Summary
Megan Beckam is a Science Master Teacher for NevadaTeach. In her position she teaches courses, coordinates and supports field experiences for students, and works to implement and maintain a high-quality STEM teacher preparation program. Beckam is passionate about facilitating broader impacts of the STEM research taking place on campus and serves as a liaison between University faculty and K-12 educators statewide, organizing STEM outreach and professional learning opportunities for both in-service and pre-service teachers. She is active in the Nevada State Science Teachers Association and enjoys connecting with educators and students from all over the state.
Prior to her work with NevadaTeach, Beckam taught all levels of secondary science including Earth Science, Physical Science, Proficiency Science and AP Physics along with a few Algebra classes. She is Nationally Board Certified and has been the recipient of the Nevada Women of Achievement Award and the Sandra Daugherty Outstanding Science Teacher Award. During her fourteen years as a high school teacher, she served as a Teacher Fellow as part of a multi-year National Science Foundation grant, participated in national research within her classroom, wrote successful grants for classroom supplies and traveled to New Zealand and Switzerland for science education.
Education
- Ph.D., STEM Education, University of Nevada, Reno, 2022
- B.S., Earth Science, University of California at Santa Cruz, 2000
Presentations on scholarship of teaching and learning
Collins, M. & Beckam, M. (2025). Paid versus unpaid: Exploring the student teaching experience. Presented at the annual conference of the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE). Long Beach, CA.
Beckam, M. (2024). The STEM workforce starts with STEM educators. Presented at the annual STEM Innovations Forum. Las Vegas, NV.
Collins, M., & Beckam, M. (2024). Building preservice and in-service science teacher capacity for project-based instruction. Presented at the annual conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). Denver, CO.
Beckam, M. (2023). Exploring preservice teacher agency through community driven science. A poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Science Teacher Educators (ASTE). Salt Lake City, UT.
Collins, M. & Beckam, M. (2023). The mentor/mentee relationship: Fostering the next generation of science teachers through research to practice. Shared at the annual conference of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Kansas City, MO.
Stynen, S., & Beckam, M. (2023). Supporting transgender and non-binary students in the classroom. Shared at the annual conference of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Kansas City, MO.
Collins, M., Beckam, M., de los Santos E. X. (2022). Understanding program retention and career decision-making of undergraduate preservice science teachers. A paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, CA.
Beckam, M., Collins, M., de los Santos E. X. (2020). Undergraduate mathematics and science students’ decision making and motivations in choosing a major and career. A poster presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA. (Conference Canceled)
Collins, M., Beckam, M., de los Santos E. X. (2020). Student voices: The role of program resources in retaining future mathematics and science educators. A round table discussion presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA. (Conference Canceled)
Beckam, M., Collins, M., de los Santos E. X. (2020). Exploring how early classroom experiences help develop a teacher identity in undergraduate science students. A paper presented at the annual conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). Portland, OR. (Conference Canceled)
Beckam, M. & Waddell, G. (2019). Giving mathematics majors purpose in Research Methods. Presented at the UTeach Institute Conference, Austin, TX.
Beckam, M., Nemsgern, N., Tsugawa M. (2018). Authentic Engineering Problems to Engage Learners in Scientific Concepts. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Convention, Atlanta, GA.
Beckam, M. (2018). High School teachers: Birds of a feather. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Regional Conference, Reno, NV.
Beckam, M. & Collins, M. (2018). Empowering the novice: Supporting the next generation of science teachers. Presented at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Regional Conference, Reno, NV.
Publications
Nutt, M., Scheingross, J., Beckam, M. (2025). Hands on rock weathering! Science Scope, 48 (3), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/08872376.2025.2478798.
DeLeon, I., Lindsey, M., Muscott, S., Whitney, T., Collins, M., & Beckam, M. (2024). Moving forward to creating supports for PBI mentors and mentees. Educational Research: Theory and Practice, 35(3), 25-34.
Beckam, M. (2022). Investigating science identities of secondary science preservice teachers engaging with a community driven science project. University of Nevada, Reno.