Michelle Wooten's UAA website
Greetings! I am a conceptual change researcher currently studying how non-science majors conceptions of scientific research change when they conduct true scientific research as part of instruction. The study is part of the Research Based Science Education for Undergraduates (RBSEU) initiative. As of summer 2011, the assessment tool is in a state of development.
Contact Information
Email: m w o o t e n @ u a a . a l a s k a . e d u
Office phone: 907.786.1192
Office Number: CPSB 202N
Mailing address:
Michelle Wooten
UAA Physics & Astronomy Department
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
UAA Courses
- Astronomy A103L: Solar System Astronomy Laboratory
- Astronomy A104L: Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology Laboratory
- Liberal Studies Integrated Sciences A202L: Concepts and Processes: Natural Sciences
UAA Research
- Changes in student confidence in their science abilities, pre/post RBSEU instruction.
- Changes in student understanding of science research via concept mapping, pre/post RBSEU instruction.
- Changes in student critical thinking ability using the CAT Instrument , pre/post RBSEU instruction
- A study of trends in student thinking regarding scientific research using journal responses. These journal assessments are given to students 1/week throughout RBSEU instruction (totaling ~14 in all) and are mostly based on the Schwartz, Ledermen, Crawford (2004) study on using journaling for instruction on Nature of Science (NOS) ideas.
Professional Interests
- Conceptual change research especially in the fields of physics & astronomy
- Developing curriculum using the 5E Instructional Model (Bybee et. al, 2005)
- Designing active learning experiences in the planetarium
- Assessing and strengthening learner abilities in spatial reasoning
Work History
Education
San Francisco State Unviersity, Physics M.S. 2010
University of California Santa Cruz, Mathematics B.A., Minor in Astronomy & Astrophysics 2005
Professional Development
Attended the:
Photos from Places I've lived