Good teachers have always systematically looked at the effects of their teaching on student learning.

Gregory Mills (2007, p. 13)

Action Research is a valuable part of the Science Education program at both the graduate and undergraduate level.  Students in Science Capstone (EXPS 420) and Science Education Action Research (EXPS 520) complete an action research project in a school classroom.  They collect data, plan and implement a course of action with school students and determine if their actions were effective.  The projects are compiled into a formal written report and presented to a variety of audiences.

Several undergraduate projects have been selected for presentation at the Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum (MURF) held in Lansing, MI.

Chick, K., Rzemien, C. & Selameh, F.  "Using models to address student misconceptions about food chains and webs." Presented March 28, 2007. Faculty advisor-Dr. Susan Everett

Crunk, K. & Currado, C. "Addressing elementary students' misconceptions about magnetism." Presented May 20, 2008. Faculty advisor-Dr. Susan Everett

Kessell, E., O'Malley, K., & Piechocki, J. "Evaporation: An action research project." Presented March 23, 2005.  Faculty advisor-Dr. Susan Everett

Spada, K., Hopper, M. & Popovski, G. "Teaching the particulate model of matter effectively." Presented May 20, 2008. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Woo-Lee, R., Hamadi, M. & Neimiec, T. "Investigating the impact of inquiry teaching on elementary students' knowledge on sedimentary rocks and erosion." Presented March, 2006. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Several groups of students have presented their action research projects at the annual Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference.

Ahmed, S., Brevik, E. & Mohamed, H. "Action research report: The water cycle." Presented May, 2004. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Calhoun, B. & Koszela, J. "Relative size of the Sun, Earth and Moon." Presented May, 2005.

Fisher, P. & Hayden, M. "Dinosaurs big and small, an action research project." Presented May, 2004. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Gilbert, K. & Beckstrom, A. "Kindergartners’ misconceptions about scale." Presented May, 2003. Faculty advisors-Dr. Gail Luera and Judy Nesmith

Golembiewski, C. & London, C. "Action research on the Earth-Sun-Moon system."Presented May, 2005. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Guichard-Wojcik, M., Daly,  C. & Silmi, A. "Action research project: The effects of inquiry-based science lessons on kindergarten students' knowledge of characteristics of life." Presented May, 2005. Faculty advisors-Dr. Gail Luera and Dr. Charlotte Otto

Mason, H., Borwn-Struthers, S. & Clancy, H. "Magnet misconceptions." Presented May, 2003. Faculty advisors-Dr. Gail Luera and Judy Nesmith

Miller, M., Banks, D. & Guerra-Lawton, B. "Action research project on the human circulatory system." Presented May, 2005. Faculty advisor-Dr. Susan Everett

Popovski, G., Spada, K. & Hopper, M. "Elementary students' understanding of particulate models." Presented May, 2008. Faculty advisor-Dr. Gail Luera

Reynolds, E., Brown, D. & Sauve, L. "Using Models to Correct Misconceptions about Plate Tectonics." Presented May, 2005. Faculty advisors-Dr. Gail Luera and Dr. Charlotte Otto