Dr. Rommel J. Miranda
Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Towson University
E-mail: Rmiranda@towson.edu
410.704.3014
EDUCATION:
2006 Doctor of Education, Science Education
Morgan State University
1999 Master of Education, Curriculum & Instruction
Loyola College in Maryland
1996 Bachelor of Science, Biology
Loyola College in Maryland
HONORS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
2008 Certificate of Appreciation, Columbia Union College
2008 Elected Member of Sigma Pi Sigma (National Physics Honor Society)
2007 TU Disability Support Services Effectiveness in Teaching Award
2006 Best Doctoral Dissertation, Morgan State University
2004 Teacher of the Year, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School
2002 - 2003 Distinguished Title III Science Education Fellowship ($25,937)
2001 - 2004 Morgan State University Science Education Department Stipend ($9,000)
2001 Decosta Mathematics & Science Education Scholarship ($2,232)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
January 2006 - Present Assistant Professor: Towson University
Courses: PHSC 101 Physical Science I
PHYS 103 How Things Work
PHSC 303 Earth-Space Science
SCIE 371 Teaching Science in Early Childhood
SCIE 393 Secondary Science Student Teaching
Supervision: Pre-Service Secondary Science Teachers
August 2005 – June 2007 Director of Student Teaching/Adjunct Professor: Columbia Union College
Courses: MATH 110 Probability and Statistics
EDUC 305 Elementary Health Science Methods
EDUC 319 Elementary Mathematics Methods
HCAD 320 Research Methods and Statistics
Supervision: ECE and Elementary Student Teaching Program
August 2002 - June 2005 Teacher: Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School
Courses: Physics, Algebra II, Honors Biology, Anatomy & Physiology
August 2000 - June 2001 Teacher: The McDonogh School
Courses: Physics, Chemistry, Biology
August 1999 - June 2000 Teacher: Patterson High School
Courses: Physics, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology
August 1998 - June 1999 1:1 / Teacher Assistant: Hannah More School
PUBLICATIONS & CONFERENCES (PEER-REVIEWED):
Miranda, R.J., (Under Review). Investigating Urban K-12 Science Classroom Learning Environments. The Urban Review.
Miranda, R.J., & Hermann, R.S. (Under Review). Trends in science outreach programs between
institutions of higher education and urban K-12 schools. The Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement.
Hermann, R.S., & Miranda, R.J. (Under Review). Presto: Open inquiry. Science Scope.
Miranda, R.J. (2009). A study of urban stakeholders’ perceptions of effective high school science
pedagogical skills. [Abstract]. Proceedings of the Association for Science Teacher Education,
USA.
Prime, G., & Miranda, R.J. (2008). Urban public high school teachers' beliefs about science learner
characteristics: Implications for curriculum. In B.S. Stern & M.L. Kysilka (Eds.), Contemporary
readings in curriculum. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Miranda, R.J. (2008). Highly qualified does not equal high quality: A study of urban stakeholders’
perceptions of high quality in science teaching. Proceedings of the National Association for
Research in Science Teaching, USA.
Miranda, R.J. (2008). Urban stakeholders’ perceptions of high quality in science teaching [Abstract].
Proceedings of the Association for Science Teacher Education, USA.
Miranda, R.J. (2007, October). Promoting university, community, and K-12 public school partnerships:
Current research trends in urban science outreach programs. Paper presented at the meeting
of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, Baltimore, MD.
Prime, G., & Miranda, R.J. (2006). Urban public high school teachers' beliefs about science learner
characteristics: Implications for curriculum. Urban Education, 41, 506-532.
Miranda, R.J. (2006). Highly qualified does not equal high quality: A study of urban stakeholders’
perceptions of high quality in science teaching. (Doctoral dissertation, Morgan State University, 2006).
Dissertation Abstracts International.
Miranda, R. (2003, April). Negotiating meaning in a qualitative research methods class. Paper presented
at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Miranda, R. (2003, March). Teachers' perceptions of science learner characteristics in urban high school
settings: Implications for curriculum. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Association for
Research in Science Teaching, Philadelphia, PA.
FACILITATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:
June 2006 Woodlawn High School Summer Science Institute
Baltimore County Public School System
July 2005 Summer Institute for Science and Mathematics Teachers
The Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education
Morgan State University; Baltimore, MD
July 2002 Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced PowerPoint for
Science and Mathematics Educators
The Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education Morgan State University; Baltimore, MD
October 2001 Hands-on Approaches to Teaching Sound, Color, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism
Baltimore City Public School System
June 1999 - August 2002 National Aeronautical Space Administration Student High School Internship Program (NASA-SHIP)
The Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education Morgan State University; Baltimore, MD
GRANT AWARDS:
2009 NASA Federal Earmark (Co-Investigator)
$1,000,000.00 for “Baltimore Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Teaching – the BEST Project”
2009 NASA Education and Public Outreach for Earth and Space Science (Co-Investigator; Under Review)
$485,962.00 for "Saturday Morning Science: Exciting the Public and Engaging Teachers and Young Students using NASA Science"
2009 Towson University 2010 Service-Learning Grant (Principal Investigator)
$1,115.09 for "Authentic Informal Environmental Education Lesson Planning and Presentation Experiences
for Early Childhood Education Majors at Irvine Nature Center"
2009 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics STEM Enhancement Fund (Principal Investigator)
$3,000.00 for “Enhancing Student Experiences with Classroom Technology”
2008 University System of Maryland (Co-Investigator)
$39,700.00 for STEM Teachers Grant
2008 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics General Endowment Fund (Principal Investigator)
$3,305.00 for “Blinded by the Light: Urban K-12 Portable Planetarium Outreach”
2008 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics General Endowment Fund (Co-Investigator)
$8,000.00 for “Project ASTRO”
2007 NASA/Maryland Space Grant Consortium (Co-Investigator)
$5,618.00 for “Project ASTRO”
2007 Fisher College of Science and Mathematics General Endowment Fund (Co-Investigator)
$10,000.00 for “Project ASTRO”
WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS AND TALKS (NON PEER-REVIEWED)
July 2009 Incorporating Inquiry and Nature of Science in the Classroom
Workshop presented at the University of Maryland College Park for 20 in-service teachers in the ExPERT Program
July 2009 Teaching the Urban Water Cycle in Middle and High School Classrooms
Workshop presented at Towson University for 20 RET/graduate students and in-service teachers
May 2009 Project ASTRO.
Workshops presented at The Maryland Science Center; Baltimore, MD.
March 2009 Identifying the Tools Needed to Carry Out Inquiry - The Process Skills.
Invited Workshop presented at the Maryland Science Center to 30 science educators from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
February 2009 Emerging Technology: Teaching with Clickers.
Workshop presented at Towson University; Towson, MD.
December 2008 Investigating Force and Motion Via Wind Powered Vehicles.
Workshop presented at the meeting of the Morgan State University’s Annual Mathematics and Science Education Conference.
November 2008 A Wonderful World of Motion.
Invited Workshop presented at the Maryland Science Center to 30 science educators from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
August 2008 Project ASTRO.
Workshops presented at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
May 2008 Oh My Goodness, the Sky is Falling! The Science Behind Chicken Little.
Workshop presented at the Towson University Sally Ride Science Festival.
May 2008 Blinded By the Light: Urban K-12 Portable Planetarium Outreach.
Project presented at the TU Service Learning Subcommittee of the Civic Engagement Advisory Board Luncheon.
April 2008 Learning Science Through Inquiry.
Invited Workshop presented at the Maryland Science Center to 40 science educators from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.
December 2007 Integrating Portable Planetarium Activities into the K-12 Earth-Space Science Curriculum.
Workshop presented at the meeting of the Morgan State University’s Annual Mathematics and Science Education Conference.
September 2007 Columbia Union College – Rolling Terrace Elementary School and
Montgomery Blair High School Professional Development School Partnership Strategic Plan.
Workshop presented at Sligo Creek Elementary School; Silver Spring, MD.
June 2007 “UN”-covering Science Through Inquiry: The Less is More Approach for
Investigating Scientific Phenomenon.
Workshop presented at the Towson University Sally Ride Science Festival.
June 2007 Columbia Union College – Montgomery Blair High School Professional
Development School Partnership Strategic Plan.
Workshop presented at Montgomery Blair High School; Silver Spring, MD.
April 2007 Strategic Planning for Professional Development Schools: Overview of
Process/Outcomes.
Invited talk presented at Columbia Union College for Members of the Coordinating Council,
Montgomery Blair High School & Rolling Terrace Elementary School.
February 2007 Excursion series: Rockets, Satellites & Space Stations. Talk/Planetarium
Show presented at Towson University’s Watson-King Planetarium for the
Irvine Nature Center.
December 2006 Exploring Scientific Phenomena Through Inquiry: Transcending from
scientific demonstrations to scientific investigations.
Workshop presented at the meeting of the Morgan State University’s Annual Mathematics and Science Education Conference.
June 2006 Prince Hercules and the Amazing Water Filter.
Workshop presented to students from Southside Academy High School and
Western High School participating in Towson University’s Summer Science Workshop.
September 2005 Promoting the Research Agenda: Current K-16 Research Trends.
Invited talk presented at the meeting of the Urban Education Conference at Morgan State University.
December 2000 Effective Use of PowerPoint in Science and Mathematics Classrooms.
Workshop presented at the meeting of the Morgan State University’s Annual Mathematics and Science Education Conference.
