Michele Hollingsworth Koomen, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Department of Education
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue, St. Peter, Minnesota 56082		  
     
 

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D (2006). University of Minnesota, Science Education major, Mathematics Education, minor. Title of thesis: Listening to their voices: The essence of the experience of special and regular education students as they learn monarch, Danaus plexippus, biology and ecology. Thesis committee: Frances Lawrenz, Karen Oberhauser, Kathleen Cramer and Roger Johnson.
  • MA (1999). Science and Mathematics education. Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, California.
  • Minnesota State University, Mankato (1993). Fulfillment of required courses for undergraduate minor in chemistry/biology.
  • BA (1979). Liberal Studies/Education, California State University, Northridge, CA.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Professor: Department of Education. (2000 through present). Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. Responsibilities include teaching elementary science and mathematics methods courses, internal and external funding, advising undergraduate elementary education students, participating on college committees and search committees.

Courses taught:


External Evaluator for science and mathematics funded projects through Improving Teacher Quality Grants from Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 2011.

University of Minnesota: College of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology: Co-instructor for Insect Ecology: A summer course for teachers (2005, 2007-2009) and Citizen Science for Teachers (2010, 2012,2013 & 2014). Project evaluator 2007-2014.

Department of Education, State of Minnesota. (2008-2009). Member of Minnesota Academic Science Standards Revisions Committee, co-author strand, the Nature of Science and Engineering.

Fresno, California (1998-2006): Activities Integrating Science and Math (AIMS) trainer at various locations throughout the United States.

Mankato, MN, Camarillo, California & Saticoy, California. K-6 classroom teacher (1986-2000).

PUBLICATIONS

Koomen, M. H., Blair, R., Young-Isebrand, E., & Oberhauser, K. S. (2014). Science Professional Development with Teachers: Nurturing the Scientist Within. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 18(6).

Atchison, C.L., Koomen, M.H., Smetana, L.K., & Ceylan, J.M. Differentiation in the Science Classroom. In Morrell, P.D., & Popejoy, K. (Eds.) (2014). A few of our favorite things: Teaching ideas for K-12 science methods instructors. Boston, MA: Sense Publishers.

Johnson, B., Kil, J., Evans, E., & Koomen, M. J. Bee-Wild About Pollintors. Science and Children, December 2014, 44-48.

 

First Fact Series. (2011). Mathematics consultant for series of topics in mathematics. Titles in the series are:

  • Analyzing Doggie Data by Marcie Aboff. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press.
  • Lions, Tigers, and Graphs! Oh, My! by Jennifer M. Besel. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press.
  • Sorting Fur, Feathers, Tails, and Scales by Marcie Aboff. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press.
  • Pigs, Cows, and Probability by Marcie Aboff. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press.


Exploring Math Series. (2001). Author of high interest series of math books that explores various mathematical topics with simple text, photographs, and illustrations. Each book provides a hands-on activity that supports the math content area. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press. Titles of the series are:

  • Patterns: What Comes Next?
  • Size: Many Ways to Measure
  • Sets: Sorting Into Groups
  • Numbers: Counting it Up
  • Shapes: Discovering Flats and Solids
  • Fractions: Making Fair Shares.

Manuscripts in Press

Koomen, M. J. Inclusive Science Education: Learning from Wizard. Cultural Studies in Science Education.

Manuscripts under Review

Koomen, M. J., Weaver, S. Blair, R., & Oberhauser, K. S. Disciplinary Literacy in the Science Classroom:  Using Adaptive Primary Literature

Koomen, M. J.  and Mitchell, J. Descriptive Inquiry in the Throes of Learning to Teach: Can Prospective Teachers Learn to Teach and Study their Teaching Closely?

CONFERENCES (Refereed)

Koomen, M. J.,Atchison, C.L., & Dotger, S. (2015). Science Education for All: Using video, Disciplinary Literacy and Other Research Base Strategies to Support Learning for all Students. Association of Science Teacher Education Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon.

Koomen, M. J. (2014). Learning from Wizard: Inclusive Science Education, paper presented at American Education Research Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Atchison, C.L., Koomen, M.H., Smetana, L.K. (2014). Instructional Approaches to Access, Accommodation, and Inclusion for Students with Disabilities in Science Education a workshop for the, Association of Science Teacher Education Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas.

