Michele Koomen, Ph.D
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.
  • 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
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. Assistant Professor: Department of Education, 2000 through present.
Courses taught:

Teacher: Grades Kdgn, 3rd and 5/6, 1986-1999.

RESEARCH

April 2009. Paper presentation at the annual meeting of NARST (National
Association for the Research on Science Teaching). The paper, titled,
Understanding the process of applying inquiry teaching methods in elementary
classrooms was initiated by the work that I do at the University of Minnesota with Karen Oberhauser.

Descriptive and Phenomenological Inquiry (in progress): Qualitative research
methods. I am currently analyzing interview texts, field notes and course artifacts to understand the process of becoming a more contemplative novice educator.

Cognitive load study: (2008-2009), Mixed method study of cognitive load and pre-
service teachers titled (preliminarily): Using theory to explain challenges of novice
teachers. We have completed our data gathering efforts and are now processing
the data (interviews and surveys) with analysis of data targeted for the end of
summer 2009.

El Paso, Texas (Summer 2007): Qualitative study describing the experiences in
schooling of ten native Spanish speaking Latino students, several of whom are
recent immigrants to the United States.

University of MN (2007 to present): Impact of Professional Development on
practicing K-12 teachers. Qualitative study of ten in-service teachers who
completed one of four graduate level courses in insect ecology. Study seeks to
understand their implementation of inquiry learning into their classrooms.

Dissertation Research: (Fall 2005): Phenomenological research study examining
the experience of special education and regular education students as they
studied a life science unit featuring monarch biology and ecology in three middle
school classrooms in an urban Midwestern public school district.

Teacher Research Network (TRN) and SCI/MATHMN (2000-2005): qualitative
study of new science and mathematics teacher practices, content knowledge, and
professional development from nine instructions of higher education in
Minnesota, 2000- 2005. Data collection included: interviews, surveys,
observations, and field notes. Leadership role in analysis of data from all
mathematics and science elementary teacher participants.

Collaborated with Teacher Research Network (TRN) and SCI/MATH MN in qualitative study of new science and mathematics teacher practices, content knowledge, and professional development from nine instructions of higher education in Minnesota, 2000 through present. Data collection included: interviews, surveys, observations, and field notes. Leadership role in analysis of data from all mathematics and science elementary teacher participants.

PUBLICATIONS
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.

CONFERENCES (Refereed)
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.

HONORS AWARDS

  • 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

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Department of Education, Minnesota.  (2008-2009). Member of Minnesota Academic Science Standards Revisions Committee, co-author strand, the Nature of Science and Engineering.
  • University of Minnesota: College of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology (Summer 2005-2010): Lead instructor for Insect Ecology: A summer course for teachers.
  • 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 a future educators, June 2001.

National and State Service
Chair of Inclusion Forum ASTE (Association for Science Teacher Education):
2007-present.

Ethics and Equity Community Member of NARST (National Association for
Research in Science Teaching) and candidate for appointment.


Community Service
St. Peter Schools Math Curriculum Study Group 2007.

St. Peter Schools Science Curriculum Study Group 2001.

 
 

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updated: January 30, 2010