Jon E. Pedersen, PhD
Professor of Science
Education
Co-Director of the Science
Education Center
Background
Information:
- B.S. in Agriculture (Biochemistry and Nutrition) (1982), M.Ed. in
Administration, Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education) (1988),
Ph.D. in Administration, Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education)
(1990), University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- Dr. Pedersen began his teaching career as a secondary school science
teacher and taught high school chemistry and physics.
- In 1990, he finished his PhD at the University of Nebraska and became an
Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of
Arkansas, in Fayetteville, AR for five years.
- During his tenure at the University of Arkansas he also served as
Co-Director of the Center for Middle Level Education, Research and
Development as well as undergraduate and graduate coordinator.
- In 1995, after being tenured and promoted, Dr. Pedersen took a position as
an associate professor with tenure at East Carolina University in
Greenville, North Carolina.
- For the next five years Dr. Pedersen held several leadership positions at
ECU including: director of partnership research, Associate Dean, and interim
department chair.
- In 2000, Dr. Pedersen moved to the University of Oklahoma as Full
Professor, where he is a faculty member in science education in the
Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum Department.
- Dr. Pedersen is very active in several national organizations including:
the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Association for
the Education of Teachers of Science, and National Science Teachers
Association.
- He is the author of over sixty publications on social issues and science
teaching; and, has published two books and two teacher manuals for robotics.
- Dr. Pedersen is in his 13th year in higher education and in his third year
at the University of Oklahoma where he holds the rank of Full Professor.
- His primary teaching responsibilities are with graduate and undergraduate
courses in science education offered to preservice and inservice teachers.
- During his tenure in higher education, Dr. Pedersen has been Director and
Co-Director of numerous grants and supported projects on science curricula
development, science inservice education, middle level education and
international education totaling over $1.0M.
- He has directed numerous programs in education and science education in
Bolivia, South America and has worked in over a half-a-dozen countries
around the world.
Courses
Offered:
- Undergraduate
- EDSC 4092
- Inquiry Based Science Teaching
- EDSC 4193 - Teaching Science in the Elementary Schools
- EDSC 4513 - Teaching Science in the Secondary Schools
- EDUC 4060 - Supervision of Student Teacher
- Graduate
- EDSC 5513 - Teaching Science in the Secondary Schools
- EDSC 5514 - Research and Development of Science Curricula
Career
Awards, Noteworthy Grants, and International Work
Selected
Publications
email: pedersenj@ou.edu