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Science and Mathematics Education
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
- Keyword
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- Math and Science Curriculum Development (3)
- Ocean Sciences Education (3)
- Physics education (2)
- Research Experiences for Teachers (2)
- Thermal physics (2)
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- Active-learning methods (1)
- Biological Sciences (1)
- Biology education (1)
- Classroom technology (1)
- College of Engineering (1)
- Curriculum and Instruction (1)
- Curriculum development (1)
- Curriculum innovation (1)
- Digital learning (1)
- Formative assessment (1)
- General education (1)
- Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (1)
- Inquiry-based learning (1)
- Interactive education (1)
- Intermediate Mechanics Tutorials (1)
- Intuitive Quantum Physics (1)
- Nanoelectronic technology (1)
- Nanoscience education (1)
- Paradigms in Physics Project (1)
- Research innovation (1)
- Science and Technology Curriculum Development (1)
- Science education (1)
- Standards-based STEM content (1)
- Statistical physics (1)
- TPC Conference/Symposium (1)
Articles 1 - 24 of 24
Full-Text Articles in Education
Collaborative Research: Research And Curriculum Development In Thermal Physics, John R. Thompson, Warren M. Christensen, David E. Meltzer
Collaborative Research: Research And Curriculum Development In Thermal Physics, John R. Thompson, Warren M. Christensen, David E. Meltzer
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project is a continuation of an ongoing program of coordinated research and research-based curriculum development in thermal physics, primarily in the advanced-level undergraduate courses. Data are gathered using one-on-one student interviews, written pre- and post-test questions, and multiple-choice surveys. The research is then applied to the development of curricular materials intended to improve student understanding in a manner consistent with active-learning methods previously shown to be effective in physics instruction. Prior support has resulted in the development of several interview protocols, diagnostic questions, and survey questions. Project staff have identified several specific conceptual difficulties in thermal physics, and have …
Nue: Nano Science And Laboratory Experience (Scale) At Umaine, Rosemary L. Smith, Scott D. Collins, Michael D. Mason
Nue: Nano Science And Laboratory Experience (Scale) At Umaine, Rosemary L. Smith, Scott D. Collins, Michael D. Mason
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) in Engineering program entitled, "NUE: Nano Science And Laboratory Experience (ScALE) at UMaine", at the University of Maine, under the direction of Dr. Rosemary L. Smith, aims to introduce the basic concepts, applications, and implications of nanoscale science and engineering to all first-year engineering students at the University of Maine (UMaine). The proposed approach is to add nanoscience and nanoscale engineering content to the required 'introduction to' engineering courses offered by each engineering department. This content will be designed, developed and delivered as a 'drop-in' module, in collaboration with the instructors for each department's course. …
Ideas: Inquiry-Based Dynamic Earth Applications Of Supercomputing, Seeing The Big Picture With Information Technology, Bruce E. Segee, Yifeng Zhu, Peter O. Koons
Ideas: Inquiry-Based Dynamic Earth Applications Of Supercomputing, Seeing The Big Picture With Information Technology, Bruce E. Segee, Yifeng Zhu, Peter O. Koons
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
The goals of the project were to increase the level and volume of information technologies in the classroom and to promote inquiry-based learning. The project was tightly integrated with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative that puts a laptop computer into the hands of every 7th and 8th grade student and teacher. It was also tightly integrated with the University of Maine Supercomputer. Through the use of technology, students were able to ask “what if questions and find and visualize the answers to their questions. The focus of the inquiry was dynamic Earth modelling. This included geological evolution of the earth …
Ideas: Inquiry-Based Dynamic Earth Applications Of Supercomputing, Seeing The Big Picture With Information Technology, Bruce E. Segee, Yifeng Zhu, Peter O. Koons
Ideas: Inquiry-Based Dynamic Earth Applications Of Supercomputing, Seeing The Big Picture With Information Technology, Bruce E. Segee, Yifeng Zhu, Peter O. Koons
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project will connect researchers at the University of Maine with students and middle school teachers, both at the University (during a summer workshop) and at participating schools (during the academic year) to utilize computer modeling and visualization of geological processes in the classroom. The proposed project will have 60 participating teachers each with 120 contact hours at the University of Maine, as well as 180 students, each with 20 contact hours at the University of Maine. The focus of this project is to integrate computational modeling with the existing science curriculum at the middle school level. This will be …
Collaborative Research: Centers For Ocean Sciences Education Excellence - National Network Partnerships, Annette V. Decharon
Collaborative Research: Centers For Ocean Sciences Education Excellence - National Network Partnerships, Annette V. Decharon
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This proposal will be awarded using funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
This award provides funds to support the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) Central Coordinating Office (CCO) in a set of projects that will focus on identifying best practices in ocean science education and develop internal and external Network partnerships. Specifically, this award provides funds for the development of an online COSEE Community Center to network teachers, ocean researchers and the public.
