Innovations in Science Teaching and Research on Student Learning

The department of Chemistry and Physics maintains an effective program by organizing and attending conferences on the teaching and learning of science, obtaining grants that promote effective teaching, and establishing collaborations with other universities in an effort to improve instruction. 

Membership in organizations dedicated to the learning and teaching of science

CSU faculty are also active members and attend meetings of the following organizations Project Kaleidoscope, the National Association of Research in Science Teaching (NARST), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

 Recent Grant support for Promoting Science Education

Establishing a Supportive Environment for the Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention of the Urban Science Teacher, (National Science Foundation, 2008-2013)  The Chicago State University (CSU) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholars Program will facilitate STEM undergraduates and STEM professionals in becoming effective high school science teachers in the Urban School District through scholarships, mentoring, and induction year support.  Click here for more information on this program.
Institutionalization of the Chicago Science Van Programs (Illinois Board of Higher Education, 2007-2009) Project to provide inservice and preservice teachers with educational opportunities that strengthen pedagogical content knowledge and offer courses that lead to endorsements in scientific disciplines as well as a masters program in science teaching or science education. Click here for more information on the Physics Van program.  Click here for the Chemistry Van program.
Creating Innovative Physics Learning Environments in the Urban Classroom (National Science Foundation: CCLI, 0632563, 2007-2009) This project involves implementing new instructional materials in the introductory physics classes and assessing whether these materials are effective in promoting student understanding. Click here for more infomation on this program.
Microwave Laboratory Systems to Enhance Research Opportunities and Science Education at Chicago State University (Department of Defense, Infrastructure Support Program for HBCU/MI Institutions, 2007-2008)  Microwave enhanced chemistry has become the method of choice for many industrial processes. Funding from the DOD has allowed CSU to establish a Center for Microwave Enhanced Chemistry.
Creating Research-Based Single Concept Question Sequences for In-Class Polling Systems (National Science Foundation: CCLI, 0618128, 2006-2009) This project is a collaborative project led by the Ohio State University.  The project involves creating question sequences that will be used in the lecture portion of the introductory physics classes.
Compact Modular Spectroscopy Stations to Enhance Education and Research Experiences at Chicago State University. (Department of Defense, Infrastructure Support Program for HBCU/MI Institutions, 2005-2006)  Chemistry has undergone a revolution in the past 10 years.  Chemists, even synthetic chemists, no longer rely primarily on beakers and solutions as they prepare new compounds.  Funding from this grant is used across the curriculum to for a phased introduction to scientific research.

Examples of instrumentation used in the teaching of Chemistry and Physics in our Department

Students at CSU see innovative instructional approaches throughout their academic careers.  In addition to research based instructional materials, the programs regularly use modern pedagogical techniques such as interactive lectures using personal response systems and group problem solving.  The science departments have a number of laboratory areas where students participate in classes and conduct experiments. Many of these laboratories are equipped with modern pedagogical equipment such as PASCO and Vernier Probeware, Computer data acquisition systems, IR, GC, NMR, and ESM.  Students use modern equipment in their courses such as PASCO Probeware, Computer data acquisition, IR, GC, NMR, and ESM and have opportunities to conduct research with faculty members to learn firsthand about science methods and experimentation.

Research on the student learning of Chemistry and Physics

Recent Presentations (since 2007)

• Mardis, K.; Lawrence, W.; Gay, A.; Richter, R. “Modernizing undergraduate science laboratories to meet the demands of the 21st century workplace: Upper Level Laboratory Ideas”, 20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Bloomington, IN, July 2008
• Morgan, D.M.; Lawrence, W.; Gay, A.; Mardis, K.; Richter, R. “Modernizing undergraduate science laboratories to meet the demands of the 21st century workplace: Introductory Level Laboratory Ideas”, 20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Bloomington, IN, July 2008
• Mardis, K.; Richter, R. “Workshop on Modernizing the undergraduate chemistry laboratories” 2008 Chicago Symposium Series on Excellence In Teaching Mathematics and Science, Chicago, IL, May 2008
• McCarthy, S.; Koziarski R., "Use of retired high school faculty in college science education curriculum". ACS National Meeting in Chicago, March 25-29, 2007
• Kanis, D. "Questions to ask to ensure that the Future Undergraduate STEM facility accommodates 21st Century Research Pedagogies"  PKAL Roundtable on the Future Undergraduate STEM Learning Environment, Washington D.C., 2008.
• Sabella, M.S. "Building knowledge without building an underlying structure", presented at the Ohio State University Physics Education Research Group Seminar, (Feb 25, 2008)
• Sabella, M.S. "Creating Innovative Physics Learning Environments in the Urban Classroom", presented at the 2008 CCLI-AAAS PI Conference, Washington DC, 2008
• Sabella, M.S; Barr. S., "Implementing research–based instructional materials to promote coherence in physics knowledge for the urban STEM student", presented at the 2008 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, Pittsburgh PA, 2008
• Watkins, E.; Sabella M.S.,  "Examining The Effectiveness Of Clickers On Student Learning By Tracking Student Responses," presented at the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, Edmonton Canada, 2008
• Cochran, G.L.;  Sabella, M.S.; Hayes, V., "Understanding and Encouraging Effective Collaboration in Introductory Physics Courses," presented at the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, Edmonton Canada, 2008
• Sabella, M.S.; Hofslund, J.; Daubert, R., "Supporting Inquiry in the Chicago High School Physics Classroom," presented at the 2008 AAPT Conference, Edmonton, Canada, 2008.
• Sabella, M.S. "Involving undergraduate researchers in PER," presented at the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, Edmonton Canada
• Sabella, M.S.; Coble, K; Bowen, S., "Using the resources of the student at the urban, comprehensive university to develop an effective instructional environment," presented at the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, Edmonton Canada, 2008.
• Gallardo, S.; Coble, K.; Sabella, M.S, "Transferring Instructional Reforms into New Urban Learning Environments in Physics and Astronomy," presented at the 2008 Physics Education Research Conference, Edmonton Canada, 2008.

Recent Papers (since 2007)

•  “Providing support to inner-city students and teachers through the Physics Van Inservice Institute,” M.S. Sabella, Phys Teach. 45, 80-84 (2007).
• “Knowledge organization and activation in physics problem-solving,” M.S. Sabella and E. F. Redish, Phys. Educ. Res., Am. J. Phys. Suppl. 75, 1017 (2007).
• “Implementing research–based instructional materials to promote coherence in physics knowledge for the urban STEM student,” M.S. Sabella and S.A. Barr, 2008 Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education (2008).
• “Examining the Effectiveness of Clickers on Promoting Learning by Tracking the Evolution of Student Responses,” Erica P. Watkins and Mel S. Sabella, 2008 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings (AIP, NY).
•  “Understanding and Encouraging Effective Collaboration in Introductory Physics Courses,” Geraldine L. Cochran and Mel S. Sabella, 2008 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings (AIP, NY).
• “Using the resources of the student at the urban, comprehensive university to develop an effective instructional environment,” Mel S. Sabella, Kim Coble, and Samuel P. Bowen, 2008 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings (AIP, NY).

Central to the departments innovations teaching are its role in assessment.  Click our assessment page for more information on these efforts.