Gougis, Stomberg and O'Hare - How Do Science Graduate Students Benefit from Conducting Educational Research? - GAUISUS - Scholarship on Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University

How Do Science Graduate Students Benefit from Conducting Educational Research?

Rebekka Darner Gougis
School of Biological Sciences • Illinois State University

Dr. Rebekka Darner Gougis is an Assistant Professor Biology Education in the School of Biological Sciences. The overarching goal of Rebekka’s research is to improve the quality of K-16 science education so that students are able to make science-informed decisions in their daily lives and careers. Rebekka is particularly interested in conceptual change regarding ecological and evolutionary ideas and how motivation mediates the connection between such ideas and everyday decision-making. She finds opportunity to investigate these relationships between conceptual understanding, motivation, and decision-making as Director of BSC 101: Fundamental Concepts of Biology, ISU’s general education introductory biology course.

Janet F. Stomberg
School of Biological Sciences • Illinois State University

Janet Stomberg, Graduate Student, School of Biological Sciences

Alicia T. O'Hare
Department of Geography/Geology • Illinois State University

Alicia T. O’Hare, Graduate Student, School of Biological Sciences

This project engaged two science graduate students as members of an educational research team to examine the progression of their experiences as student-researchers and their ideas about qualitative research. This allows documentation of the progression of science graduate students’ ideas about the nature of qualitative educational research and its value to their future careers. Given these students’ future careers as science faculty and/or industry scientists who could implement informal science programs, they are well positioned to gain substantial benefit from participation in educational research. Their participation provides a unique context in which we can examine how future science educators come to understand the process and value of educational research, particularly qualitative research. This study can inform future studies that examine how to prepare educators in applying educational research to their practice and ultimately strengthen the quality of post-secondary science education.