Research

Current Research: Playful Learning as Practice project, led by Jennifer L. Weible
 * examining how pre-student teachers in STEM fields learn science content through modeling a playful learning pedagogy and in turn teach elementary students the same content.

Past Projects: Learning Across Science Settings project, led by Prof. Heather Toomey Zimmerman.
 * examined the ways in which high school students extend and enrich their science learning experiences through place-based community experiences supported by the use of digital technology and scientific tools
 * experience in learning sciences methodologies, including video-based ethnography and design-based research
 * experience in collection, analysis, and interpretation of data

Curiosity in Science project, led by Prof. Heather Toomey Zimmerman.
 * focused on the construction of a scale to measure curiosity in science
 * developed curiosity scale, consented students and administered the surveys, completed statistical analysis, and facilitated the connections between the research team and school district

Master's Thesis, with Dr. Barbara Grabowski.
 * experimental research design to examine the effects of student use of Web 2.0 technologies on student learning about alternative energy

Dissertation Research, adviser Prof. Heather Toomey Zimmerman


 * analyze how students use emerging digital technologies within a classroom setting to support science learning and participation in science practices
 * use ethnographic, video-based methods to study student participation in argumentation supported by Web 2.0 technologies
 * includes 55-hours of video-recorded classroom observations, focal group interviews, student reflections, and student-created artifacts (i.e., bookmarking accounts, wiki pages, and podcasts) from a 3-week high school science unit on alternative energies
 * experiences with schools designated as rural and low-income school by USA Department of Education
 * experiences with teaching, learning, and researching in one-to-one computer environment