Date of Award:

8-2026

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences

Committee Chair(s)

Hillary Swanson

Committee

Hillary Swanson

Committee

Ha Nguyen

Committee

Jody Clarke-Midura

Committee

LuEttaMae Lawrence

Committee

Lisa Lundgren

Abstract

Science and math literacy is crucial for informed citizenship and economic competitiveness, yet many students leave school without developing the critical thinking skills needed to understand and solve complex issues or pursue STEM careers. This disconnect often stems from traditional teaching methods that emphasize memorization and following steps over authentic reasoning and problem solving. This dissertation addresses this challenge by identifying how teachers in research studies have taught STEM in ways that develop students' ability to think, reason, and problem-solve like real scientists.

By analyzing research on instruction that incorporates modeling, inquiry, and sensemaking, and working directly with teachers, this work reveals how to create classrooms where students actively construct understanding rather than passively receive information. The research demonstrates that engaging students in iterative cycles of articulating ideas, examining evidence, and refining their thinking, leads to deeper conceptual understanding and stronger reasoning skills.

Recognizing that teachers need practical support to implement these approaches, this research demonstrates an innovative method for translating complex educational research into accessible, engaging resources. Through collaborative design with educators, this work produced tools that help teachers transform their instruction to better prepare students for scientific thinking.

The broader impact extends beyond individual classrooms: when students develop genuine scientific reasoning abilities, they become better equipped to engage with societal challenges like climate change, public health decisions, and technological innovation—ultimately contributing to a more scientifically literate society.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

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