Associate Provost at University of Utah, United States
Prof. Dr. Nancy Songer is a distinguished academic and leader in the field of STEM education. She is currently serving as the Associate Provost of STEM Education at the University of Utah. With an extensive career in higher education, Dr. Songer has held various leadership roles, including Dean of the College of Education at the University of Utah and Distinguished University Professor at Drexel University. Her research focuses on science education, learning technologies, and STEM reform, and she has secured substantial funding for projects aimed at improving science education at the K-12 level. Dr. Songer has been recognized for her contributions to STEM education, including being elected a Fellow of the International Society of the Learning Sciences and receiving the AAAS Women in STEM Superhero award. Her work has shaped educational policies and practices, both in the U.S. and internationally.
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Education 🎓
Prof. Dr. Nancy Songer holds a Ph.D. in Science Education and Learning Technologies from the University of California, Berkeley, which she completed in 1989 under the guidance of Dr. Marcia Linn. She also earned a Master of Science (M.S.) in Molecular/Developmental Biology from Tufts University in 1985 and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in 1981. Her diverse educational background has provided a strong foundation for her impactful work in STEM education, particularly in science and engineering instruction.
Experience 💼
Prof. Dr. Nancy Songer has an extensive and distinguished career in STEM education. She currently serves as the Associate Provost of STEM Education at the University of Utah, a role she has held since 2023. Prior to this, Dr. Songer was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Utah from 2020 to 2023. She has also held the position of Distinguished University Professor at Drexel University from 2018 to 2020 and served as Dean of the School of Education at Drexel University from 2014 to 2018. From 2004 to 2014, she was a Professor of Science Education and Learning Technologies at the University of Michigan’s School of Education, where she also directed the Center for Essential Science. Throughout her career, Dr. Songer has contributed significantly to advancing educational policies and practices, particularly in the areas of STEM education and teacher development.
Research Interests 🔍
Prof. Dr. Nancy Songer’s research interests lie at the intersection of science education, learning technologies, and STEM reform. Her work focuses on improving instructional practices in science and engineering education, particularly through iterative instructional models that integrate inquiry-based learning and design thinking. Dr. Songer is also dedicated to enhancing STEM teacher education and addressing the challenges of preparing students for a rapidly changing world, especially in the context of big data and emerging technologies. Her research aims to create equitable learning opportunities by examining and developing effective STEM instructional materials and assessment strategies that support diverse student populations. Additionally, Dr. Songer has a keen interest in global STEM education reform, as evidenced by her international work, such as the USAID Egypt STEM Teacher Education and School Strengthening Activity.
Publications Top Notes 📚
Title: Are Good Texts Always Better? Interactions of Text Coherence, Background Knowledge, and Levels of Understanding in Learning from Text
- Authors: DS McNamara, E Kintsch, NB Songer, W Kintsch
- Journal: Cognition and Instruction
- Volume: 14
- Issue: 1
- Pages: 1-43
- Cited by: 2438
- Year: 1996
Title: How Do Students’ Views of Science Influence Knowledge Integration?
- Authors: NB Songer, MC Linn
- Journal: Journal of Research in Science Teaching
- Volume: 28
- Issue: 9
- Pages: 761-784
- Cited by: 898
- Year: 1991
Title: Student Motivation and Internet Technology: Are Students Empowered to Learn Science?
- Authors: M Mistler‐Jackson, N Butler Songer
- Journal: Journal of Research in Science Teaching
- Cited by: 382
- Year: 2000
Title: Technology‐Rich Inquiry Science in Urban Classrooms: What Are the Barriers to Inquiry Pedagogy?
- Authors: NB Songer, HS Lee, R Kam
- Journal: Journal of Research in Science Teaching
- Cited by: 350
- Year: 2002
Title: Teaching Thermodynamics to Middle School Students: What Are Appropriate Cognitive Demands?
- Authors: MC Linn, NB Songer
- Journal: Journal of Research in Science Teaching
- Volume: 28
- Issue: 10
- Pages: 885-918
- Cited by: 327
- Year: 1991
Conclusion
Prof. Dr. Nancy Songer’s extensive contributions to STEM education, her leadership in educational reform, her prestigious awards and honors, and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of scholars make her an outstanding candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her work continues to make a lasting impact on science education globally.