Dr. Nathan Belcher
As a professional educator, I constantly strive to create the best possible classes for my students. I’ve relentlessly researched and implemented ideas from both science education and learning sciences research — leading to classes that are designed with the foundational principles from science education and learning science research. During the process of researching ideas, I realized that I loved learning about learning! As I implemented ideas about learning in my classes, students had more fun and learned more quickly and deeply — so I started using the ideas about learning in my personal life and other areas of my professional life. I continued to see the fun and satisfaction when learning quickly and deeply; now I want to help others experience the same fun and satisfaction in their personal and professional life.
Professional Experience: Teaching: 12 years at the High School Level at Grafton High School in Yorktown, VA, Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC, and Singapore American School in Singapore; Coaching: Six seasons of soccer for South Carolina United Mount Pleasant and Wando High School
Personal Experience: Played soccer at the College of William & Mary
Scholarly Interests: Learning, neuroscience, psychology, curriculum, instruction, assessment
Honors and Awards: Charleston County (SC) STEM Educator of the Month, April 2018; University of South Carolina, Doctor of Education Program: James A. Stoddard Memorial Fellowship in 2015, 2016, and 2017; College of William & Mary, Master's of Education Program: Robert Noyce Scholarship in 2010
Publications: Modeling Instruction in AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism
Recommended Reading: The Bible; "Finite and Infinite Games," by James P. Carse; "How People Learn II," by the National Academies Press; "The Sense of Structure," by George Gopen; "MARGE: A Whole-Brain Learning Approach for Students and Teachers," by Arthur Shimamura
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 ~ "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
Favorite Music: Christian
Favorite Activities: Reading, writing, soccer, basketball, and golf
Family Info: Wife, Jessica; Daughters, Addison and Katherine
What Matters: Faith, Family, Excellence
Pet Peeves: Poor formatting of documents; Bad math and physics
What I Like About FPU: A faith-based university