Pamela Cantrell
Associate Professor
Teacher Education, Department of
Education, David O. McKay School of
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Office: 206-G MCKB
Phone: 801-422-4129
Email: pamela_cantrell@byu.edu

Area of Discipline / Professional Expertise

• Science education

Research

• My research focus is centered on examining the effects of professional development models related to the improvement of science education in K-8 classrooms. I am particularly interested in facilitating teachers in improving their skills of implementing full science inquiry with their students. I am seeking to understand which components of professional development models bring about the most powerful change in teaching as measured by various indicators including student performance. Other research interests include the integration of engineering and technology with science teaching.

Education

• Ph.D., Science Education/Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wyoming, 2000
• M.Ed., Secondary Science Education/Teacher Education, Southern Utah University, 1998
• B.A., Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, Brigham Young University, 1965

Affiliations

• Elementary Education - Primary

Selected Publications

• "TPACK development in science teaching: Measuring the TPACK confidence of inservice science teachers", TechTrends, Graham, C. R., Burgoyne, N., Cantrell, P., Smith, L., St. Clair, L., & Harris, R., Volume 53, Issue 5, Pages 70-79, October, 2009 
• "Exploring STEM Career Options through Collaborative High School Seminars", Journal of Engineering Education, Cantrell, P., & Ewing-Taylor, J., Volume 98, Issue 3, Pages 295-303, American Society for Engineering Education, Washington DC, July, 2009  View Abstract
• "Say it Like a Scientist: Designing Science/Literacy Lessons to Support English Learners in First Grade", Academic Literacy for English learners: High-Quality Instruction Across Content Areas, Grant, M., Cantrell, P., & Lapp, D., Teachers College Press, New York, C. Brock, D. Lapp, R. Salas & D. Townsend, August, 2009  View Abstract
• "Technology Task Autonomy and Gender Effects on Student Performance in Rural Middle School Science Classrooms", Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching., Cantrell, P., & Sudweeks, R., Volume 28, Issue 4, Pages 359-379, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Chesapeake, VA, October, 2009  View Abstract
• "The effects of differentiated technology integration on student achievement in middle school science classrooms", International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning, Cantrell, P., Liu, L, Leverington, M., & Ewing-Taylor, J., Volume 3, Issue 3, Pages 36-54, Society of International Chinese in Educational Technology, December, 2007  View Abstract
• "The effects of engineering modules on student learning in middle school science classrooms", Annals of Research on Engineering Education, Cantrell, P. & Pekcan, G., Itani, A., Volume 3, Issue 1, A collaborative group of engineering organizations including IEEE and ASEE, Washington, D.C., January, 2007  View Abstract
• "Using Technology to Enhance Science Inquiry in an Outdoor Classroom", Type II Uses of Technology in Education: Projects, Case Studies, and Software Applications, Pamela Cantrell, Mark S. Knudson, The Haworth Press, Inc., New York, Cleborne D. Maddux, D. Lamont Johnson, November, 2006  View Abstract
• "Using Technology to Enhance Science Inquiry in an Outdoor Classroom", Computers in the Schools, Pamela Cantrell, Mark S. Knudson, Volume 32, Issue 1/2, Pages 7-18, the Haworth Press, Inc., New York, January, 2006  View Abstract
• "The Effects of Engineering Modules on Student Learning in Middle School Classrooms", Journal of Engineering Education, Pamela Cantrell, Gokhan Pekcan, Ahmad Itani, Norma Velasquez-Bryant, Volume 95, Issue 4, Pages 301-309, American Society for Engineering Education, Washington, DC, October, 2006  View Abstract
• "Using engineering Design Curriculum to Close Science Achievement Gaps for Middle School Students", Frontiers in Education Conference Proceedings, Pamela Cantrell, Gokhan Pekcan, Ahmad Itani, Norma Velasquez-Bryant, October, 2005  View Abstract
• "A New Competitive Grant Model for Nevada", THE Journal, Pamela Cantrell, Mark S. Knudson, Volume 32, Issue 13, July, 2005 
• "Teachers Integrating Engineering into Science", Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference (SITE), Pamela Cantrell, Gokhan Pekcan, Ahmad Itani, Norma Velasquez-Bryant, March, 2004  View Abstract
• "The Triangulated Learning Model for Engineering Education", Frontiers in Education Conference Proceedings, Pamela Cantrell, Gokhan Pekcan, Ahmad Itani, Norma Velasquez-Bryant, November, 2004  View Abstract
• "Traditional vs. Retrospective Pretests for Measuring Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs in Preservice Teachers", School Science and Mathematics, Pamela Cantrell, Volume 103, Issue 4, Pages 177-183, April, 2003  View Abstract
• "Factors Affecting the Science Teaching Efficacy of Preservice Teachers", Journal of Science Teaching Education, Pamela Cantrell, Suzie Young, Alan d. Moore, Volume 14, Issue 3, Pages 177-192, Kluwer, August, 2003 
• "How Do 4th-12th-Grade Science Textbooks Address Applicationss in Engineering and Technology", bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Pamela Cantrell, Mike Robinson, Volume 22, Issue 1, February, 2002  View Abstract

Experience

Teaching

• Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Brigham Young University, 2006
• Director, Raggio Research Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathemaatics (STEM) Education, University of Nevada, Reno, 2002-2006
• Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Nevada, Reno, 2000-2006
• Graduate Assistant in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wyoming, 1998-2000

Professional

• Teacher of Math, Science, and Special Education, Various K-12 schools in Washington, Texas and Utah, 1965-1998

Awards

• Outstanding College of Education Researcher, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004
• Teacher Research Associate, U.S. Department of Energy, 1993
• Bullitt Environmental Fellow, National Faculty, 1992