Teaching is a large part of this department's mission. Understanding the nature of teaching and learning is important and is the goal of education research. The focus of research in this department is threefold: physics education; astronomy education; and technology in education.
Current Education Projects:
- Demographic Analysis of Learners in Physics Using Student Response Systems. (Researcher: Judy Vondruska)
- Exploring the Lab Partner Relationship in Introductory Physics Classes (Researcher: Judy Vondruska)
- Enhancing the Problem-Solving Skills of Introductory Physics Students (Researcher: Judy Vondruska)
- Understanding Phases of the Moon: Hands-On versus Virtual Modeling (Researcher: Judy Vondruska)
- Language Miscues Between Science and Math Teachers (Researchers: Judy Vondruska, Sharon Vestal, Christine Larson)
- Using Student Mentors in Introductory Physics (Researcher: Larry Browning)
Education Grants:
- OLC/SDSU/SDSMT Pre-Engineering Education Collaborative (OSSPEEC)/External Evaluator/NSF. $495,000 (2016-2019)
- Engineering Design for Physical Science/PI/U.S. Department of Education and SDBOR/with SDSU Engineering Faculty. $46,534 (2016-2017)
- Engineering the Future 2015/PI/U.S. Department of Education and SDBOR/with SDSU Engineering Faculty. $49,989 (2015-2016)
- Engineering the Future 2014/PI/ U.S. Department of Education and SDBOR/with SDSU Engineering Faculty. $49,985 (2014-2015)
- Engineering the Future/PI/U.S. Department of Education and SDBOR/with SDSU Engineering Faculty. $49,426 (2012-2013)
