Pamela Cantrell
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Specialties
Director, Raggio Research Center for STEM Education
College of Education
University of Nevada , Reno
Professional Preparation
Brigham Young University, Elementary Education B.A. 1965
Southern Utah University, Secondary Science Education M.Ed. 1998
University of Wyoming, Curriculum & Instruction Ph.D. 2000 (Science Education)
Appointments
2002-present Director of the Raggio Research Center for STEM Education, College of Education , University of Nevada, Reno
2000-present Assistant Professor of Science and Mathematics Education, University of Nevada , Reno
1998-2000 Graduate Assistant, College of Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
1965-1998. K-12 teacher in three states and seven school districts. Experience included self-contained elementary classrooms, middle school math and science, and 6-12 special education.
Publications: most closely related to this proposal
Cantrell, P. (2005). The effects of an integrated technology component on student learning in middle school science classrooms: Year one. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada.
Cantrell, P., Peckan, G., Itani, A., & Velasquez-Bryant, N. (In Press). Using engineering design curriculum to close science achievement gaps for middle school students. Paper to be presented at the Frontiers in Education, Indiannapolis, IN.
Cantrell, P., Young, S. & Moore, A. D. (2003) Factors affecting the science teaching efficacy of preservice teachers. Journal of Science Teacher Education 14 (3), 177-192 .
Cantrell, P. (2003) Retrospective vs. traditional pretests for measuring science teaching efficacy beliefs in preservice teachers. School Science and Mathematics, 103 (4).
Cantrell, P. & Robinson, M. (2002). How do 4 th through 12th grade science textbooks address applications in engineering and technology? Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 22 (1), 31-41.
Publications: other
Cantrell, P., Knudson, M. (In press) Enhancing science inquiry in an outdoor classroom using a wireless network: NERDS (Nevada Educators Really Doing Science). Computers in the Schools
Cantrell, P. (2004) The Nebula Teaching and Learning Community: A framework for professional development in science education . Paper presented at the Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Custer , SD.
Cantrell, P., Stepans, J. & Gaston, J. (2002) Forming a three-way partnership. Journal of Staff Development, 23 (3), 35-38.
Young, S., Cantrell, P., & Shaw, D. (2001) Online instruction: New roles for teachers and students. Academic Exchange Quarterly 5 (4), 11-16.
Young, S, Cantrell, P. P., Bryant, C. J., Archer, L. H., Roberts, C. G., & Paradise, E. E. (2000). The State of Technology in University Teacher Preparation and Public Schools in Wyoming . Teaching and Change, 8 (1), 134-144.
Synergistic Activities
• i. Director of the Raggio Research Center for STEM Education with 30 Core Faculty members from the Colleges of Engineering, Science and Education with focus on attracting underrepresented groups into STEM disciplines.
• ii. PI and director of curriculum development project for engineering education modules for 7 th -8 th grade science classrooms. Development of the Triangulated Learning Model to accompany engineering modules—makes use of Web-based learning environment. NSF #0341925
• iii. Member, Faculty Steering Committee for University of Nevada , Reno Academy for the Environment
• iv. Member, Faculty Steering Committee for Fleishman Planetarium and Science Center .
• v. Evaluator for LearningLinks, the PT3 $1 million grant awarded to the University of Nevada , Reno (UNR) in 2000.
• vi. PI and director of Rural Science Teachers Teaching with Technology, a professional development program to assist teachers in integrating current technology into their science teaching.
• vii. Co-director of Nevada Educators Really Doing Science (NERDS), a summer professional development field experience in science inquiry for teachers. The project is a partnership with Nevada Department of Education and 4 Nevada school districts.
Collaborators (Last 48 months)
• i. Batchman, Ted , Dean of Engineering, University of Nevada , Reno
• ii. Crippen, Kent, Ph.D. College of Education , University of Nevada , Las Vegas
• iii. Ewing-Taylor, Jacque, M.S. College of Education, University of Nevada , Reno
• iv. Itani, Ahmad, Ph.D. College of Engineering , University of Nevada , Reno
• v. Knudson, Mark S., Technology Coordinator, Nevada Department of Education
• vi. Moore , Alan, Ph.D. College of Education , University of Wyoming
• vii. Pekcan, Gokhan, Ph.D. College of Engineering , University of Nevada , Reno .
• viii. Publicover, Nelson, Ph.D. College of Engineering , University of Nevada , Reno .
• ix. Smith, Ken, Ph.D. College of Science , University of Nevada , Reno
• x. Snelson, Catherine ,Ph.D. College of Science , University of Nevada , Las Vegas
• xi. Sparkman, William, Dean, College of Education , University of Nevada , Reno
• xii. Stepans, Joseph I., Ph.D. Professor of Science Education, University of Wyoming .
• xiii. Sutko, John, Ph.D. College of Medicine , University of Nevada , Reno
• xiv. Taylor , Danny,Ph.D. College of Science, University of Nevada , Reno
• xv. Velasquez-Bryant, Norma, Ph.D. College of Education, University of Nevada , Reno
• xvi. Vineyard, Richard, Ph.D. Science Consultant, Nevada Department of Education
• xvii. Young, Suzanne,Ph.D. College of Education , University of Wyoming
Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors
• Joseph I. Stepans, Ph.D. University of Wyoming
Thesis Advisor and Postgraduate Scholar Sponsor
• i. Laura Dick , Ph.D. in progress, science education, University of Nevada , Reno
• ii. Selcuk Ozidmir, Ph.D. in progress, science and technology education, University of Nevada , Reno
• iii. Tiffany Miller , Ph.D.. in progress, science education, University of Nevada , Reno
• iv. Michael Leverington, Ph.D. in progress, focus in cross-disciplinary problem solving, University of Nevada, Reno