Appointed as a NASA solar system educator, a consultant for USA Today Education, Michigan Virtual school teacher Andrew Vanden Heuvel is a finalist for online teacher of the year. His online physics and astronomy lessons are taught to students all over the state of Michigan. His work for USA Today Education also helps develop projects for other teachers across the nation.
In an information-based society, Andrew feels that online-teaching meets the needs of today’s students. His passion for astronomy began early, in eighth grade. He graduated from South Christian high school and then went on to earn his undergraduate and graduate degrees in astronomy. He soon discovered that he enjoyed teaching more then anything else. Andrew feels that an online learning environment allows for education to be much more student-centered then it is in the regular classroom currently. He likes it, because there are no students that can just sit at the back of the room and just coast through to graduation, they actually have to participate. He currently teaches about 80 students in 4 different blocks in physics and astronomy.
Heuval is one of five finalists chosen by the Southern Regional Education Board and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning. The finalist chosen will be given a crystal flame award, get to go to the Virtual School Symposium, and much more.
After only teaching for two years online, Andrew has exhibited the traits of a great influential teacher. Being chosen as a finalist for this award is only the beginning. Andrew, as well as the other four finalists, has been part of the pioneering in online education. There is nothing better then a teacher who loves to teach, focuses on their students, and helps them discover their passion in education. Who knows, perhaps one of those 80 students that Heuvel is teaching right now, is the next astronomer who will give us all new insight into our universe.