Koomen, M. J. (2014).Welcome to your first Science Education Conference! Minnesota Science Teacher Association, February 2014

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Koomen, M. J. (2013). Puff Mobiles and Bird Feeders: Engineering for K-6 teachers. Minnesota Science Teacher Association, February 2013.

Koomen, M. J. (2013).Welcome to your first Science Education Conference! Minnesota Science Teacher Association, February 2013.

Koomen, M. J. (2012). Using published scientific literature and citizen science research as a tool to embed high level reading and writing into K-12 science classrooms, Association of Science Teacher Education Annual Conference, Clearwater, Fl.

Koomen, M. J. (2011). A Practice of Science as Varied as the Members of the Science Classroom Community. European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Exeter, UK.

Koomen, M. J. (2011). Citizen Science Research and Teachers: Understanding the Process and Implementation into the Classroom. National Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual Conference, Orlando, Fl.

Koomen, M. J. (2011). Discovering the Scientist within the Teacher. American Education Research Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA

Koomen, M. J.  and Mitchell, J. (2011). Descriptive Inquiry in the Throes of Learning to Teach: Can Prospective Teachers Learn to Teach and Study their Teaching Closely? Association of Science Teacher Education Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.


Koomen, M. J. (2009). Understanding the process of applying inquiry teaching methods in elementary classrooms. National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Garden Grove, CA, April.

Koomen, M. J. (2009). The Practice of Inquiry Within a Small Group of Hmong Youth. National Association for Research in Science Teaching. Garden Grove, CA, April.

Koomen, M. J. (2008). Science for all and inclusion: Learning from Dion. National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Baltimore, MD, April.

Koomen, M. J. (2008). Listening to the Voices of Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students as They Navigate Through Schooling. American Educational Research Association, New York, March.

Koomen, M. J. (2008). Science for all and inclusion: Learning from Dion. Association of Science Teacher Educators, St. Louis, Missouri, January.

Koomen, M. J. (2007). The Essence of the Experience of Special Education and Regular Education Seventh Grade Students as They Learn Insect Biology and Ecology, Association of Science Teacher Educators, Clearwater, Florida, January

Koomen, M. J. & Hartshorn, L. (2006). Longitudinal Study of Beginning Teachers: Emerging Themes. Association of Science Teacher Educators, Portland, Oregon, January.

Koomen. M. J. & Swanson, A. (2006). Student Teaching at Wolf Ridge ELC: a Collaborative Effort of Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Education and Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. North American Association of Environmental Education, Minneapolis, MN, October.

Koomen, M. J. (2005). Meeting the Needs of the Diverse Life Science Student in Middle Schools. MN Science Teachers Association, October.

Koomen, M. J. (2004). Helping Children to Master Basic Facts. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April.

Koomen, M. J. (2003). How Do You Develop Guided Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom? Regional Meeting of National Science Teachers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October.

Koomen, M. J. (2002). Helping Children to Master Basic Facts. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada, April.

Koomen, M. J. (2002). How Do You Develop Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom? National Science Teachers Association National Convention, San Diego, California, April.

GRANTS and CONTRACTS

National Science Foundation: DR-K-12: Driven to Discover: Citizen Science Inspires Classroom Investigation with Karen Oberhauser, Rob Blair and Gillian Roehrig (University of Minnesota). Fund: $2,356, 316.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ). Project Title: Citizen Science Research for Teachers (with K. Oberhauser and R. Blair and the University of Minnesota), Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ),  2013, $120,312.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ). 2012. Project title: Citizen Science Research for Teachers (with K. Oberhauser and R. Blair) and the University of Minnesota).

Project Directors: Karen Oberhauser, Robert Blair University of Minnesota) and Michele Koomen, GAC

Fund: $120,312.00.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ), 2007- 2008 Project Title: Monarch and More: Insect Ecology for Elementary Teachers
Project Directors: Karen Oberhauser, University of Minnesota and Michele Koomen, GAC

Fund: $46, 560


Gustavus Adolphus College, Research, Scholarship and Creativity Grant (2007) Project Title: Citizen Science and Application into the Classroom.

Project Director: Michele Koomen

Fund: $2,100

Gustavus Adolphus College, Research, Scholarship and Creativity Grant (2007) Project Title: Listening to the voices of immigrant children.

Project Director: Michele Koomen

Fund: $2,200


Gustavus Adolphus College, Research, Scholarship and Creativity Grant (2004) Project Title: Listening to the voices of special and regular education students in science.

