Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Northern Iowa

Dawn Del Carlo

Dawn Del Carlo

Associate Professor - Chemical Education
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0423

Office: 281 McCollum Science Hall
Voice: 319-273-3296
Fax: 319-273-7127
E-mail: Dawn.Delcarlo@uni.edu
Website: http://www.cns.uni.edu/~delcarlo/

Degrees

  • B.A., 1995, Augustana College
  • M.S., 1998, Purdue University
  • Ph.D., 2001, Purdue University

Research Interests

There are two basic areas of research I am involved in:

  1. My primary interest is in how students at all levels approach data acquisition in their chemistry laboratory classes. More specifically, how do students approach an experiment, what are their views toward that experiment, and how do their views affect their approach and data analysis. These issues can be directly related to students perceptions of academic dishonesty in the classroom laboratory.
  2. Closely related to the first topic, is my second interest in how students' perceptions of laboratory work (both in the classroom and in the research lab) are influenced by the social interactions that occur in the laboratory setting. This includes interactions among group members, professors, and mentors leading to a "community of learners". Most recently this line of research has been expanded to include the research experiences of in-service teachers participating in the RAISE program.

Selected Publications

Del Carlo, D., Hinkhouse, H., Isbell, L., (2010). Developing a Reflective Practitioner through the Connection between Educational Research and Reflective Practice. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 19(1), 58-68. Available on-line June 16, 2009.

Del Carlo, D., Bodner, G.M., (2009). The Chemistry Mafia: The Social Structure of Chemistry Majors in the Lab. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 13(1), 139-161.

Hinkhouse, H., Del Carlo, D., Isbell, L (2008). Undergraduate Research in Chemistry: A Comparison of Two Case-Studies. The Chemical Educator, 13(6), 381-391

Del Carlo, D. (2007). Symbolic Interactionism. Chapter in Theoretical Frameworks for Research in Chemistry/Science Education by Bodner, G.M. & Orgill, M.K.(Eds). Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. ISBN: 0-13-241036-2

Del Carlo, D., Bodner G.M., (2006). Dishonesty in the Classroom Laboratory: A Synthesis of Causes and Prevention. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 34(5), 338-342.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Northern Iowa
1227 West 27th Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0423
Phone: 319-273-2437
FAX: 319-273-7127
E-mail: barbara.reid@uni.edu
Web: http://www.chem.uni.edu

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