Biology Educator,

Dept. of Biological Sciences

& OSME The Office of Science and Math Education

  Other SIUE Related Links                                      SIUEnvironment (an interactive website to promote environmental awareness and action in the SIUE community) 

The Illinois Professional Teaching Standards - Standards the university uses in teacher education

These standards can be found on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at http://www.isbe.state.il.us/profprep/pcstandardrules.htm

Certification Science Requirments for Certification in Secondary Education in Biology (6-12)
Frequently Asked Questions about the Biology Education Program
Undergraduate Curriculum Guide of Courses 

1. Environmental Education Program (Environmental Science)
                   Environmental Science (ENSC) Home Page       
     Laura Schmidt Project:  Assessment of River Content of Illinois Secondary Schools Situated along the Missisippi River


2. Master of Science Degree in Biology  This is a science degree with emphasis on science/environmental education with Dr. AbuSharbain. Dr. Kelly Barry also has taken on graduate students in biology education.


    Current Graduates:
        Kathleen Miller: Content Analysis of community college and 4 year college course description for indicators of research experience.
        Richard Brown:  Inservice Science Teachers opinions about teaching out-of-field science courses.
        Connie Shook:  The effect of time spent alone at nature reserves on students' attitudes about biology.
        Cynthis Bittle:  Effect of Service Learning in Science classes on students sociocultural development.
        Bryne Emerick:  No topic yet.
        Kim Mines:  Analysis of Community College Biology Faculty Opinions About Teaching Evolution and Creationism.
        Dan Pettus:  Advanced Environmental Science and Policy for High School Juniors and Seniors:  Curriculum Development and Implementation

3. Master of Science Degree in Secondary Education - Biology ( M.S. in Ed.) This is an Education Degree.  Students take courses in the School of Education and 15 credits in     Biology.  There would be two advisors - one in Curriculum and Instruction and one in Biology. This is a degree for those who are certified.

       Current Graduates:
        Johnathan Allison - Teaching DNA, mitosis and meiosis in an integrated unit focused on a cancer case study.
        Lisa Shaw - Teaching the controversy: creationism and evolution in the biology classroom.
        Melissa Montgommery - No topic yet.
        Mike Berardi - No topic yet.


Quick Guide to the Three Graduate Degrees popular with Biology Teachers

Rainforest Service Learning for Educators:  A Project and a Course

Wetlands and Watersheds Education

Oak Savannah Restoration at SIUE Gardens

Spring Ephemerals found in Madison County


  Bookmarks for Teachers

Schoolyard Laboratory  Biology 590 or Science 435
          The Schoolyard Laboratory:  Curriculum & Implementation

Rainforest Service Learning Course (Costa Rica)

Syllabus Biology 494 (Fall only)Methods Teaching Biology"
              Sites for lesson plans
Science 341, "Foundations of Science" I am not teaching this right now.
ENVS 580 or Biol 567, "Environmental Education"

Other Information  about Dr. AbuSharbain

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Computer Based Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois on August 1992.  Dissertation titled:  Gender Bias in Educational Software:  A Gender Role Analysis of the Best Math and Science Software Simulations.  G.P.A. 3.92/4.0.

Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Science/Environmental Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois on August 1987. Thesis “Relationship between Socio-Moral Reasoning and Environmental Education in civic groups and environmental groups”

Secondary Science Teacher Certification in Biology, 1986.

B.S. Zoology, minor in Botany, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL, December, 1980.

Professional Experience

7/03 to present Associate Professor, Biology Educator, Department of Biological Sciences, Serving the Office of Science and Math Education, SIUE and serving as faculty for the Master of Science in Environmental Science Program, Environmental Education track. Director of Secondary Education Biology Certification

8/97-6/03 Assistant Professor, Biology Educator, Department of Biological Sciences, Serving the Office of Science and Math Education, SIUE and serving as faculty for the Master of Science in Environmental Science Program, Environmental Education track.

8/93-7/97 Biology Educator, Instructor, Department of Biological Sciences, Serving with Office of Science and Math Education, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

8/91-12/92  Instructor, Math and Science Department, John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL.

1/91-5/91  Instructor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) Course titled, “Applications of Computers for Teachers." CI483

Reviewer

Journal on Excellence in College Teaching,

International Journal of Science Education.

 Publications

Abusharbain, E (2005).  The Effect of the Action Research and Community Problem Solving Model on Graduate service Teachers and Environmental Educators. North American Association of Environmental Education, published 2005 conference proceedings.

Abusharbain, E (2004).  Environmental Education Infusion in the Secondary Science Methods Course.  North American Association of Environmental Education, published 2004, conference proceedings.