The COSEE program, now in its seventh year, has a mission to bridge the gap between …
Reu Site: Sensor Science And Engineering, John F. Vetelino, Nuri Emanetoglu
Reu Site: Sensor Science And Engineering, John F. Vetelino, Nuri Emanetoglu
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This three-year REU site program at the University of Maine will engage eight undergraduates per year in hands-on research experiences in sensor science and engineering. The REU program will be integrated with the PIs' Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) programs. REU participants will have the opportunity to interact with faculty research mentors, graduate students, post-docs, technicians, visiting scientists, and middle and high school teachers. REU students, GK-12 fellows, IGERT fellows, and RET participants will participate in field trips to Maine companies that perform sensor research such as The Jackson Laboratory and Spectral …
Development Of The Biology Competencies Assessment Series (Bcas), Michelle K. Smith
Development Of The Biology Competencies Assessment Series (Bcas), Michelle K. Smith
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project is supporting a workshop to convene biology education researchers to plan out the development and validation of a Biology Competencies Assessment Series (BCAS). The BCAS will consist of several multiple-choice and short-answer questions validated by students and designed to evaluate student progress on learning biology concepts and achieving the competencies recommended in "Vision and Change: A Call to Action." In particular, the workshop is bringing together Principal Investigators of both new and established TUES projects related to developing assessment tools to address effectiveness of instruction.
Intellectual merit: The project provides the opportunity for experts in biology educational research …
Collaborative Research: Linking Researchers And Graduate Students Through Cosee Tools & Services, Annette V. Decharon
Collaborative Research: Linking Researchers And Graduate Students Through Cosee Tools & Services, Annette V. Decharon
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This proposal will be awarded using funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).
This award provides funds to conduct workshops aimed at improving the broader impacts efforts of scientists. Through professional development workshops, scientist-graduate student teams will produce interactive materials based on the ?Ocean Literacy? and ?Climate Literacy? principles that can be specifically designed for a variety of audiences. The primary target audiences for this project are the research scientists and graduate students who participate in the project workshops. Through team-building and COSEE-facilitated long-term contact, the project will provide sustained professional development …
Collaborative Research: Paradigms In Physics: Creating And Testing Materials To Facilitate Dissemination Of The Energy And Entropy Module, John R. Thompson
Collaborative Research: Paradigms In Physics: Creating And Testing Materials To Facilitate Dissemination Of The Energy And Entropy Module, John R. Thompson
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
Topics in statistical and thermal physics have long been problematic in the undergraduate curriculum. To many students, the subject matter is abstract and theoretical and often requires mathematical tools they lack. This project addresses the challenge of teaching upper-division thermal and statistical mechanics by building on the Energy and Entropy (E&E) paradigm developed through the Paradigms in Physics Project at Oregon State University and a physics education research project at the University of Maine. E&E takes a radically different approach to statistical mechanics, incorporating the issues of quantum mechanics and measurement at its core and focusing on entropy as the …
Collaborative Research: Centers For Ocean Science Education Excellence - Oceans In The Earth-Sun System, Annette Decharon
Collaborative Research: Centers For Ocean Science Education Excellence - Oceans In The Earth-Sun System, Annette Decharon
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This award establishes a new Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) via awards to the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (0528706), the University of Maine (0528702), and the University of New Hampshire (0528686). The main goals of this thematic Center are to broaden understanding of the oceans in the context of the earth and solar systems and to help the COSEE network reach rural and inland audiences. The PIs will pioneer a system of interfaces, tools, and resources to reach underserved and underrepresented groups, and to bring ocean sciences to inland audiences by presenting it in the context of …
Creation, Coordination, And Activation Of Resources In Physics And Mathematics Learning, Michael J. Wittmann, John R. Thompson, John Donovan
Creation, Coordination, And Activation Of Resources In Physics And Mathematics Learning, Michael J. Wittmann, John R. Thompson, John Donovan
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project seeks to study introductory college level courses in physics, mechanics, and mathematics. The research questions involve the processes by which students become able to use resources across contexts (such as between mathematics and physics), how ideas in math and physics form a resource network, and what mechanisms trigger individual resources or coordinated networks.
