BIO

I am a Florida native from Monticello a town just a few minutes east of Tallahassee. I believe that education is a life long process and do my best to approach learning with gusto and optimism. My research interests within my major are concerned with how an ecologically literate sense of place is related to pro-environmental behavior. What I enjoyed most about this research opportunity was examining the patterns in teaching practices that sparked conversations between students and teachers around science topics. My career goals for the future are to work within a field that prioritizes sustainability and uses innovation to improve how humans use natural resources.

Teaching Patterns and Where to Find Them

Abstract

Current science education standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in grades K-12 are set according to a framework for science. The framework aims to move STEM education away from providing lists and facts for students to memorize and into a foundation of related science concepts that apply teaching practices that support an exploratory mind. In this project, we researched the relevance of dynamic “science talks” in the classroom and how students and teachers engage in this activity by coding qualitative data with NVivo 12 to break down core themes in teaching.

Keywords: Education, STEM, Qualitative data