Assistant Professor
Room: 836
Phone: 404-413-8326
Email: mrenken@gsu.edu
Vita
Research Lab
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3979
Atlanta, GA 30302-3979
EDUCATION:
MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST:
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Renken, M. D., & Nunez, N. (2013). Computer simulations and clear observations do not guarantee conceptual understanding. Learning and Instruction, 23, 10–23. doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2012.08.006
Litkowski, E.*, & Renken, M. (in press). A Review of “Trusting What You’re Told: How Children Learn from Others” by Paul Harris. Science Education.
Renken, M. D., & Nunez, N. (2010). Evidence for improved conclusion accuracy after reading about rather than conducting a belief-inconsistent simple physics experiment. Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24, 6, p.792-817. doi: 10.1002/acp. 1587.
Herbinson, K., & Renken, M. (2010). The Science Posse: Innovative outreach connecting graduate fellows and K-12 students. American Physical Society, Forum on Education Newsletter.
Renken, M. What are the sources of students' science knowledge?: A consideration of simulations and epistemic cognition. Pintrich Keynote Lecture to be given at American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, July 2013, Honolulu, HI.
Carrion, C.*, Orton, J.*, & Renken, M. Experiences with nature and ecological literacy: An urban-rural comparison. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Conference, July 2013, Honolulu, HI.
Renken, M., Nitkova, M.*, Litkowski, E.*, Carrion, C.*, Orton, J.*, K-12 students' evaluations of sources of science knowledge. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, April 2013, Seattle, WA.
Carrion, C.*, Nitkova, M.*, Renken, M., & Martin-Hansen, L. Undergraduates’ attitudes toward astronomy. Poster accepted for presentation at Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Annual Conference, March 2013, Atlanta, GA.
Renken, M. Identifying STEM researchers’ roles in virtual partnerships with K-12 students across geographically diverse settings. Paper presented at the European Association for Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL) Alpine Rendezvous, January 2013, Villard-de-Lans, Vercors, France.
Renken, M., McMahan, E., & Nitkova, M.* Understanding psychology-specific
epistemological beliefs in emerging adults. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Themed Meeting: Transitions from Adolescence to Adulthood, October 2012, Tampa, FL.
Renken, M. Hands-on activities in the physics classroom: When do adolescents believe what they see? Research talk given at Carnegie Mellon University, October 2012, Pittsburgh, PA.
Renken, M., Royal, R., & Nunez, N. Computer-based simulation of a misconceived physical science experiment. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Bi-annual Conference, March 2011, Montreal.
Renken, M. & Nunez, N. L. Cultural differences in attitudes about the relevance of science. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Bi-annual Conference, April 2009, Denver, CO.
Renken, M., Flaherty, L., McBride, S., & Renken, S., Developing a science education partnership with Tibetan Central Administration Schools in India. Poster presented at the NSF Annual G-K12 Conference, March 2009, Washington, D.C.
Selected Grants & Fellowships
Summer 2013 iPads for In-Class Assessment, Student Technology Fee Grant, Georgia State University
Summer 2013 The Use of Digital Storytelling to Enhance Scientific Literacy in the Biology Laboratory Classroom Setting Arts and Sciences STEM Initiative Mini-grant, Georgia State University
Spring 2013 Evaluation-via-Assessment: Measuring Students’ Understanding of
Sources of Knowledge in Science, Arts and Sciences STEM Initiative Mini-grant, Georgia State University
AY2012-2013 The Role of Cognitive Perspective and Epistemological Beliefs in Adolescents’ Problem Solving Accuracy, Research Initiation Grant (RIG), Georgia State University
Spring 2011 Richard Pasewark Fellowship for Excellence in Graduate Education, UW Psychology Department
Summer 2010 Undergraduate Research Mentor Grant, NASA Space Grant Consortium, Diversity Initiative targeting partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
2006 - 2010 National Science Foundation, Graduate STEM Fellow in K-12 Education