The researcher will conduct clinical interviews, small group interviews, and statistical analysis of survey questions as well as videos from classroom and help sessions. The data being collected would be analyzed for purpose of describing the development of students as they refine skills in mathematics …
Foundations And Frontiers Of Physics Education Research 2009, Michael J. Wittmann, Paula Heron, Rachel Scherr
Foundations And Frontiers Of Physics Education Research 2009, Michael J. Wittmann, Paula Heron, Rachel Scherr
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project is a conference on the "Foundations and Frontiers of Physics Education Research," in which established and up-and-coming researchers attend a residential conference to further the work of the field. There are 60 participants, including senior graduate students, research scientists, junior, and tenured faculty. The conference consists of a series of plenary talks by leaders in the community; working groups of participants to address common problems in the field and present recommendations for future work; and targeted sessions in which research topics are explored in detail by participants. Ample free time is also included, allowing for informal discussions and …
Conference 2008 - Integrating Science And Mathematics Education Research Into Teaching Iv: Resources And Tool For Improved Learning, Susan R. Mckay, Stephen A. Norton, Eric A. Pandiscio, Owen Paul Maurais, John R. Thompson Ii
Conference 2008 - Integrating Science And Mathematics Education Research Into Teaching Iv: Resources And Tool For Improved Learning, Susan R. Mckay, Stephen A. Norton, Eric A. Pandiscio, Owen Paul Maurais, John R. Thompson Ii
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
The Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Maine continues its series of national conferences on providing professional development and resources for integrating mathematics and science education research into teaching. The first part of the conference consists of three days of parallel presentations and discussions by nationally recognized experts along with short workshops. The workshops provide first hand experience with either research-based STEM curricula or cutting edge STEM research projects that can serve as a basis for classroom instruction. The purposes of the conference include bringing together 150 participants in all aspects of STEM education (researchers, teachers, …
Ret Site: Sensors!, John F. Vetelino, Constance Holden
Ret Site: Sensors!, John F. Vetelino, Constance Holden
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This award provides funding for a 3 year standard award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Site program at the University of Maine entitled, "RET Site: Sensors!," under the direction of Dr. John F. Vetelino. This site will provide 10 high school teachers per year from rural Maine with 8-week summer research experiences involving intensive, team-based sensor research projects with an intellectual focus on sensor theory, design fabrication, testing, and/or applications.
Integrating Science And Mathematics Education Research Into Teaching: A Conference For Students, Teachers And University Faculty In Science, Mathematics, And Related Fields, Susan R. Mckay, Francois Amar, Michael J. Wittmann, Owen Paul Maurais, Eric A. Pandiscio
Integrating Science And Mathematics Education Research Into Teaching: A Conference For Students, Teachers And University Faculty In Science, Mathematics, And Related Fields, Susan R. Mckay, Francois Amar, Michael J. Wittmann, Owen Paul Maurais, Eric A. Pandiscio
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This proposal from the University of Maine Center for Science and Mathematics Education is a request for a TPC Conference/Symposium to fund a six-day national conference and summer academy entitled "Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching." The purposes of the conference are: (1) to bring together all participants in the science and mathematics education research enterprise (teachers, administrators, scientists and mathematicians, education faculty, future teachers) to exchange ideas about research and curriculum innovation ongoing in their fields; and (2) help teachers integrate research-based instructional strategies, particularly those that depend on innovative uses of technology, into their teaching practices.
Collaborative Research: Research On The Learning And Teaching Of Thermal Physics, John R. Thompson
Collaborative Research: Research On The Learning And Teaching Of Thermal Physics, John R. Thompson
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
Groups at Iowa State University and the University of Maine will collaborate in a coordinated program of research and research-based curriculum development in thermal physics, targeting both introductory general physics courses and advanced-level undergraduate courses. The research component involves one-on-one student interviews, written pre- and post-test questions, and multiple-choice surveys. This research is then applied to the development of curricular materials intended to improve student understanding in a manner consistent with active-learning methods previously shown be effective in physics instruction. The curriculum will in turn be evaluated for its effectiveness at addressing the student difficulties previously identified through research.
