Ann Novak presents paper at international research conference

Middle school science teacher Ann Novak presented a paper titled, Adjusting Claims as New Evidence Emerges: Do Students Incorporate New Information into their Scientific Explanations? at the 86th annual National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) International Conference held in Puerto Rico April 6-9. Novak’s paper focused on the 7th grade water quality study and the challenges middle school students at Greenhills have in writing scientific explanations when confronted with new, contradictory evidence. Researchers from all over the world attended the conference, which had the theme The S in STEM Education: Policy, Research and Practice.

“One of my professional goals has always been to utilize research-based practices on my own teaching,” says Novak. “Now through my research I’m helping to improve my own instruction as well as inform the greater science education community.”