Educator Monique Harrison Bridges Science, Culture, and Global Learning Through STEM Teaching in Shanghai

Veteran educator and educational consultant Monique Harrison is being recognized for her global impact in STEM education following the publication of her featured article, “Across Oceans, Under Stars: My Summer Teaching Astrophysics and Sea Glide in Shanghai,” in The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin (2025, Volume 92-2).

Harrison was invited to teach at the Discover Discern Create (DDC) Academy in Shanghai, where she led two intensive STEM courses—Astrophysics and Sea Glide engineering—for gifted middle school students from across the region. Her work blended advanced scientific concepts with hands-on, project-based learning, allowing students to explore complex ideas while developing real-world engineering skills.

In the astrophysics course, students examined the life cycles of stars, black holes, and galaxies while applying mathematical models and data analysis. In the Sea Glide engineering course, students designed and built autonomous underwater gliders, learning principles of fluid dynamics, circuitry, buoyancy, and design thinking—many for the first time.

A defining aspect of the experience was its cross-cultural exchange. Harrison adapted her instructional methods to support multilingual learners, while students strengthened their confidence collaborating, problem-solving, and communicating complex ideas in both Mandarin and English. The learning environment encouraged curiosity, creativity, and academic risk-taking across cultural and linguistic boundaries.

“Teaching in Shanghai reaffirmed why I became an educator,” Harrison shared. “When students are trusted to think deeply and take risks, they rise—no matter where in the world they are.”

With more than three decades of experience working with gifted and talented learners, Harrison’s teaching philosophy centers on making complex concepts accessible, meaningful, and inspiring. Her interdisciplinary journey—from music to physics to mathematics—has shaped an instructional approach that values patterns, creativity, and critical thinking across disciplines.

Harrison is also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society of women educators dedicated to leadership, collaboration, and educational excellence. Her international teaching experience reflects the organization’s mission and highlights how STEM education can serve as a global bridge—connecting classrooms, cultures, and future innovato.