Benjamin Blonder

1
Benjamin Blonder

• By Mario Leon, Marty Tzonev, Grace Kim, Courtney
  Corcoran, Kari Lunden

2
Background

• Currently lives in Idaho, but from New Jersey
• Speaks English, Spanish, Latin, and Attic Greek
• Taught himself computer language skills such as
  C, C, Objective C, Java, and Assembly
• Loves to cook, build things, and things that go
  bang
• Built a 16 foot catapult as a kid
• Mostly teaches, often outdoors

3
Education

• University of Oxford- 1/2007- 6/2007 Studied
  physics and attended evolution lectures in
  zoology
• Swarthmore College- Graduated
• 6/1/2008 Bachelor of Arts in
• physics, minors in biology and
• mathematics
• University of Idaho- 8/2008
• Present Working for a Master of
• Education, specializing in environmental
  education

4
Work

• An Educator Specialist for McCall Outdoor Science
  School/ AmeriCorps
• 8/2008 to the present
• Teaches environmental science and
  community/leadership skills to K-12 students in
  Idaho through residential and outreach programs
• Creates and evaluates new curricula every week

5
A Day of Teaching

• 6AM Wake up and go for a run
• 7AM Pack teaching supplies and prepare field kit
• 8AM Head to school and meet the students
• 9AM Walk or drive to a site with students and
  teach
• 3PM Finish and clean up, debrief with classroom
  teacher
• 4PM Scout out the next days site and prepare
• 5PM Dinner
• 6PM Plan lessons, research, share with other
  teachers
• 8PM Freedom

6
A Week in His Life

• Travel 1-2 days and teach 4 days a week
• Programs are spread out, and there are many perks
• Last week a teachers aide flew him around
  mountains in a private plane as a thank you

7
Salary

• AmeriCorps pays him 11400 per year plus 4750
  for education because he completed a year of
  service
• The passage of the Serve America Act could
  increase his salary soon
• Graduate students can earn 25k a year, or 50k a
  year with a PhD at a private university
• A physicist could make 100k a year at a private
  lab

8
3D Gravitational Simulator

• Built a 3D gravitational simulator that simulates
  galaxy formation of deep space
• Also simulates gravity between 10 to 20 objects
• Helps see forces of objects in orbit but not
  galaxies

9
What It Takes

• Deep content knowledge
• Studies show teachers who really know the
  material create better student outcomes
• Having enough passion to wake up each morning and
  work with students who may not understand the
  subject or dont care
• Communication skills and an understand of how
  learning works
• A high amount of empathy and memories of being a
  student
• Responsible and dedicated in creating lessons to
  provide a positive role model and example for
  students
• Willingness and desire to build relationships
  with students to motivate them to learn

10
Team Work

• Works with 14 other people on a day to day basis.
  
• Rotate positions within the group being the
  manager/boss of a program
• Important to be able to solve problems articulate
  and resolve conflicts, and get along with others

11
Leadership Roles
Corresponding- Grace Kim Spokesperson- Courtney
Corcoran Powerpoint- Mario Leon, Marty
Tzonev Research- Kari Lunden