Stephen Witzig

faculty

Stephen Witzig, PhD

Associate Professor

STEM Education & Teacher Development

508-910-9030

w{mx~mkDyqewwh2ihy

Liberal Arts 398E

Education

2012University of MissouriPhD in Science Education

Teaching

Programs

Teaching

Courses

This course will introduce students to fundamental problems pertaining to mathematics education that have been instrumental to constitute and define it as a research field The students will be introduced to important ideas in the field and why these ideas are significant in defining the activity of research in mathematics education. The study of how these theoretical and pragmatic problems have been approached by a community of researchers, will help the students to understand, in broad terms, the nature of research in the field and, at the same time, offer a panorama of new areas of inquiry that are being transformed presently, into research programs.

Fundamental conversations and issues related to science education. Exploration of the important historical, social, and philosophical contexts that have, and continue to, define science education research. The study of how theoretical, epistemological, and pragmatic problems have been approached by communities of researchers will help the students understand, in broad terms, the nature of research in science education as well as offer a landscape for potential areas of inquiry and research programs in the field.

Contemporary theories of learning in STEM education. The course helps students understand ways of knowing and how this drives research and applies to research in STEM education. Particular attention will be given to enabling students to situate their research in relevant theoretical frameworks and understand the implications of theoretical frameworks on research design.

STEM curriculum design, development, implementation, and reform. Students will focus on analyzing grades K-16 curriculum, intentions for students' learning outcomes, associated pedagogical styles and integration. Students will examine existing reform and basal curricula texts, and the development of new activities and activity structures that replace or transform existing texts based upon present STEM education theory and new technologies. Students will also be introduced to issues behind curricula reform and integration focusing on fidelity of implementation.

An internship conducted at a local research institution, the Kaput Center or at an institution out of state or internationally. Students will be mentored by an adjunct research associate at the host institute to develop their research skills in the field including data collection and analysis, and enhancing their awareness of the complexities of educational research.

Focuses on developing the dissertation proposal, including conducting a full literature review, identifying the theoretical perspectives and relevant research framing the proposed dissertation research, a clear statement of the research questions and significance of the problem, a description of the research methods and design, and a work plan that identifies how data will be collected and analyzed.

Focuses on developing the dissertation proposal, including conducting a full literature review, identifying the theoretical perspectives and relevant research framing the proposed dissertation research, a clear statement of the research questions and significance of the problem, a description of the research methods and design, and a work plan that identifies how data will be collected and analyzed.

Focuses on developing the dissertation proposal, including conducting a full literature review, identifying the theoretical perspectives and relevant research framing the proposed dissertation research, a clear statement of the research questions and significance of the problem, a description of the research methods and design, and a work plan that identifies how data will be collected and analyzed.

Focuses on developing the dissertation proposal, including conducting a full literature review, identifying the theoretical perspectives and relevant research framing the proposed dissertation research, a clear statement of the research questions and significance of the problem, a description of the research methods and design, and a work plan that identifies how data will be collected and analyzed.

Teaching

Online and Continuing Education Courses

The use of current techniques and materials in science in grades 5-9. Using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem-solving and reasoning. General science concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks. This course satisfies state initial license instructional methods requirements.

A content/methods course designed to integrate four important aspects of teaching science in the school: becoming a reflective practitioner, gaining knowledge of oneself as a learner of science, gaining knowledge of oneself as a teacher of science, and gaining knowledge of children. This course prepares one to craft a science teaching practice that reflects current educational research, philosophies, and methodologies. DOE Subject Matter Knowledge Requirements are developed via class articles and learning experience and extension assignments. Educators will implement, evaluate, and reflect on instructional strategies unique to high school science teaching.

Research

Research awards

  • $ 599,926 awarded by National Science Foundation for Connecting Undergraduates to Biodiversity Instruction through Citizen Science (CUBICS)
  • $ 13,000 awarded by Lloyd Center for the Environment, Inc. for Lloyd Center-STEM Education PhD Fellowship Program

Research

Research interests

  • Development of teachers’ specialized knowledge for teaching science
  • Socioscientific issues based education
  • Informal science contexts & field based teaching/learning
  • Scientific practices & formative assessment in science

Select publications

  • Sickel, A. J. & Witzig, S. B., (Eds.) (2017).
    Designing and teaching the secondary science methods course: An international perspective

  • Witzig, S. B., Halverson, K. L., Siegel, M. A., & Freyermuth, S. K. (2013).
    The interface of opinion, evaluation, and understanding while learning about a socioscientific issue
    International Journal of Science Education, 35(15), 2483-2507.
  • Witzig, S. B., Freyermuth, S. K., Siegel, M. A., Izci, K., & Pires, J. C. (2013).
    Is DNA alive? A study of conceptual change through targeted instruction
    Research in Science Education, 43(4), 1361-1375.

Dr. Witzig holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Missouri. He joined the UMass Dartmouth faculty in 2012 and teaches courses in both the Ph.D. program in STEM Education as well in the Masters of Arts in Teaching programs. Stephen’s research focuses on the development of teachers’ specialized knowledge for teaching science, scientific practices, and bridging research relationships among scientists, classroom teachers, and science teacher educators. His work focuses on the sources of teachers’ content and pedagogical knowledge, how experience shapes knowledge, socioscientific issues based education, qualitative methods in science education, and areas of student learning including the roles of students and teachers in learning science. He has published his work in the International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Journal of College Science Teaching, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, among others and has a co-edited book entitled Designing and Teaching the Secondary Science Methods Course: An International Perspective.