Profile for Jennifer Docktor
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Jennifer Docktor
Professor
Physics
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Jennifer Docktor
Professor
Physics
Specialty area(s)
Physics Education
Brief biography
One of my primary roles at UWL is to advise and mentor future science teachers in the Secondary Teacher Education Preparation (STEP) program. I am part of a national effort called PhysTEC (the Physics Teacher Education Coalition) to recruit and retain physics teachers, and I also lead professional development seminars and workshops for current teachers.
My research in Physics Education focuses on cognitive science and problem solving. I use eye-tracking technology to study the way people view and interpret multiple representations in physics (such as diagrams, graphs, and equations.) This research will provide useful information for designing better instructional materials for teaching physics.
In teacher education I study strategies for recruiting and retaining high school physics teachers, implementing scientific explanations into courses for pre-service teachers, and administering professional development in physical science for in-service teachers at all levels (elementary school, middle school, and high school). Each of these are important pursuits because there is currently a critical shortage of physics teachers nationwide, and a high need for professional development in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) for pre-service and in-service teachers.
Education
PhD in Physics, University of Minnesota, 2009
Subfield: Physics Education Research
Adviser: Dr. Kenneth Heller
Dissertation: Development and validation of a physics problem solving assessment rubric
MS in Physics, University of Minnesota, 2006
Subfield: Experimental High Energy Particle Physics
BS in Physics and Physics Education, North Dakota State University, 2004
Career
Teaching history
The courses I teach most frequently are PHY106: Physical Science for Educators and BIO/CHM/PHY 452: The Learner and Learning in Science with classroom Field Experiences I and II. I also teach courses or laboratories in introductory physics such as PHY103 and 104 Fundamental Physics I and II or PHY203 and 204 General Physics I and II, and PHY472 Introduction to Particle Physics.
Professional history
Prior to starting at UW-L in 2011, I spent two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Cognitive Science at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
From 2019-present I am serving as chief editor for the American Physical Society's Forum on Education newsletter.
Research and publishing
Selected publications:
Mestre, J.P. & Docktor, J. (2020). The Science of Learning Physics: Cognitive Strategies for Improving Instruction. World Scientific Publishing. Link
Docktor, J., Dornfeld, J., Frodermann, E., Hsu, L., Jackson, K.A., Mason, A., Ryan, Q.X., Yang, J., & Heller, K. (2016). Assessing student written problem solutions: A problem-solving rubric with application to introductory physics. Physical Review– Physics Education Research, 12 (010130). Article link
Docktor, J., Strand, N., Mestre, J., and Ross, B. (2015). Conceptual problem solving in high school physics. Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 11 (020106). Article link
Docktor, J., and Sudhakaran, G. (2015). Building a thriving undergraduate physics teacher education program at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse: Recruitment and retention. In C. Sandifer and E. Brewe (Eds.), Recruiting and Educating Future Physics Teachers: Case Studies and Effective Practices. Physics Teacher Education Coalition, American Physical Society, and American Association of Physics Teachers. Book Information
Docktor, J., & Mestre, J. (2014). Synthesis of Discipline-based Education Research in Physics. Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research, 10 (020119). Article Link
Ross, B., Mestre, J., Docktor, J. (2014) Understanding how to teach physics understanding in M. A. McDaniel, R.F. Frey, S.M. Fitzpatrick, & H.L. Roediger III (Eds.) Integrating cognitive science with innovative teaching in STEM disciplines (pp. 92-110). St. Louis: Washington University in St. Louis Libraries. Article Link
Docktor, J.L., Mestre, J.P., & Ross, B.H. (2012). Impact of a short intervention on novices’ problem categorization criteria. Physical Review Special Topics – Physics Education Research, 8 (020102). Article Link
Kudos
published
published