Science project
Katherine McNeill, assistant professor of education
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Specialization: Science education
Representative publication: “Supporting Students’ Construction of
Scientific Explanations by Facing Scaffolds in Instructional Materials,” Journal of the
Learning Sciences
I am interested in helping K-12 students with diverse backgrounds
develop scientific literacy. All individuals need knowledge of scientific concepts and inquiry
practices to participate in our current society. People are confronted with scientific issues every
day when they turn on the television, read magazines, or pick up a product in a store. They need to
evaluate information provided to them to determine whether the claims are valid. My research focuses
on designing and studying curriculum materials and teacher instructional practices that help
students, particularly those in urban areas, learn scientific inquiry or reasoning abilities.
When I was an undergraduate, I volunteered to work with local urban
schools. I had not planned on teaching, but I loved working with the students. Consequently, after
my undergraduate degree, I decided to teach middle school science. Being a middle school teacher
made me realize how few good resources are available for science teachers. The goal of my current
work is to help provide those resources to teachers and make science fun and engaging for all
students.