PK-12 OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
May 2009 Hands-on Science Activity on Force and Motion presented to 70 students (Grades 6-12) at St Elizabeth School; Baltimore, MD.
April 2009 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 150 students (Grades 1-5) at Tridelphia Ridge Elementary School; Ellicott City, MD.
April 2009 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 120 students (Grades 3-7) at Rosemont Elementary/Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
February 2009 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 100 students (Grades 3-8) at Arlington Elementary/Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
January 2009 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 140 students (Grades 5-8) at Franklin Square Elementary/Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
January 2009 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 140 students (Grades 6-8) at Baltimore Rising Star Academy; Baltimore, MD.
November 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 100 students (Grades 1-5) at Harriet Tubman Elementary School; Baltimore, MD.
October 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 140 students (Grades 6-12) at St Elizabeth School; Baltimore, MD.
July 2008 Planetarium shows presented to 50 students (Grades PK-5) from the Harford County Celebree Learning Center.
July 2008 Planetarium shows presented to 60 students participating in the Middle Grades Partnership (Calverton Middle School).
May 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 60 fifth grade students at Arlington Elementary School; Baltimore, MD.
May 2008 Portable Planetarium show presented to 25 students in an after school science club at Rosa Parks Middle School; Olney, MD.
April 2008 Planetarium shows presented to 57 students from Halethorpe Elementary School participating in TU College Horizons.
April 2008 Planetarium shows presented to 88 students from Reisterstown Elementary School participating in TU College Knowledge.
April 2008 Portable Planetarium show presented to 15 faculty/staff/community members at Arundel Elementary School; Baltimore, MD.
April 2008 Portable Planetarium show presented to 25 faculty/staff/community members at Southside Academy High School; Baltimore, MD.
April 2008 Portable Planetarium show presented to 20 faculty/staff/community members at Garrison Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
April 2008 Facilitated an inquiry-based water filtration activity with an afternoon Science Club (24 4th/5th grade students) at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School; Baltimore, MD.
February 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 140 students (Grades 9-12) at Southside Academy High School; Baltimore, MD.
February 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 120 students (Grades PK-5) at James McHenry Elementary School. Baltimore, MD.
January 2008 Portable Planetarium show presented to 25 community members at Irvine Nature Center; Baltimore, MD.
January 2008 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 91 students (Grades 1-8) at Our Lady of Grace School. Baltimore, MD.
November 2007 Payloads in space. Workshop presented to 11 students participating in SciGirls at the Maryland Science Center; Baltimore, MD.
June 2007 Portable Planetarium shows presented to 160 students at George Washington Elementary School; Baltimore, MD.
May 2007 Portable Planetarium shows presented at Presented at the Baltimore
Convention Center for the Baltimore Opportunity Summit; Baltimore, MD.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
April 2009 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Innovation through Institutional Integration (I3) Program; Arlington, VA.
March 2009 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) Program; Arlington, VA.
September 2008 NARST Conference Paper Reviewer
August 2008 Panel Reviewer for the NASA Education and Public Outreach in Earth and Space Science (EPOESS) Program; Washington, D.C.
August 2008 AERA Conference Paper Reviewer
August 2008 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Informal Science Education (ISE) Program; Arlington, VA.
June 2008 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Program; Washington D.C.
Mary 2008 53rd Baltimore Science Fair Judge at Towson University; Towson, MD.
November 2007 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Advanced Technological Experiences (ATE) Program; Washington D.C.
September 2007 NARST Conference Paper Reviewer.
September 2007 AERA Conference Paper Reviewer
May 2007 13th Annual CUMU Conference Abstract Reviewer; Towson, MD.
June 2007 Panel Reviewer for the NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Program; Arlington, VA.
COMMITTEES:
May - October 2007 AHA 2007 Heart Walk Logistics Committee (Chair)
February - October 2007 Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) Conference Programming Committee
September 2007 - Current Towson University Focus the Nation Organizing Committee (Chair)
Spring 2008 Secondary Science Education Search Committee
Fall 2008 Secondary Science Education Search Committee (Chair)
Fall 2008 Elementary Science Education Search Committee
Spring 2008 - Current Towson University STEM Steering Committee
Fall 2008 Towson University STEM Steering Subcommittee, Towson University STEM Celebration and EXPO (Organizer)
Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 College Council (1 Year PAGS Sabbatical Replacement; 1 Year Recording Secretary Sabbatical Replacement)
Fall 2008 Teacher Education Executive Board
Fall 2008 Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences Curriculum Committee
AFFILIATED FACULTY MEMBER:
Center for Science and Mathematics Education
Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science
Graduate Faculty, College of Graduate Studies and Research
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS:
American Educational Research Association
National Association for Research in Science Teaching
The Association for Science Teacher Education