Polk State Education graduate and former soccer standout published in state science journal

Former Polk State Soccer standout Dylan Fernandez is no stranger to seeing her name published online and in print. However, the Polk State College graduate was recently featured in a new capacity – as an author.

A two-time All-Region 8 midfielder and two-time NJCAA All-Academic selection, Fernandez’s article, The Gamification of Vocabulary, was published in the November edition of the Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST) Professional Journal.

“I was so grateful to see my work published,” Fernandez recalled. “I was shocked and surprised to see it included.”

Fernandez wrote the article while enrolled in Polk State’s Education Program. The article explains how the use of flash cards can be helpful in learning science vocabulary and cited research that backed up her claim.

“Memory cards, typically used in the ‘Memory’ or ‘Concentration’ game, offer a great way to learn science vocabulary,” Fernandez wrote. “This game engages players in matching cards featuring scientific terms with their definitions, or even better, with related images. Known as dual encoding, this process taps into both verbal and visual memory pathways, significantly enhancing retention. The beauty of this tool lies in its capacity to transform learning into an enjoyable, collaborative experience, versus one solely focused on rote memorization.”

Since August, Fernandez has been employed at Berkley Accelerated Middle School in Auburndale, teaching the elective 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands and Health) course that combines agriculture, civic engagement and healthy living with STEM-based curriculum. Fernandez has used the flash card strategy in her classroom.

“This method targets both visual and verbal memory in the brain,” Fernandez added. “It’s been very beneficial. We recently used this to help students remember different livestock breeds. They did very well on the test. There were a lot of terms to remember, and this helped them with retention in the long run.”

Also a graduate of Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School, where she earned her Associate in Arts degree, Fernandez graduated summa cum laude from Polk State in May with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

“The Education Program at Polk State was incredible,” Fernandez explained. “I encourage anyone interested in teaching to look into the Polk State program. I can always go back to those professors when I need support.

“I liked the small class sizes where you have the personal connection with your professors and classmates and where assistance is always there when you need it,” she continued. “I learned so many strategies and methods. I felt so prepared to enter this field.”