Archived Department Highlights 2017-2020
The following are the news stories released by the Science Education Department 2017-2020.
Ryan Ward Wins Future Science Teacher Award
(October 2020)
Ryan Ward, Single Subject Credential Student in Science Education at CSULB has been awarded the Future Science Teacher Award at the California Association of Science Education. Ryan previously worked with Young Scientist Camp in the Department of Science Education and is certified to teach physics, geoscience, and computer science.
Ryan Ward completed his credential at CSULB last year. The summer before he student taught Ryan was an instructor in CSULB's Young Scientists Camp. Ryan and his teaching team worked with 30 middle school kids for two weeks doing a STEM Makers Challenge program. Big ideas that they explored were simple machines, force and motion, energy and momentum, and gravity. All of this was done through different engineering challenges. Ryan developed and led creative lessons which helped students utilize the engineering design process. One of his multi-day activities had students building a rubber band powered propeller rocket/plane which traveled across a string. Students experimented with the number and position of fins and propellers, length of the rocket and more. Ryan designed engaging lessons which focused on big ideas of science. He built a quick and meaningful rapport with the students and was an asset to the camp program.
During student teaching Ryan again built strong rapport with students and teaching staff. During his student teaching he helped organize and run a three day field trip to Catalina Island with his middle schoolers! His master teacher and university supervisor both raved about his performance as a student teacher. Not surprisingly, Ryan was hired and now teaches in San Francisco Unified. Ryan has a geological sciences and physics single subject credential.
Ryan is one of many CSULB students who have received this award.
Laura Henriques Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society
(October 2020)
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Henriques was awarded induction as "Fellow" in the American Physical Society for "exceptional contributions to the physics enterprise in physics research, important applications of physics, leadership made in or service to physics, or significant contributions to physics education." Of note are her activities in "PhysTEC as a site lead, architect of a regional network, National Advisory Board member, and mentor for the new regional network as well as for service to the American Physical Society in various educational initiatives."
Each year, no more than one half of one percent of the Society membership is recognized by their peers for election to the status of Fellow in the American Physical Society. This year, 163 Fellows were selected and recognized for their contributions to science. Interestingly, of the few individuals elected as a Fellow this year is one of Laura's former high school students (Dr. Alex Cronin). He was a student in her high school physics class in 1987-88.
For more information, please see the APS Fellowship Program.
Featured Faculty Member: Dr. Amy Ricketts
(June 2020)
We wish a warm welcome to Dr. Amy Ricketts -- the newest member of the tenure-track faculty in Science Education at CSULB.
Amy is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Curriculum and Instruction (specialization in Science Education and Teacher Education). She comes to us most recently from a postdoctoral research associate position at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she worked on a National Science Foundation Discovery Research K-12 Award: Professional development for K-12 science teachers in linguistically diverse classrooms.
Amy says "I am really looking forward to developing relationships and learning with my new colleagues and the students of CSULB!"
We are excited to have her at THE BEACH! Welcome, Amy!
Featured Faculty Member: Dr. Al Colburn
(February 2018)
In the 23 years I've been a faculty member at CSULB many things have changed. But one thing hasn't--my dedication to teaching and students. Even when writing, I imagine myself talking to a handful of students. My scholarly interests include inquiry-based science teaching, understanding the preconceived ideas students bring to classrooms, helping students better understand what science is and how science works, and issues related to evolution, creationism, science & religion.
Developing Effective and Engaging Practice in STEM
(February 2018)
The DEEP project aimed to strengthen STEM learning and teaching by leveraging the expertise and resources of universities, after-school programs, and informal science education institutions. The project hosted a webinar that explored and compared the three different approaches for supporting the STEM ecosystem while helping new teachers gain critical experiences leading to effective instruction.
Featured Program: Head Start on Science
(September 2017)
Twenty years ago few science education researchers/leaders were focused on preschool. One of these few was the founding member of CSULB's Science Education Department, Dr. William Ritz.
In 1996 with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he developed "A Head Start on Science" (HSOS) curriculum and professional development for teachers of young children. Dr. Ritz decided upon "encouraging a sense of wonder" as the theme for the HSOS project and set about encouraging teachers to engage children in activities that foster their curiosity and spark exploration and discovery through science. His tireless work resulted in an 89 activity curriculum guide for teachers that outlines the scientific practices embedded within the activity, instructions for facilitating those practices, and follow-up activities to integrate learning in classroom (e.g., literacy, art, play) and family activities. The HSOS curriculum guide was published by NSTA Press in 2007 (Ritz, 2007). This book has been widely disseminated, with over 14,000 copies sold, and was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award by the Association of Educational Publishers.
In 2000-01, with funding from the Honda Foundation, Dr. Ritz established 21 national HSOS training and dissemination sites across the US. In 2008, he collaborated to help establish HSOS field center at the China National Institute for Educational Research in Beijing and a Mandarin translation of the teachers' guide was developed. World-wide, hundreds of HSOS workshops have been conducted and thousands of pre-school and primary grade teachers have received the training, support, and encouragement that HSOS offers and, as a result, have provided meaningful science experiences to their young learners.
At 86 years young, Dr. Ritz continues to be an integral part of the HSOS project and remains an inspiration to us all. You can find out more information about HSOS, including current professional development opportunities, at Head Start on Science.
Featured Faculty Member: Dr. William Straits
(September 2017)
Throughout my career, my teaching and research interests have been varied, including emphases in both post-secondary and elementary science instruction. I have had particular interest in the intersections of language and science, with focus on the development and research of teaching strategies that integrate English Language Development and/or English Language Arts with Science instruction at the elementary level. As I enter the middle of my career, I have taken the opportunity to explore a field new to me – early childhood science education. Although I am still active in elementary science education and elementary science teacher education, I now serve as the Director of CSULB's National Center for Science in Early Childhood and its Head Start on Science project. In this capacity I work to develop and better understand curricula, resources, and professional development opportunities for preschool teachers interested in providing rich science experiences for their children.
Across all of my work, I am guided by feminist, critical, and constructivist pedagogies.
Featured Faculty Member: Dr. Susan Gomez-Zwiep
(August 2017)
My path into science education began teaching middle school science in a mid-size, urban school district in Southern California. These early experiences in the classroom continue to inform my work today as a researcher and educator. One of my research areas, science and language development, grew from my experience working with English language learners as a classroom teacher; using language to provide equitable access to science learning and to accelerate language development. I am also interested in learning that occurs across content domains such as integrations across English Language Arts, Math and Science. In addition to working with preservice teachers at CSULB, I am heavily involved in teacher professional development and enjoy working with educators in K-12 classrooms. This part of my work has been enriched by my close relationship with the K12 Alliance at WestEd, where I serve as a Regional Director. My partnership with K12 Alliance has allowed me to work with teacher leaders and university faculty to create effective professional development programs, including the California NGSS Early Implementation Initiative.
I have a passion for science, science teaching and science learners of all ages.