Project Director: Michele Koomen
Fund: $2,200

HONORS and AWARDS

  • Wings Across the Americas 2014 Conservation Award. Shared with Karen Oberhauser and the University of Minnesota Monarch Lab. From United States Forest Service.

  • Association of Science Teacher Education (ASTE):  2012: Award IV: Innovation in Teaching Science Teachers paper, Descriptive Inquiry in the Throes of Learning to Teach: Can Prospective Teachers Learn to Teach and Study their Teaching Closely?, Clearwater, FL. Award shared with Jamie Mitchell, Gustavus Adolphus College Graduate 2010.

  • Doctoral Student Fellowship (Spring and Summer 2003); University of Minnesota, Curriculum and Instruction.

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Size: Many Ways to Measure selected as one of the best mathematics books for children published in 2001.
  • Evangelical Lutheran College Association (ELCA) Study Grant for Continuing Education, 2001, 2002.
  • Woodrow Wilson Fellow (Summer 2001) in Environmental Science at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
  • AIMS Scholarship 1996-1999, Fresno Pacific University, CA
  • Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship, 1985, CSUN, CA

NATIONAL and STATE SERVICE

  • Appointed: External Evaluator for Science and Mathematics Funded Projects through Improving Teacher Quality Grants from MN Office of Higher Education, 2011
  • Elected, Higher Education Representative, Minnesota Science Teacher Association Board, 2010 to 2014.
  • Elected, Chair of Inclusion Forum ASTE (Association for Science Teacher Education): 2007-present.
  • Department of Education, Minnesota.  (2008-2009). Member of Minnesota Academic Science Standards Revisions Committee, co-author strand, the Nature of Science and Engineering.
  • National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) (2005): Science Coordinator. Coordinated field science experiences for youth participants in insect ecology and wildlife gardening for 5 weeks.
  • Gustavus Adolphus College, "Two Days of Math Learning and Teaching Workshop for Teachers of Grades K-5", July/August 2002.
  • Gustavus Adolphus College, led a team from nine institutions of higher education in the state of Minnesota in a study and review of the science content that is necessary and appropriate for the undergraduate student who will be future educators, June 2001.

SERVICE to Gustavus Adolphus College

Education Division Representative to the Faculty Senate (2012-2016). Vice-Chair (2014-2015)

Education Division Representative to the Curriculum Committee (2007-2010): Served as Chair of CAPSUB (one year term) Curriculum Committee Chair (2.5 years). As the Curriculum Committee Chair, took routine programmatic or major changes as well as challenging and contentious issues regarding our academic programs to the faculty. Served as Chair of CAPSUB (one year term) Curriculum Committee Chair (2.5 years).

Co-Chair, Education Department (2009-2010). Responsibilities included but are not limited to: non-tenured faculty review, staff review, admission, advising, third year committee member (Daniel Moos and Sidonia Alenuma-Nimoh), tenure track search coordinator, and conducting weekly departmental meetings.


Co-Chair of Gustavus Technology Services Strategic Plan and Technology Services Planning Core Committee (2008-2009). This process included a review by the committee of reports, a review of relevant literature and implementation and analysis of an online survey. The data gathering efforts and the resulting synthesis and interpretation of the documents, surveys, and meetings resulted in a Strategic Plan for Gustavus Technology Services that embrace five core ideas/themes. These five Core Ideas are: Communication • Support • Equipment and Hardware • Access and Infrastructure • Ethics of technology/access, use philosophy and culture

Education Division Representative to the Curriculum Committee (2007-2010): Served as Chair of CAPSUB (one year term) Curriculum Committee Chair (2.5 years). As the Curriculum Committee Chair, took routine programmatic or major changes as well as challenging and contentious issues regarding our academic programs to the faculty.

Nobel 2010 Nobel Committee: (Making Food Good) planning committee and faculty host to Marion Nestle.

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Nobel 2009 Nobel Committee: (Water: Uncertain Resource) planning committee and faculty host to Peter Gleick.

IIAC (2004-2009): Instructional Infrastructure Advisory Committee Member: Served as the Education Department representative on this committee since 2004. Main work was to review requests from academic departments and faculty for computer hardware and make recommendations to AOC.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
St. Peter Schools Math Curriculum Study Group 2007.

St. Peter Schools Science Curriculum Study Group 2001.

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updated: January 31, 2015