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Madeline H

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at North Carolina State University

Expertise

Astrophysics, Physics, STEM Education, Integrating computer science into science disciplines, How students learn and think about science, How to make science education more effective and/or equitable

Bio

I am extremely passionate about effective and equitable science education. I have a background in astrophysics, and since obtaining that degree I have set out to learn everything I can about how students learn about science and what we can do to improve STEM education. My doctoral studies focused on integrating computer science into science education so that students are better prepared for the increasingly computationally-intensive scientific fields they will encounter. I am a bit of a science nerd! Since I love science and teaching, I'm always talking to my friends and family about the latest science news! I also love baking and hanging out with my standard poodle, Apollo (named after the Apollo space program!). One day I'd love to open a science-themed bakery!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Optimizing Curriculum for a Science Class

Have you ever been in a science course that just didn't seem to work? Either it wasn't interesting or it was difficult to learn the concepts? Choose a subject and grade level and create an outline for the optimal curriculum. Use previous science and education research to come up with the best way to present science topics to students that will 1) make science interesting and fun; 2) present information in a way that aids students' cognitive processing; 3) prepares students for future studies in that area and 4) makes science learning equitable to all students.

Coding skills

Stata, ArcGIS, Some python

Teaching experience

I taught high school physics and chemistry at a STEM magnet school. I have also been a teaching assistant for undergraduate Astronomy labs, and taught science students and teachers during my doctoral studies while conducting educational research. Additionally, I have taught at science summer camps and led public planetarium shows.

Credentials

Work experience

UNC Chapel Hill (2013 - 2016)
Astrophysics Teaching and Research Assistant
Academy of the Arts, Science, and Techonology (2016 - 2019)
Physics, Astronomy, and Chemistry Teacher
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center (2015 - 2016)
Planetarium Navigator and Technician
North Carolina State University - The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (2019 - 2023)
Graduate Research Assistant in the STEM Cyberlearning Lab

Education

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
BA Bachelor of Arts (2016)
Physics
Clemson University
EdM Master of Education (2018)
STEAM Education
North Carolina State University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
STEM Education - Science Education

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