The new dean of the Graduate School of Education (GSE) Daniel Schwartz began his teaching career with an emergency teaching credential, a 1957 grammar book and a class full of kids in south-central Los Angeles.
After graduating from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in philosophy and anthropology in 1979, Schwartz delved deeper into the field of teaching and academia and received an emergency teaching credential, which certifies student teachers to teach in school districts that are experiencing staffing issues. He taught in Los Angeles and Alaska and later received his master’s in computers and education and his Ph.D. in human cognition and learning from Columbia University.
Schwartz has since invested himself in research regarding computers in education, human cognition and education itself. Currently, he is working on a book called “The ABCs of How We Learn: 26 Scientifically Proven Approaches, How They Work and When to Use Them,” in which he explains his research and carves out the curriculum of the courses he teaches.
The Daily sat down with Schwartz to talk about his background in teaching, his journey to Stanford and his goals for the GSE.
The Stanford Daily (TSD): What got you started in teaching and education?
Daniel Schwartz (DS): I got my degrees in philosophy with a minor in anthropology when I went to college. When you’re in college, you don’t know what to do. Turns out I could get an emergency credential — so by taking classes in the summer, I ended up teaching in Los Angeles, south-central LA, because they’re having trouble getting teachers. I taught English language arts, and the only textbook available to me was a 1957 grammar book. I had to make a lot of curriculum, and I enjoyed it.
TSD: So you have a master’s in computers and education from Columbia University. How are the two fields related?
DS: [Computers] offer a lot of opportunities. So that was exciting — I could make interesting worlds that kids go through, and [the kids] have enriched, interactive experiences that they just can’t in their daily lives.
TSD: What was your path to the position of Dean of the GSE?
DS: I was asked to interview for this position. I was not sure [about the position]. I have a very successful academic career as it is, and I really enjoy my research. I have a lab of 14 people that I work with very closely, but I was asked to be interviewed, and I really care about education — I care about the school.
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