Dr. Rena Smith

Senior Instructor

Education

• Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis in Science Education); University of Missouri - Columbia, 2017
• M.S.Ed. Teaching: Science; Northwest Missouri State University, 2003
• B.S. Elementary Education (emphasis in Science, Social Studies and Language Arts); Missouri State University, 1995

Courses Taught

• 28-226 Science in the Elementary School

• 28-380 Methods in Elementary School Science

• 28-550 History of Science and Technology
• 28-580 Methods in Secondary School Science
• 28-582 Methods in Middle School Science
• 40-103 Physical Science Lab

• 62-228 Delivering Integrated Curriculum Part II

• 62-229 Professional Learning Community V

Academic Interests

• Science Note booking
• Curriculum Topic Study, including formative assessments
• How to use Trade books in the classroom

Scholarly Activity

Publications

• Arbaugh, F., Marra, R., Lannin, J. K., Cheng, Y. W., Merle-Johnson, D., & Smith, R. (2016). Supporting university content specialists in providing effective professional development: the educative role of evaluation. Teacher Development, 20(4), 538-556.

• Smith, S. R., & Abell, S. K. (2013). Assessing and addressing student science ideas. In D. Hanuscin & M. P. Rogers (Eds.), Perspectives: Research and tips to support science education, k-6. Arlington, Va.: NSTA Press.

• Smith, S. R., & Abell, S. K. (2013). Using analogies in elementary science. In D. L. Hanuscin & M. P. Rogers (Eds.), Perspectives: Research and tips to support science education, k-6. Arlington, Va.: NSTA Press.

• Hanuscin, D., Garderen, D. v., Menon, D., Jeni Davis, E. L., & Smith, S. R. (2013). Quality elementary science teaching: A professional development quest. In S. B. Koba, B. S. Wojnowski & R. E. Yager (Eds.), Exemplary science: Best practices in professional development (2^nd ed.). Arlington, Va.: NSTA Press.

• Hanuscin, D., vanGarderen, D., Menon, D., Davis, J., Lee. E., and Smith, S.R. (2010). PD pathways: Teacher? Learner? Both! Science and Children, 48(6), 55-9.
• Marra, R. M., Arbaugh, E., Lannin, J., Abell, S., Ehlert, M., Smith, R., et al. (2011). Orientations to professional development design and implementation: Understanding their relationship to pd outcomes across multiple projects. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 9(4), 793-816.

Presentations

• Smith, S. R., Barton, S., Bowlick, A., Dobney, A., Fish, K., & Hagiss, G. (2014).  Tradebooks in the classroom and preservice teacher's experience. Workshop presented at the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA) Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, April 5.

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  Arbaugh, E., Marra, R. M., Abell, S., Lannin, J., Cheng, Y., Gagnon, M., et al. (2010, May).  The impact of evaluation on professional development design and implementation. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
• Hanuscin, D., vanGarderen, D., Menon, D., Hager, T., Smith, S. R., Davis, J., et al. (2010, October). In QUEST of  quality elementary science teaching. Workshop presented at the Natinal Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) Area Conference, Kansas City, Missouri.

Other Professional Experiences

• Participate in the AAAS Project 2061 Energy Assessment Project- instrument pilot test. 2015

• NSTA Conference Proposal Review for Kansas City, 2010 & 2015

• NSTA Conference Proposal Review for Kansas City, 2010

• State of Missouri, Science Model Curriculum writer, July 2006-May 2007
• Enhancing Math and Science in Middle School-Central Methodist Grant- Pre/Posttest developer, July 2006-May 2007
• U.S. Satellite Laboratory: Project 3D View- Beta School teacher, 2006-2007
• NAEP Item Writer- Social Studies, October 2003
• Missouri State Teacher Certification 1-8; Language Arts, General Science and Social Studies 4-8.

Other

Personal Interests

• Spending time with family
• Photography and Scrapbooking
• Geocaching