Education—Education Studies, BA

Those students who want to experience an education-related career but who do not wish to become licensed teachers may choose to major in Education Studies.

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Overview

Those students who want to experience an education-related career but who do not wish to become licensed teachers may choose to major in Education Studies. This non‐licensure program is designed to prepare students who wish to pursue a wide variety of careers in community‐based organizations. The Education Studies major is an experience‐based program in which students understand and apply theories of teaching and learning in classrooms and community organizations.

Recognition and Rankings

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in the state, as acknowledged by Intelligent.com, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

NEC Ranked Leading College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in NH, as acknowledged by EduRank, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as one of the best colleges in New Hampshire, as acknowledged by Academic Influence, a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

Faculty

Morris, Jessica
Associate Professor, Education
Office: CEI 207, Henniker Campus
Phone: 603.428.2937
Email: jmorris@nec.edu

Expertise, Awards, and Achievements

Expertise:
- Curriculum frameworks to support experiential learning and online pedagogy
- Effects of trauma on the adolescent brain and social and emotional curriculum at the K–12 level
- Integrated curriculum writing
Certifications:
- State Board of Education: New Hampshire Experienced Educator
- Secondary English, Grades 5–12
- General Special Education, Grades K–12
Awards and Grants:
- 2021 Tamar March Fund for Professional Development
- 2018 Duncan-Jenkins, National Junior Honor Society Grant
- 2015 New Hampshire Humanities Council Grant
- 2015 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Experiential Enrichment Grant
- 2014 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Student Enrichment Grant
- 2013 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Experiential Education Grant
- 2012 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Integrated Education Grant
- 2011 Classroom Technology Mini-Grant
- 2011 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Thematic Education Grant
- 2010 Duncan-Jenkins Trust, Special Education Grant
- 2009 River Valley Community College Educational Partnership Grant
Educational Background
EdD in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership; Northeastern University
MEd in Secondary English Education and Special Education, New England College
BA in English, New England College
AS in General Studies, New Hampshire Technology Institute

Research Interests
- The effects of trauma on the developing brain in conjunction with social and emotional curriculum strategies at the K–12 level
- Communication efforts in rural school districts
- Integrated and experiential curriculum and online pedagogy
Bio
Dr. Jessica Morris initially came to NEC as an undergraduate student nearly 20 years ago. After many years teaching in the public school system, including an alternative education program, as a special education case-manager and spending most of her career as a middle school English teacher, she rejoined the NEC family as an adjunct professor in 2012 and as full-time faculty in 2018 upon the completion of her doctoral work at Northeastern University.

Dr. Morris has been an active member on the teacher certification team over the past two years, working on the reaccreditation process in all State of New Hampshire teacher licensure areas. Dr. Morris is also the current advisor for NEC’s chapter, Alpha Kappa Epsilon, under Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education.

During her time as a public-school teacher, Dr. Morris developed several experiential and integrated learning curriculums. Much of the research for this work came from her time spent working in conjunction with many of America’s historic national parks. Some of these units included community-based service-learning through forestry and sustainability, geomythology, and combating nature deficit disorder through the study of transcendental literature.

She is active in her community, participating in many volunteer activities including The Daughters of the American Revolution, The Living History Event, and is currently serving on the School Administrative Unit #34 school board as well as three committees. She has also coached many youth athletic teams. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys traveling with her family, is an avid watersport enthusiast, and can be found fishing—no matter the season.
Viti, Raelyn
Professor, Outdoor Education
Phone: 603.428.2468
Email: rviti@nec.edu

Awards, Expertise, Memberships, Presentations, and Recent Publications

Awards:
- Campus Compact for New Hampshire President’s Good Steward Award, 2020
- National Ski Patrol—Outstanding First-year Patroller, 2013–2104
- U.S. Army Honorable Discharge, 2001
- U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement, 1995
Expertise:
- Experiential Education practices in traditional and nontraditional classrooms
- Outdoor Education curriculum design
- Risk management in the outdoors and recreational environments
- Self-efficacy enhancement in children to adults
- Universal design and inclusion in all classroom environments
- Leadership development
- Working with special needs populations, such as students with reading and language disorders, autism spectrum, and more
- Wilderness medicine
Memberships, Certifications, and Professional Development:
- Association for Experiential Education (AEE), member since 2005
- National Ski Patrol, member since 2013
- Outdoor Emergency Care, certified since 2013
- NREMT, licensed 2000–2016
- WEMT, certified 2000–2016
- WFR, certified 1998–present
- Wilderness Education Association, 2017–present
- National Outdoor Leadership School Risk Management Conference 2018
- AEE Regional Conference 2013–present
- WEA member 2017–present
Presentations:
- “Shuttered in Quicksand: How Politics and Climate Change can impact your itinerary development, trip planning, and trip execution,” WRMC International Conference (virtual), 2020
- “Supporting student engagement, lesson intentionality, conceptuality, and ownership while not freaking out: The art of stepping back,” AEE Northeast Regional Conference, 2018
- “There’s TEAM in AssEssMenT.” 2nd Annual Assessment Conference at New England College, 2018
- “Assessment Encompasses Student involvement,” 1st Annual Assessment Conference at New England College, 2017
- “Psychological Effects of Preorientation Wilderness Programs for first-year students entering four-year institutions,” AEE Northeast Regional Conference, 2014
Recent Publications:
- “A how to: The experiential education handbook,” DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2793.6488, 2015
- “The Psychological effects of preorientation wilderness programs in first-year students entering four-your institutions,” DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2531.5047, 2013
Educational Background
PhD, in Experiential Education, Walden University
Orton-Gillingham Tutor Levels 1 and 2, The Carroll School: Garside Institute for Teacher Training
MEd in Moderate Special Needs, Lesley University
Wilderness EMT, NREMT, Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities
NOLS India Mountaineering, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
BS in Biology and Outdoor Recreation, Plymouth State College

Research Interests
Self-efficacy in the learning environment
Outdoor programming and self-efficacy
Using wilderness to overcome trauma
Teaching K–12 content in non-traditional classrooms

Bio
Dr. Raelyn Viti is an experiential educator with significant classroom and backcountry experiences, teaching people young and old about leadership, behavior, engagement with nature, and more. Bringing the practice of experiential education into traditional classrooms has shaped her approach to a career in education. Her passion is working in educational environments that embody a holistic approach to supporting all learners in their emotional enhancement and future endeavors.

Dr. Viti came to NEC in 2008 and since has developed the Outdoor Education curriculum, supporting and achieving accreditation of the program by the Association of Experiential Education (AEE) in 2019. Dr. Viti has also achieved a partnership with PureLife Adventure in Costa Rica supporting students in attaining college credit while taking time to work on personal well-being.

Dr. Viti has also Directed Adventure Races to support local charities and community programs. She also spends time training and teaching camp staff throughout the New England region in ropes course facilitation and wilderness medicine. Dr. Viti is a veteran of the U.S. Army and spends her winters as a volunteer member of Pats Peak Ski Patrol.