Campus Directory

Pronouns she, her, her, hers, herself

Division Social Sciences Division

Department/College/Unit Education Department

Title Lecturer and Teacher Supervisor

Affiliation Faculty

Faculty Type Lecturer

Primary Office Location McHenry Library
2140A

Mail Stop Education Department

Biography, Education and Training

Ed.D. Science Education, University of California, Santa Cruz

M.A. Education Administration, San Jose State University

B.A. Physical Geography, University of California, Berkeley

Molly Shaw taught science in California public schools for 20+ years in grades 6-12, and is now a lecturer/supervisor at UCSC.

Dr. Shaw's research interests center on sense-making in 6th grade science -- typically the first formal year of daily science instruction in California. How do students communicate their growing understanding to each other and to their teacher; how do teachers communicate their understanding to their students? 

Dr. Shaw leads the annual Field-Based Learning Initiative (FBLI) in collaboration with the UC Natural Reserves System for the master's/credential cohort. In FBLI, we develop K-12 lessons and curricula that are place-based, student-centered, and data-rich; and that help students understand what they can do to help build just and thriving communities.

Awards, Honors and Grants

Distinguished Teaching Award, California Geographical Society

Teacher of the Year, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Pacific Section

Teacher of the Year, Northern California Geological Society

Courses Cal Teach 1
EDUC 100C Cal Teach 2 (Science)
EDUC 185L Cal Teach 3 (Math and Science)
EDUC 200/201/202 Beg/Int/Adv Student Teaching (Science)
EDUC 214 Contemporary Issues in Education
EDUC 221 Science Learning and Teaching in Elementary Classrooms
EDUC 230 Science Education Research and Practice
EDUC 231 Teaching Science in the Secondary Classroom
EDUC 297 Field-Based Learning Initiative Special Projects