Jennifer Dechaine

Science Education, Science Ed

Central Washington University

I hold a 50/50 Professor appointment in Science and Mathematics Education and Biology at Central Washington University and much of my teaching, research and service integrates both subjects.

I have taught a diverse array of courses, including elementary science teaching methods, science communication, introductory biology for majors and nonmajors, and introductory and advanced evolution. For SERC, I have been primarily involved in developing a curriculum module for elementary science teaching methods for the InTeGrate project: Soils, Systems, and Society.

I hold a Ph. D in Plant Biology from University of Minnesota, and my biology research focuses on the evolutionary ecology and genetics of how plants respond to environmental stress. More about my research can be found on my website.

I am also involved in various projects advancing undergraduate STEM and STEM teaching education, supporting science education outreach to the community and K-12 schools, and providing professional development in teaching.

Website Contributor

Website Content Contributions

Course Modules (5), Other Contribution (1)

Course Modules (5)

Unit 1: Introduction to Soils and Society part of Soils, Systems, and Society
In this unit, students engage in a scaffolded class discussion designed to encourage students to move from a broad focus on science relevancy to locally important societal issues relevant to soils. They then relate ...

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Unit 3: Soil Investigation and Classification part of Soils, Systems, and Society
In this unit, students work in small groups to collect and record data about soils using various soil testing and classification methods at a series of stations. The methods they use are relevant to the societal ...

Unit 2: Mapping Patterns part of Soils, Systems, and Society
In this unit, students work in small groups to examine and analyze spatial data relevant to soils to identify patterns. They use their analyses to add detail to their Earth systems concept maps and describe how ...

Unit 4: Soils, Systems and Society Kit Presentation part of Soils, Systems, and Society
In this unit, students construct and present a standards-based, K–8 Soils, Systems, and Society Kit that consists of lessons and supporting materials around a locally and broadly relevant societal issue that ...

Soils, Systems, and Society part of Soils, Systems, and Society
This inquiry based module is designed for use in a preservice K-8 science methods course, but Units 1-3 could easily be modified for other types of courses. The module promotes geoscientific and systems thinking ...

Other Contribution (1)

Assessment of Module Goals part of Soils, Systems, and Society
This webpage is an instructor resource page for the "Soils, Systems, and Society" module, detailing summative and formative assessment strategies, including the "Soils, Systems, and Society Kit" and presentation, with downloadable rubrics and alignment to interdisciplinary, standards-based geoscience education for pre-service K–8 teachers.

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