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Department of Chemistry

Dr. Sarah Boesdorfer

Associate Professor, Chemistry Education
Chemistry
Office
JH Julian Hall 220
Office Hours
Wed 2-4 p.m. & Fri 10:30-11:30 a.m. or by appointment
Office Phone
(309) 438-7905office
phone
Email
sbboesd@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Research

Current Courses

401.091Advanced Chemistry Demonstrations: Thermochemical Energy In The Chemistry Curriculum

299.004Independent Honor Study In Chemistry

499.004Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

261.001Laboratory Methods in Teaching Chemistry

290.004Research in Chemistry

490.004Research In Chemistry

302.001Student Teaching And Professional Seminar

482.091Capstone Research Project II

110.001Fundamentals Of Chemistry

299.004Independent Honor Study In Chemistry

499.004Independent Research For The Master's Thesis

401.091Kinetics, Equilibrium, & Acids & Bases

290.004Research in Chemistry

490.004Research In Chemistry

311.001Teaching High School Physics

301.001Teaching of Chemistry

301.002Teaching 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.