THE CHALLENGES OF STEM STUDENTS RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR FUTURE STEM LEARNING MODEL

Author Biographies

• Yoshisuke Kumano, STEAM Education Institute, Shizuoka University

  Yoshisuke Kumano is the Professor Emeritus, Appointed Professor, Vice Director of STEAM Education Institute, Shizuoka University. Right now, he is the Director of NPO Shizuoka STEAM Education Development Center also, the Director of Shizuoka STEM Academy supported by Japan Science and Technology Agency. He was the past President of East Asian Association for Science Education.

• Thomas Meagher, Owatonna Public Schools and the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development
  Dr. Meagher’s position as Owatonna Public Schools district STEM Education Coordinator where he provides professional development for over 200 teachers grades K-8 in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math teaching & learning. His work outside public education includes the position of Lecturer of Science/STEM Education at the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development and works closely with the UMN STEM Education Center. He holds a PhD in Science Education from the UMN, a Masters of Biology from the University of Montana and Environmental Education Certificate from Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education. He has been awarded the MN Secondary Science Teacher of the Year, awarded Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Exchange, finalist President Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and semi-finalist MN Teacher of the Year and , including three different Native American reservations & public schools. During his tenure of over 30 years in education, he has taught in many classrooms, including three different Native American reservations, across all grades K-20. His specialty is to teach science through inquiry with an emphasis for outdoor learning.  Dr. Meagher is passionate about mentoring and supporting new or experienced teachers to learn the joys of STEM teaching and learning inside and outdoors.
• Gillian Roehrig, University of Minnesota

  Professor of Science Education, Associate Director of STEM Education Center

  Dr. Roehrig is a professor of STEM Education at the University of Minnesota. Her research explores issues of professional development for K-12 science teachers, with a focus on implementation of integrated STEM learning environments and induction and mentoring of beginning secondary science teachers. Her work in integrated STEM explores teachers' conceptions and implementation of STEM, curriculum development, and student learning in small groups during STEM lessons. She has received over $50 million in federal and state grants and published over 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She is a former president of the Association for Science Teacher Education and currently serves as president of NARST.