Abusharbain, E. and Schneider, M. (2002, Sept.). Enhancing Inservice Teacher's Constructivist Epistemology through the Development and Redesign of Inquiry-based Investigations together with their Students. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 7(1), Sept. 2002

Professional Service Outside of SIUE

Meeting of the Rivers Foundation, Board Member, Presently.

Watershed Nature Center Board member, 1997-2004.

Children’s Museum of Edwardsville Board, 2005- Present.

Review Team for Independent School Districts of Missouri

EEAI Project www.illinoisee.org regional database manager for 16 counties (Environmental Education Professional Development Opportunities Serarchable database)

Professional Memberships North American Association of Environmental Education, since 1993; Environmental Education Association of Illinois, since 1992; Illinois State Academy of Science, 1986-7 and since 1993; National Science Teachers Association, since 1994; National Association of Biology Teachers, 1993; Phi Delta Kappa, since, 1989. Vice President 90-91; Phi Kappa Phi, since 1989; Sigma Xi

Funded Grants

1. National Great Rivers Research and Eduation Center, Research on Engaging Local Schools in the Upper Mississippi River
   Curriculum, Student Fellowship, $5143.
   
2. PI Meridian Society, $5000, Enhancing Relationship with East St. Louis Students with attendance to SIUE’s Science Camp (July 18 – 29, 2005)
3. CO-PI Meridian Society, $2500, “Increasing Native Plant Diversity and Kiosk Addition in the SIUE Donal Myer Arboretum”  Co-PI with Dr. Esselman” April 23, 2004.
4. TIE INS, Technology Inquiry, Environment – Investigation and Nature in Science, Eisenhower Professional Development Funds, July 2002, $43,050.
5. Removal of Exotic Species at the Watershed Nature Center Preserve: Phase II, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, American Bottoms Partnership, $7000, Feb. 2001.
6. Removal of Exotic Species at the Watershed Nature Center Preserve, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, American Bottoms Partnership, $5700, Feb. 2000.
7. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Habitat Fund, Establishment of a 2 acre oak-savanna prairie at the Meyer Arboretum, $2000, Jan. 2000.
8. Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Special Project Proposal - Seeding 2 2-acre prairies at the Watershed Nature Center Preserve $999.50.
9. College Arts & Sciences - FDF Biotechnology Education Program for 2 day workshop for High School Teachers, $1400, April 3 &4, 1998.
10. Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA), National Institute of Health, 1994 to 1997 Co-Project Investigator and Evaluation Supervisor, Project title:  “Modern Genetics for All Students.” SEPA awarded to the Science Outreach Office at Washington University, St. Louis.  Evaluation to collect, analyze and report data from three years of implementation of integrated Biotechnology Unit in 4 pilot schools.  $113,000 yearly.

Awarded Contracts

1. Middle School Curriculum Committee, IBHE, Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant, 05/2000-06/2004.
2. External Evaluator ($3000) for Illinois Scientific Literacy Grant (IL State Board Education) Inquiry-Based Science Project Grant Awarded to St. Clair County Regional Office of Education,(60,000 for 2001)
3. External Evaluator ($3600) for Illinois Scientific Literacy Grant (ISBE) , COILS: Connecting Outdoor Instruction to the Illinois Learning Standards. Grant Awarded to St. Clair County Regional Office of Education, 1999-2001 schoolyears,($92,665)

Presentations- Scholarship- selected.

1.    Empowering Students in Environmental Education, The Great Turning: Education, Leadership and Activism for a Life Sustaining Civilization, Sponsored by Audubon Expedition Institute of Lesley University, October 17-20, 2007, Geneva Point Conference Center, Moultonboro, NH.
2.      NSTA St. Louis, Geese in Cougar Lake, March 2007
3.      “Action Research and Community Problem Solving” SIUE CAS Colloquium –Thinking about the Environment, April 2007
4.      Environmental Education Association of Illinois State Conference, Pere Marquette State Park, May 5^th, 11:00  - 11:50. Action Research in Environmental Education.
5.      Enhancing learning in large lecture courses, St. Louis University, Nov. 2006.
6.      “Energy Resources”, March 22, 2006 Greater Explorations, SIUE.
7.      Illinois Renewable Natural Resources Conference, Peoria, IL March 7-10, 2001 “Teaching Teachers How to Incorporate Natural Areas in Their Schoolyard”
8.      NSTA Presentation “Schoolyard Investigations that Work On the Web”, St. Louis, MO., March 23^rd, 2001
9.      North American Association Environmental Education, “Environmental Literacy in Large Classes at the University", Oct 17- 22^nd, 2000, South Padre Island Texas.
10.  National Association of Biology Teachers “Results of a 3 year study of the effects of hands-on training in genetics and biotechnology”, Reno, Nevada. Nov 4-6. 1998,
11.  Lilly Conference on Teaching at Athens, Georgia, 1997 titled “A Truly Interdisciplinary Course on Living Ecologically.”

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