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College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. Sarah Boesdorfer

Associate Professor, Chemistry Education
Chemistry
Office
JH Julian Hall 220
Office Hours
Wed. 2-4; Thurs. 1-2; Fri. 10:30-11:30 / or by appt.
Office Phone
(309) 438-7905office
phone
Email
sbboesd@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Current Courses

CHE 299.003 Independent Honor Study In Chemistry

CHE 499.003 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

CHE 261.001 Laboratory Methods in Teaching Chemistry

CHE 290.003 Research in Chemistry

CHE 490.003 Research In Chemistry

CHE 302.001 Student Teaching And Professional Seminar

CHE 482.091 Capstone Research Project II

CHE 110.001 Fundamentals Of Chemistry

CHE 299.003 Independent Honor Study In Chemistry

CHE 499.003 Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

CHE 290.003 Research in Chemistry

CHE 490.003 Research In Chemistry

CHE 402.091 Teaching Chemistry In The Laboratory: An Experimental Science

GEO 307.002 Teaching Geography/Earth Science in Middle and High School

CHE 301.001 Teaching of Chemistry

CHE 301.002 Teaching of Chemistry

Teaching Interests & Areas

General Chemistry, Preservice and Inservice Chemistry Teachers

Research Interests & Areas

Learning experiences influence on chemistry teachers' practices,
Incorporation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in high school chemistry classrooms, including its effects on teaching practices and student learning.

EDD

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

MS

University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI

BS

University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign, IL

Book Review

Boesdorfer, S. Review of Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical GuideTeaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide, Richard M. Felder and Rebecca Brent. Jossey-Bass—A Wiley Brand: San Francisco, CA, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-118-92581-2 (hardcover). $45.00.. Journal of Chemical Education 93.10 (2016): 1682-1683.

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2015). Review of Chemistry Education: Best practices, opportunities and trends. Journal of Chemical Education. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00767

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2014). Review of investigating classroom myths through research on teaching and learning. Journal of Chemical Education, 91(4), 470-471.

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2013). Review of making scientists: Six principals to effective science teaching. Journal of Chemical Education, 90(9), 1111-12. 

Journal Article

Boesdorfer, S. B., & Asprey, L. M. (2017). Exploratory Study of the Teaching Practices of Novice Science Teachers Who Participated in Undergraduate Science Education Research. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 21(3).
Boesdorfer, S. B., & Staude, K. D. (2016). Teachers’ Practices in High School Chemistry Just Prior to the Adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards. School Science and Mathematics, 116(8), 442-458.

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2015). Chemistry teachers’ choice of representations as a tool for understanding their orientation toward science teaching. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 19(1), 1-20.

Boesdorfer, S.B., & Greenhalgh, S. (2014).  Make room for engineering: Strategies to overcome anxieties about adding engineering to your curriculum. The Science Teacher, 81(9), 51-55.

Boesdorfer, S.B., & Lorsbach, A. (2014). PCK in action: Examining one chemistry teacher’s practice through the lens of her orientation toward science teaching. International Journal of Science Education. DOI:10.1080/09500693.2014.909959

Presentations

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2017). Could engineering help improving chemistry teachers’ use of reform-based practices in their classrooms? Paper presented at ASTE International Conference 2017, Des Moines, IA.
Boesdorfer, S. B. , & Cler. S. (2016). Standards-based grading in a large general chemistry course. Presented at 24th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Greeley, CO.
Boesdorfer, S.B.& Del Carlo, D. (2016). Crosscutting concepts guiding curricular changes in high school chemistry. Presented at 24th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Greeley, CO.
Del Carlo, D. & Boesdorfer, S.B. (2016). Chemistry as the crosscutting concept for secondary science teacher professional development. Presented at the 251st ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Schafer, A., & Boesdorfer, S.B. (2016) Effect of feedback on academic achievement and self-regulatory skills of high school chemistry students. Poster presentation at 24th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Greeley, CO.
Wayson, J.*, Boesdorfer, S.B., Del Carlo, D. (2016). Impact of research experiences on secondary science teachers’ teaching beliefs and practices. Paper presented at ASTE International Conference 2016, Reno, NV.

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2015). How some high school chemistry teachers are incorporating engineering in their classes. Paper presented at ChemEd 2015 Conference, Kennesaw, GA

Boesdorfer, S.B. (2015) Teaching engineering design to in-service teachers. Presented at ASTE International Conference 2015: Exploring New Frontiers, Portland, OR.