This project will iteratively design, develop, field test, refine, and rigorously study a six-unit, facilitated, online professional development (PD) course focusing on energy-related concepts in the context of alternative energy. The primary audience is high school science teachers teaching out of their field of endorsement and serving students underrepresented in the sciences. The project will investigate whether the PD will precipitate changes in teacher knowledge and practice that result in higher student achievement.
Professional Title:
Science Educator
Organization/Institution:
About Me (Bio):
I joined BSCS as a Science Educator and researcher in May 2007. I am currently the PI for an NSF-funded research and development project, designing and studying an online professional development course for teachers. In collaboration with Oregon Public Broadcasting, the National Renewable Energy Lab, the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the National Teachers Enhancement Network of Montana State University, and RMC Research Corporation, we are developing an online course to enhance teachers’ content knowledge and practice associated with fundamental energy concepts. I am also a lead researcher on an NSF-funded project to establish power analysis parameters for science education research proposals.
I taught high school science for 10 years in Bloomington, MN. While in Bloomington, I taught a sheltered physical science course for English Language Learners, general and AP physics, and all levels of physical science. I was also an active member of her teachers’ union, serving on the contract negotiations team for six years. I have presented papers at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) conferences, and at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conferences. My primary research interests relate to designing and studying science curriculum resources for both teachers and students.
I received a B.A. in Physics from Colorado College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in the department of Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. My dissertation examined the intersection of race and gender in high school physics group work conversations.
Personal Website:
Keywords:
Citations of DRK-12 or Related Work (DRK-12 work is denoted by *):
- Kowalski, S. M., Taylor, J. A., Askinas, K., Wang, Q., Zhang, Q. Maddix, W. P., & Tipton, E. (2020). Examining Factors Contributing to Variation in Effect Size Estimates of Teacher Outcomes from Studies of Science Teacher Professional Development. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2020.1726538
- BSCS Science Learning (2019). A Medical Mystery. Available at 3dmss.bscs.org.