Michael Robinson, Ph.D.
Department Chair
Professor
Secondary Science Education
(775) 682-7531
E-mail: robinson@unr.edu
A Short Biography
Michael's main research interests focus on students' science learning in the context of technology and society as advocated by the Science, Technology and Society (STS) movement. Recent work has concentrated on training in service and pre service science teachers to infuse engineering principles and design into their existing science courses. He has had several grants over the past several years that supported teaching training in using Robolab or programmable robot cars to teach Middle School physical science to underserved students. The local school district is about 25% LEP students and better ways of reaching these students in science with the prospect of more of them taking upper level science and mathematics course and pursuing careers in STEM is one of the main goals of the project.
Michael also has a strong interest in international and comparative science education and he will be on a Fulbright to Uganda in the spring semester of 2005. He had a Fulbright to Poland in the spring of 1994. While in Uganda, he will work with Ugandan pre service and in-service secondary science teachers and do research on the Ugandan secondary educational system. Before coming to higher education, much of his educational career was spent as a secondary science teacher and secondary principal in and outside the US in overseas American schools.
Educational Background
- Ph.D. - 1986, University of Maryland, College Park Campus
- M.Ed. - 1974, University of Maryland, College Park Campus
- B.A. - 1965, University of Texas, Austin Campus
Specialty Areas
Secondary science education; comparative science education; science, technology and society.
Current Teaching
Michael teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in science education and the secondary curriculum. Recent courses he has taught include:
- CTL 463/663: Teaching Secondary School Science
- CTL 469/669: Methods of Teaching Environmental Science
- CTL 746: The Secondary School Curriculum
- CTL 644: Curriculum Development in Science, and
- EDU 203: Introductory Secondary Education.
Representative Publications
Robinson, M. (2004). Robotic-Driven Activities: Can They Improve Middle School Science Learning? Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society. 25(6): 1-12.
Robinson, M., Fadali, S., Malisa, M. Johnson, W., Batchman, T. (2003). AP mathematics and science courses as a gateway to careers in engineering.33rd ASSEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Boulder, Colorado, November 5-8.
Ndura, E., Robinson, M., Ochs, G. (2003). Minority students in high school advanced Placement courses: Opportunity and equity denied. American Secondary Education. Fall, 32(1): 21-38.
Robinson, M. (2003). Student enrollments in high school AP sciences and calculus: How does it correlate with STEM careers? Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society. August, 23(4): 265-274.
Tatar, D., and Robinson, M. (2003). Use of the digital camera to increase student interest And learning in high school biology. Journal of Science Education and Technology. 12(2): 89-95; June 2003.
Robinson, M., Fadali, M., Ochs,G. (2002). AP classes and their impact on engineering education. Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada, June, Session #2002-195.
Robinson, M., Fadali, M., Ochs, G., and Quinn, R. (2002). How do high school mathematics and science teachers cover engineering and technology? 32nd ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Proceedings, Boston, MA, November.*
Robinson, M., Crowther, D. (2001). Environmental science literacy in science education, biology and chemistry majors. The American Biology Teacher, 63(1): 9-14.
Cantrell, P., Robinson, M. (2001). How do 4th through 12th grade science textbooks address applications in engineering and technology? Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 22(1): 31-41.
Robinson, M. (2000). "Polish-American cooperation in energy efficiency from 1992-2000 and beyond." Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences. 2.2000: 68-76.
Robinson, M. and Bowen, W. (2000). "Global environmental priorities of engineering students in Krakow, Poland". Electronic Journal of Science, Vol. 5, No. 1, September.
Robinson, M. and Kaleta, Piotr. (1999). Global environmental priorities of secondary students in Zabrze, Poland. International Journal of Science Education. 21(5): 499-514.
Robinson, M. and Fadali, M. (1998). A model to promote the study of engineering through a capstone course for pre service science and mathematics teachers. Frontiers in Education Proceedings. p. 166-1171. November 4-7, Tempe, AZ. American Society of Electrical Engineers.
Robinson, M. (1998). Comparing environmental science literacy among educators and a national sample. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society. 18(4): 240-246. Calendar.