This …
General Education Course In Intuitive Quantum Physics, Michael C. Wittmann
General Education Course In Intuitive Quantum Physics, Michael C. Wittmann
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
This project improves student conceptual and epistemological knowledge in the sciences while developing a template for formative assessment in a general education course at the University of Maine. A general education course in Intuitive Quantum Physics is being created in which non-science students learn quantum physics through simple observations, basic logical reasoning, and graphical analysis. Materials from three proven curricula are being adapted to include explicit discussions of epistemological issues. The three curricula (developed in part with NSF funding) that are being adapted to create the Intuitive Quantum Physics course include Activity-Based Tutorials in wave mechanics, New Model Course in …
Collaborative Project: Developing A Tutorial Approach To Enhance Student Learning Of Intermediate Mechanics, Michael J. Wittmann
Collaborative Project: Developing A Tutorial Approach To Enhance Student Learning Of Intermediate Mechanics, Michael J. Wittmann
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
There is a need among science students for increased conceptual and mathematical understanding in courses beyond the introductory level. Future scientists, future secondary science teachers, and future engineers who take these courses must create an effective bridge between the mathematical reasoning emphasized in most physics classes and the physical intuition that will guide their future work. Using past success as a template, the collaborating PI's are developing Intermediate Mechanics Tutorials, a set of at least 23 tutorials, including pencil-and-paper conceptual tutorials (15), mathematical tutorials (4), and computer-based tutorials (4), for the purpose of enhancing instruction in intermediate mechanics. Each tutorial …
Gk-12: Nsf Graduate Teaching Fellows In K-12 Education At The University Of Maine, Susan H. Brawley, Stephen A. Norton, Barbara J. Cole, Michael Vayda, Eric N. Landis, Susan J. Hunter, Ruey Yehle
Gk-12: Nsf Graduate Teaching Fellows In K-12 Education At The University Of Maine, Susan H. Brawley, Stephen A. Norton, Barbara J. Cole, Michael Vayda, Eric N. Landis, Susan J. Hunter, Ruey Yehle
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
Eight districts in central Maine that comprise the Penobscot River Educational Partnership (PREP); four of them, including Maine Indian Education, partners in a current GK-12 project, have joined with the University of Maine to form Fellow-teacher teams to introduce K-12 students to experiments, field trips, and discussions in areas such as chemistry, climate change, marine sciences, molecular biology, geology, food sciences, and ecology. The program is: a) helping teachers and students reach the State of Maine's legislatively-mandated standards for Science & Technology (the Maine Learning Results), b) strengthening Fellows' communication and teaching skills, c) providing professional development for Teachers, d) …
Impact Of New Science And Engineering Graduates On Intrastate Labor Markets, Philip A. Trostel
Impact Of New Science And Engineering Graduates On Intrastate Labor Markets, Philip A. Trostel
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
A major policy issue confronting states is the level of state support to higher education. A crucial question in this policy debate is whether a state's production of college graduates has a proportionate effect on the level of college attainment in the state. Although it is widely accepted that rising college attainment leads to rising prosperity, there is widespread concern that many new college graduates will take their state-supported degrees to labor markets in other states. The belief that state support to higher education subsidizes the workforce development of other states undermines states' incentives to promote wider access to higher …
Gk-12: Sensors!, John F. Vetelino
Gk-12: Sensors!, John F. Vetelino
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
The University of Maine (UMaine) College of Engineering proposes to partner with Bangor High School (BHS) to develop a model university/K-12 partnership based on the disciplinary theme of sensors. The proposed model integrates education and research for the benefit of BHS students and teachers, and graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and faculty, within the College of Engineering at UMaine. GK-12 Sensors! will involve faculty and students from the chemical, biological, electrical, computer, mechanical, civil/environmental, and spatial information engineering programs at the University of Maine. Five advanced undergraduate and ten graduate students will serve as GK-12 Sensor Fellows. Faculty members recognized …
Developmental Biology Courseware That Integrates Multimedia Technology Into The Laboratory And Classroom Experience, Mary S. Tyler
Developmental Biology Courseware That Integrates Multimedia Technology Into The Laboratory And Classroom Experience, Mary S. Tyler
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
Biological Sciences (61) It is paramount to the learning of science that students participate in science as active learners and researchers. The use of multimedia technology to facilitate this goal offers an inexpensive way of making materials available to a large number of students and encourages students to be independent learners. This project is developing multimedia courseware that makes a wealth of resources available to undergraduate college students who are exploring the field of developmental biology. This field has gained tremendous importance recently because of its relevance to our daily lives through techniques such as cloning, genetic engineering, assisted reproductive …
(Sger) Theoretical Frameworks For Conducting Research In Physics Education, Randal R. Harrington
(Sger) Theoretical Frameworks For Conducting Research In Physics Education, Randal R. Harrington
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
Physicists bring a unique perspective to education research. Recently, more and more physics departments are creating tenure-track positions for faculty whose primary research interest is in physics education. This research is task specific and consists of an integrated approach to examining student difficulties and designing instructional strategies and materials to address these difficulties. As a researcher in this field, the P.I. proposes on-site visits to work with the directors of two NSF sponsored education research and development projects. The objectives of these visits are twofold: (1) become more cognizant of current practices in the field of science education and (2) …
A New Course Promoting Science As A Way Of Knowing, Howard B. Dowse
A New Course Promoting Science As A Way Of Knowing, Howard B. Dowse
University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports
The objective of this project is to create an exciting interdisciplinary laboratory experience for a course promoting science as an objective tool for understanding the natural world. Establishing in the minds of the students a level playing field on which true science competes successfully with pseudoscience is central. The core of the project is biology, but many disciplines are introduced, providing a focused introduction to the scientific method. The primary goal is not scientific literacy per se. It is, instead, an introduction to the methodology of science. A select set of connected subjects were chosen for general interest, potential for …