 |
Alexandra O. Santau, Ph.D.Assistant Professor |
Graduate Courses Taught
GFDE 504 Statistics in Behavioral Research
Undergraduate Courses Taught
EDLTE 331 Educated Citizenry Content Knowledge; Science Methodology course
EDLTE 332 Pedagogy for Educated Citizenry K-6
EDLTE 333 Educated Citizenry Dispositions
EDLTE 334 Educated Citizenry Field Experience
BIOL 101 General Biology
BIOL 102 General Biology
BIOL 250 Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 251 Anatomy and Physiology Lab
BIOL 120 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 121 Anatomy and Physiology II
Education
Ph.D. University of Miami, 2008
Major: Science Education
Dissertation: Elementary teachers’ knowledge and practices in teaching science to
English language learners.
M.S. Purdue University, 2002
Major: Biology (Emphasis in Molecular Biology)
B.S. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001
Major: Microbiology
Why should a prospective student choose Duquesne University?
At Duquesne, students get individualized attention and care regardless of which program of study they choose. Under the supervision of good advisors, our students will take courses that best fit their goals. Through the instruction of competent and caring professors, our students will receive a cutting edge education that will render them competitive on the job market once they graduate. Whether staff or faculty members, we respect our students and will do everything to make them succeed in the future.
Research Interests
My research interests include in- and pre-service elementary and secondary teachers’ knowledge and practices of teaching science in urban classrooms. More specifically, I investigate a) to what extent teachers know and understand the science content they teach; b) to what extent teachers can teach science through inquiry methods, and c) to what extent they incorporate English language development strategies and culture into their science instruction. Furthermore, I investigate the relationships between the aforementioned domains. Other areas of research interests:
- Collaborating with the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences on developing innovative professional development for secondary in-service science teachers
- The relationship between teachers’ perceptions and practices regarding teaching science.
- Student science achievement
- Own practices in teaching undergraduate science methods courses
Current Projects
Collaboration between the School of Education and School of Sciences to develop effective professional development interventions for in-service science teachers at the secondary level.
Professional Affiliations
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (NARST)
Recent Publications
Refereed Articles
Santau, A., Secada, W., Maerten-Rivera, J. L., Cone, N., & Lee, O. (in press). U.S. Urban Elementary Teachers’ Knowledge and Practices in Teaching Science to English Language Learners: Results from the First Year of a Professional Development Intervention. International Journal of Science Education.
Lewis, S., Lee, O., Santau, A., & Cone, N. (in press). Student Initiatives in Urban Elementary Science Classrooms. School Science and Mathematics.
Buxton, C., Lee, O., & Santau, A. (2008). Promoting science among English language learners: Professional development for today’s culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 19(5), 495-511.
Book Chapters
Lee, O., Santau, A., & Maerten-Rivera, J. (in press). Science and literacy assessments with English language learners. In C. Basterra, G. Solano-Flores, & E. Trumbull (Eds.), Assessment, language, and culture: A guide for teachers. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Recent Speaking Engagements
Santau, A., Maerten-Rivera, J., & Higgins, C. (2010) Science achievement with English language learners: Results of a three-year professional development intervention. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Denver, CO.
Adamson, K., Santau, A. (2010). Elementary teachers’ strategies for teaching science and supporting language development in urban elementary schools. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Philadelphia, PA.
Santau, A., Maerten-Rivera, J., Cone, N., & Lee, O. (2009). Urban elementary teachers' knowledge and practices: relationships between science instruction and English language development with English language learners. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Diego, CA.
Santau, A., & Lee, O. (2009). Science and literacy assessments with English language learners. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Diego, CA.
Cone, N., Santau, A., & Maerten-Rivera, J. (2009). Student initiatives in urban elementary science classrooms. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Diego, CA.
Santau, A., Maerten-Rivera, J., Cone, N., & Lee, O. (2008). Urban elementary school teachers’ knowledge and practices in teaching science to English language learners. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York, NY.
Recent Professional Experience & Service
Principal Investigator, Professional Development for Secondary Science Teachers. Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Grant Proposal awaiting decision.
Co-Principal Investigator, GK-12: Bridging the STEM gap between 6-12, Higher Education, and the Public. National Science Foundation. Grant proposal awaiting decision.
