible.
Dr. Richard Levy
Paleoclimatologist
GNS Science
Richard Levy holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Geology, and a PhD in Geoscience. He has also attained a Master of Science Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction. After spending several years teaching high school level science in the US, Richard returned to New Zealand to take on a research role. Now a Senior Scientist at GNS Science, Richard focuses on the environmental and climatic history of the high southern latitudes and the role Antarctica has played in the global climate system over the past 65 million years. He has spent many seasons in Antarctica studying rock outcrops in the Transantarctic Mountains and drilling beneath floating ice shelves with the Antarctic Geological Drilling (ANDRILL) Program. Richard has a passion for science communication and has developed field and classroom-based education programmes, continuing to put his teaching skills to use in the field.
David Cameron
Co-founder
LearnCOACH and LearnKo Education
While studying for a Maths and Physics degree in 2008, David Cameron tried tutoring and decided he wanted to pursue a career in education. After qualifying as a teacher, he taught Maths and Science at Otago Boys' High School, juggling it with completing a Master of Entrepreneurship. Following three years of secondary school teaching, David left to co-found LearnCoach, an online social enterprise using technology to offer education support to secondary school students. LearnCoach currently helps over 30,000 NCEA students per year. This led to the creation of tech startup LearnKo, which connects teachers with international students who want to study abroad to culturally prepare them for their experience. By 2015, LearnKo had expanded into China and India and was connecting more than 150,000 students per year. David continues to pursue his goal of bringing his education expertise into the online technology space. Find out more about LearnCoach at learncoach.co.nz.
Shelley Hersey
Virtual Field Trip Teacher
LEARNZ
Shelley Hersey was a lead teacher in science and outdoor education to Year 7 and Year 8 students for 10 years. Now working for education consultancy CORE Education as a field trip teacher for the LEARNZ programme, she takes students on virtual science and geography trips to fascinating and often remote locations in New Zealand and Antarctica. Shelley has organised many successful primary and secondary LEARNZ virtual field trips for school students, and developed interactive online activities. She is determined to inspire students while enhancing their understanding and appreciation for the environment. The LEARNZ programme is available free to New Zealand teachers at learnz.org.nz
Nick Pattison
Director
C-Cubed STEM Centre
Kauri Flats School
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Nick Pattison has been teaching in New Zealand for the past seven years at both intermediate and primary school levels. As Director of STEM at Rongamai Primary in Otara, he taught the first pilot STEM immersion class to Year 5 and Year 6 primary school students. Nick has opened up the world of science through experiential projects that help his students learn more about the value of STEM and the power it has to improve lives and communities, with a particular focus on the Māori and Pasifika communities where Nick works. Through this role, Nick has cultivated strong ties with the STEM community, and projects that originated in his classroom have resulted in the development of commercial products. He is passionate about providing a quality education for all of his students and the role education plays in creating an equitable society.
