Education Research Lab

Earth Sciences Education Research Lab

Principal Investigator (PI)
Students
Our research
Lab details
Work with us

Our research group uses science learning theories and frameworks, and social science mixed methods of research to study various aspects of Earth Sciences (Geoscience) education, learning, and teaching methods. Our goal is to generate empirical knowledge that can inform and improve educational practices and outcomes. We design and carry out studies to investigate a wide range of Earth Science education research questions including examining the effectiveness of teaching and learning methods, assessing the impact of educational interventions and outcomes, and workforce preparation.

Please reach out to snyarko@iu.edu if you are interested in joining our lab or want to know more about our work.

Principal Investigator (PI)

Dr. Samuel (Sammy) Cornelius Nyarko
Assistant Professor

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I am an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and the PI for the Earth Sciences Education Research Lab at IUI. Aside researching how people learn and effective practices of teaching in the Earth Sciences, I love watching soccer and following local news from my home country, Ghana. I am an associate editor for the Journal of Geoscience education, and the 2022 outstanding reviewer for the Journal of Geoscience Education. I am also the past chair of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee.

Students

Grace Gasaway
Undergraduate student

Research: Inclusion of Women in Geoscience

I'm currently pursuing my B.S. in Geology with a special interest in science programming, education, outreach, and public interpretation. I am passionate about making the geosciences more inclusive, particularly by advocating for women in the field. Beyond my academic endeavors, I serve as an OTEAM mentor for first-year science students, White River Alliance R.A.F.T. volunteer, and a member of the Association for Women Geoscientists. I hold the position of Director of IUI School Spirit. On weekends, you'll often find me either cheering from the sidelines of a soccer game or unwinding in a coffee shop downtown.

Morgan Perry
Undergraduate student

Research: Effective community engagement practices and sustainability education

Hello, I'm Morgan Perry, and I'm passionate about the environment and its ties to society. Currently an honors student at IUI, I'm majoring in Environmental Management and minoring in Geology. My journey involves delving into the intricate relationships between humans and nature. When I'm not here at IUI, I'm hitting the road – I absolutely love traveling and using those experiences to broaden my horizons. Exploring new cultures also means trying new foods, and you'll often find me on a culinary adventure. What truly drives me is understanding how our actions impact the world around us. I'm fascinated by the connections between our choices and the environment, and I'm excited to contribute to sustainable practices.

Lean Hong Tan
Undergraduate student

Research: Effective community engagement practices and sustainability education

My interest is in promoting the use of green energy and technology among historically minoritized groups. I am originally from Cambodia, and I love hiking and driving.

Research

Students understanding of what Earth Sciences is, how we do Earth Science work, and issues related to our work as Earth Scientists has the potential to motivate students learning and interest in the field. We study how nature of Earth Science issues can be incorporated into courses to foster the teaching and learning of our field as a practice and human endeavor.

To learn more about this research, see our publications below:

Nyarko, S. C., & Rudge, D. W. (2022). Using the history of plate tectonics to teach the nature of science. International Journal of Science Education, 44(12), 1958-1977.
Orr, I. & Nyarko, S. C. (2022). Historical and Reflective Narratives for Creating Awareness About the Influence of Society and Culture in Geosciences. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 54, No. 5, 2022.

Teamwork is both an essential workforce skill and learning tool for the Earth and Environment Science community. We explore the best teamwork engagement practices that help students develop effective teamwork process skills to prepare them for team learning and the workforce.

To learn more about this research, see our publications below:

Nyarko, S. C. & Petcovic, H. L., (2023). Essential Teamwork Skills: Perspectives of Environmental Geoscience Employers. Journal of Geoscience Education, 71(1), 20-32.
Nyarko, S. C., & Petcovic, H. L. (2023). Do students develop teamwork skills during geoscience fieldwork? A case study of a hydrogeology field course. Journal of Geoscience Education, 71(2), 145-157.
Nyarko, S. C. & Petcovic, H. L. (2022). An IPO Teamwork Theory for Geoscience Education Research. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 54, No. 5, 2022.

Creating inclusive department and classroom practices help students develop a sense of belonging and interest in the learning process and also help them develop their confidence and identity in science. We combine inclusion frameworks and social learning theories to understand the processes of building inclusive geoscience departments, courses and classrooms.

To learn more about this research, see our publications below:

Fortner, S., Manduca, C., Ali, H., Saup, C. M., Nyarko, S. C., Othus-Gault, S., Perera, V., Tong, V. C. H., Gold, A., Furman, T., et al. (2022). Geoscience Education Perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science. Earth and Space Science Open Archive, 1-13.
Perera, V., Othus-Gault, S., Fortner, S., *Nyarko, S. C., Tong, V., & Johnson, E. (2022). ICON Framework for Promoting Equity and Justice in Geoscience Education. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 54, No. 5, 2022.

Instructional approaches that effectively help students develop accurate knowledge about climate change and climate related concepts are needed, especially in Africa. We assess and understand the range of conceptions held by teachers and students, and design and evaluate instructional and learning interventions.

To learn more about this research, see our publications below:

Nyarko, S. C., & Petcovic, H. L., (2021). Ghanaian preservice science teachers’ knowledge of ozone depletion and climate change, and sources of their knowledge, International Journal of Science Education, 43(10), 1554-1575.
Nyarko, S.C. (2023). Climate Change Education in Africa: The Role of Climate Literate Teachers. Chapman Conference on Climate and Health for Africa, America Geophysical Union, Washington DC., June 12-15.

Lab

Our lab is well equipped with the latest science education and social science research technology and equipment.

We have spacious lab space that can accommodate about 8-10 in-person people at a time, video and audio recorders, webcams, online conferencing tools, Qualtrics, and others for conducting individual and group surveys, retrospective and cognitive interviews, focus groups, interactive group interviews, and observations.

All our lab computers are equipped with the latest versions of SPSS, R, and NVivo for quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

Work with us

We are currently recruiting graduate and undergraduate students, and postdoc for Fall 2024 and beyond.

We are also interested in hosting STEM education researchers and postdocs, providing professional development for college and K-12 science teachers, and collaborate.

Please contact snyarko@iu.edu for more information.

Education Research Lab

Earth Sciences Education Research Lab

Principal Investigator (PI)

Students

Research

Nature of Geoscience

Teamwork Process Skills

Inclusion

Climate Change Education

Lab

Work with us