Profile

Brian J. Reiser Instructor, LRNSCI 435 "New Approaches in Science Teaching", Master of Science in Education Professor, Learning Sciences, Learning Sciences Annenberg Hall Room 339 2120 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208-0001 Phone: (847) 467-2205 Fax: (847) 491-8999

Biography

Brian Reiser is a learning sciences researcher whose research concerns the design and study of investigation environments and inquiry support tools for science. The goal of this work is to develop a model of "reflective inquiry" and the pedagogical principles for its support. These projects explore the design of learning environments that scaffold investigation and scientific argumentation about biological phenomena and the design of inquiry support tools that help students organize, reflect on and communicate about the progress of their investigations. The empirical work conducted in urban middle school and high school classrooms investigates how students develop inquiry and argumentation skills and how effective teachers support student inquiry. This work is being conducted as part of the initiatives of the NSF Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools (LeTUS), which is working to understand how to make learning technologies a pervasive part of science classrooms in urban schools.

Curriculum Vitae

View Brian Reiser's CV.

Research/Scholarship
Education

Year		Degree		Institution
1983		PhD, Cognitive Science		Yale University
1979		MA, Psychology		New York University
1977		BA, Psychology		University of Pennsylvania

Selected Publications

Duncan, R. G., & Reiser, B. J. (2007). Reasoning across ontologically distinct levels: Students' understandings of molecular genetics . Journal of Research in Science Teaching: 938-959.

Duncan, R. G., & Reiser, B. J. (2007). Reasoning across ontologically distinct levels: Students' understandings of molecular genetics. Journal of Research in Science Teaching: 938-959.

Michaels, S., Shouse, A., & Schweingruber, H. A. (2007). Ready, Set, Science!: Putting Research to Work in K-8 Science Classrooms. National Academies Press.

Duschl, R. A., Schweingruber, H. A., & Shouse, A. W. (2007). Taking science to school: Learning and teaching science in grades K-8. National Academies Press.

Edelson, D. C., & Reiser, B. J. (2006). Making authentic practices accessible to learners: Design challenges and strategies in . K. Sawyer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences : 335-354.

Smith, B. K., & Reiser, B. J. (2005). Explaining behavior through observational investigation and theory articulation. Journal of the Learning Sciences: 14(3), 315-360.
( Download )

Reiser, Brian J. (2004). Scaffolding complex learning: The mechanisms of structuring and problematizing student work. Journal of the Learning Sciences: 13(3), 273-304.
( Download )

Reiser, B.J., Tabak, I., Sandoval, W.A., Smith,B. K., Steinmuller, F., & Leone, A.J. (2001). BGuILE: Strategic and conceptual scaffolds for scientific inquiry in biology classrooms in Carver, S.M. & Klahr, D. (Eds.), Cognition and Instruction: Twenty-five Years of Progress : 263-305.

Loh, B., Reiser, B.J., Radinsky, J., Edelson, D.C., Gomez, L.M., & Marshall, S. (2001). Developing reflective inquiry practices: A case study of software, the teacher, and students in Crowley K., Schunn, C.D. & Okada, T. (Eds), Designing for Science: Implications from Everyday, Classroom, and Professional Settings: 279-323.

Selected Presentations

Reiser, Brian (2007). NSF. • Invited presentation at NSF to present the NRC K-8 Science report.

Krajcik, J., Reiser, B. J., Schwarz, C., & Fortus, D (2007). Supporting a learning progression for scientific modeling in project-based inquiry curricula. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago, IL.

Kuhn, L., & Reiser, B. J (2007). Bridging classroom practices: Traditional and argumentative discourse. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching. New Orleans, LA.

Reiser, B.J. (December, 2006). NRC K-8 Science report. Invited presentations at NSF.

Reiser, B.J. (December, 2006). NRC K-8 Science report. Invited presentation at Dept of Education Math Science Partnerships conference.

Kenyon, L. & Reiser, B. (2006). Functional Approach to Nature of Science: Using Epistemological Understandings to Construct and Evaluate Explanations. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA.

