Science and the Symphony of Creation

The default for science teachers seems to be that we teach what’s in the text, which usually means teaching the scientific facts and theories—the content of science. However, if we are to be faithful shepherds of the students in our care, we need to do much more with them than simply teaching what’s going to be on the test. Science instruction relates to discipleship, to discovery of theological truth in creation, and to spiritual growth. Moreover, accessing science content through a text is only one of numerous ways we have of interacting with creation. We can also interact with creation through visual art, through song, through poems and literature, through meditation, and through contemplation. Effective science instruction enriches the class with all these different modes of learning and growing.

In this course, John Mays helps science teachers connect their students to the wonders of reality, the beauty of creation, and a fuller experience of God’s creation beyond the things we find in our science textbooks, classrooms, and lessons. Science should be understood in harmony with the liberal arts and the humanities. These lectures will inspire and stimulate important conversations among science educators in classical schools and homeschools and are part of the Novare Science teacher training video series focused on Mastery, Integration, Arts, and Wonder.

John Mays’ degrees include a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education from the University of Houston, a Master of Liberal Arts degree from St. Edwards University. He also has completed 36 hours of graduate study in the field of Physics. John worked as an engineer and engineering manager for 14 years from 1982 to 1999, with a break for graduate study and teaching appointments.

John entered the field of education in 1985 teaching math in the public school system. Since then he has also taught science and math professionally in various Christian high schools. He was instructor of 20th-century literature at St. Edwards University for nine years and taught statistics and linear algebra at Concordia University for six years. He taught full-time at Regents School of Austin from 1999-2012, serving as Math-Science Department Chair for eight years, and established the Regents Laser Optics Lab. John is the author of Novare’s physics and chemistry textbooks plus many resources including The Student Lab Report Handbook, From Wonder to Mastery: A Transformative Model for Science Education and Science for Every Teacher.

He has three adult children and lives with his wife in San Antonio, Texas.

To learn more about earning a certificate for this course, please visit “How do I Obtain a Course Certificate?” on our FAQ page. Our course certificates are valued by classical schools and co-ops worldwide. Teachers certified with either ACSI or ACCS will see continuing education unit (CEU) credits listed on our course certificate for you to submit to either organization (with more information on certification credit here).