Episode description

In this episode, I’ll be chatting with Bejanae Kareem about k-12 teachers and how they can incorporate instructional design practices in their classrooms.  Bejanae shares how she got interested in instructional design and helping teachers implement the principles in their own STEM classes. She also talks about teacher burn out. Bejanae is the founder of BK International Education Consultancy.  A program that offers online courses and continuing education credits for teachers.  Find the show notes at: www.idolcourses.com/blog/teachidol

Bejanae Kareem, Executive Director of BK International Education Consultancy, began her career as an education professional after earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Georgia State University. After serving in the environmental science and microbiology industries, Ms. Kareem was inspired to close the achievement gap for underrepresented children and served as an educator in high need schools for over ten years. She served as a robotics coach, conducted experimental research with NASA’s Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program, and coordinated student programs to make contact with the International Space Station. During Ms. Kareem’s experience as an education practitioner, she went on to pursue P-5 teacher certification, a Master's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership along with certifications in Reading and English to Speakers of Other Languages. Since she has taught at various levels of education from early childhood to post-secondary in virtual and traditional classroom settings; as well as have written, been awarded and implemented several grant projects centered around STEM education for preservice teachers to students. Ms. Kareem previously served on the National Science Teachers Association Urban Science Advisory Board, Georgia Department of Education’s Instructional Technology Advisory Committee, and Clayton County Public Library Board of Trustees. From her experiences, Ms. Kareem recognized the need for quality, integrated STEAM training for teachers and parents who were often not comfortable with implementing STEM/STEAM tasks in the classroom or at home. Ms. Kareem launched BK International Education Consultancy LLC in 2012 to provide quality Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and grant acquisition workshops for K-12 educators and parents.