Krajcik, J., & Reiser, B. J. (2006). Sequencing and supporting complex scientific inquiry practices in instructional materials for middle school students. Symposium presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching. San Francisco, CA.

Kuhn, L. & Reiser, B. (2006). Structuring Activities to Foster Argumentative Discourse. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association. San Francisco, CA.

Fortus, D., Hug, B. Krajcik, J., Kuhn, L., McNeill, K., Reiser, B. J., Rivet, A., Rogat, A., Schwarz, C., & Schwarz, Y. (2006). Sequencing and Supporting Complex Scientific Inquiry Practices in Instructional Materials for Middle School Students. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. San Francisco, CA.

Kuhn, L., & Reiser, B. J. (March, 2005). Students constructing and defending evidence-based scientific explanations. Paper presented at NARST 2005. Dallas, TX.

Kenyon, L. O., & Reiser, B. J. (March, 2005). Students’ epistemologies of science and their influence on inquiry practices. Paper presented at NARST 2005. Dallas, TX.

Projects

Analyzing Scaffolding Software in Educational Settings in Science (ASSESS)
Biology Guided Inquiry Learning Environments (BGuILE)
Center for Curriculum Materials in Science (CCMS)
Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools (LeTUS)
Chicago Urban Systemic Program
Engineering Scaffolded Work Environments (SWEets) for Science Education Project
IQWST: Investigating and Questioning our World through Science and Technology
Modeling Designs for Learning Science (MoDeLS)
SIBLE (Supportive Inquiry-Based Learning Environments) Project
Supporting Student and Teacher Inquiry in Bioscience

Other Research/Scholarship

MoDeLS: Modeling Designs for Learning Science

http://www.models.northwestern.edu/ Reviewer, Spencer Foundation, National Science Foundation.

2004-2006: Committee on Science Learning K-8, National Research Council. Special subcomitte on learning progressions for NRC panel on science assessment.

Member, NRC Panel K-8 science learning.

Research Interests

The design of learning environments and curriculum materials for science that support authentic practices including explanation, argumentation, and designing investigations. His research examines the cognitive and social interaction aspects of scientific inquiry, principles for scaffolding practices in software and curriculum materials, teaching pratices, and curriculum design frameworks.

Teaching/Advising
Courses

LRN_SCI 451		Changing Conceptions of Science Learningre Current research topics in the learning sciences. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit with change in topic.
LRN_SCI 435		Science Teaching This seminar will review current trends and research in science education, focusing on innovative approaches to teaching, including technology-based learning environments. Course readings will combine studies of student reasoning, studies of science teaching practice, new paradigms for technology-based learning environments in science, and empirical studies of the problems and prospects of various approaches.
LRN_SCI 429		Design of Learning Environments Issues in designing and studying innovative learning environments. New models of classroom interaction, particularly using technology to enable new cognitive and social roles for students. Topics include simulations, tutors, computer-mediated communication and project-based learning approaches. Theoretical motivations in cognitive and social interaction learning theories, empirical studies evaluating their effectiveness and prospects for propagation of such innovations.
LRN_SCI 425		Interface Design for Interactive Learning Environments

Service/Recognition
Professional Service

Year		Organization		Position		Description
2008		Center for Curriculum Materials in Science		Graduate Fellowship Commitee

Editorial Boards

Year		Journal Name		Position
2008		Science Education		Editorial Board Member
2008		Science Education		Editorial Board Member
2008		NARST		Peer Reviewer
2008		Journal of the Learning Sciences		Editorial Board Member
2008		ICLS		Reviewer
2008		Cognition and Instruction		Reviewer
2008		AERA		Peer Reviewer
2007		Spencer Foundation		Reviewer
2007		Science Education		Editorial Board
2007		National Science Foundation		Reviewer
2007		Journal of the Learning Sciences		Editorial Board
2007		Cognition and Instruction		Peer Reviewer
2006		Journal of the Learning Sciences		Member
2006		Cognition and Instruction		Reviewer
1990		Journal of the Learning Sciences		editorial board