Drawn to Science Education: Studying Science Teaching and Learning through Drawings

Deborah Roberts-Harris

Experience and Honors:
  • Fifth grade teacher, Queen Creek, AZ
  • Member of the National Research Council’s Committee on Science Learning, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade
  • K-8 Science Specialist, Maryland State Department of Education
  • Teacher of science and mathematics; grades 1-8
  • Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning K-12 Scholar; 2001
  • Presented research findings at conferences of the American Educational Research Association, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, the National Science Teachers Association

Views on the Teaching and Learning of Science:
  • Learning environments should provide opportunities for students to act/think like scientists
  • Educators should strive to develop integrated curricula around core concepts. Making science more integrated (less fragmented) helps students make connections between concepts and makes learning more meaningful
  • Students should be actively engaged while learning science. The science classroom should not only encourage hands-on experiences, but also group discussions and debates among peers.