Faculty Profile: Dr. Nicola Findley
Nicola Findley came to Alma College in 2001 after completing her PhD and post-doctoral work at Michigan State University. Prior to that, she had been a teacher since receiving her Bachelor of Education degree from Bristol University in England.
Findley’s teaching experiences in public and independent schools, pre-school and K-8 and special education and multi-age settings, influenced interests in questions of curriculum, purposes and school organization.
Her teaching asks students to question assumptions about how schools and classrooms are organized, for what purposes, for whose benefit and with what impact. Her secondary literacy class includes service learning in an alternative high school. Elementary courses explore issues of access and equity, “literacy” for all and classroom learning environments.
Findley’s research focuses on questions of purpose and alternative approaches, with publications on student learning from integrated curriculum, out-of-school experiences and service learning. Recent research explores teacher beliefs in a Montessori, charter and "free democratic" school.
In addition to this, she has led Spring Term classes exploring historical and current debates in education and trips to alternative school contexts. She looks forward to expanding these to include international examples.
Findley also is excited about the opportunities to work with students in new spaces and ways as the education department revises programs and develops new learning environments.
