Melissa Braaten
Melissa Braaten is a research assistant in science education working with the team to develop the tools, videos, and coursework that are part of this project. As a 4th year doctoral student Melissa is researching the relationships between teachers' learning, teachers' classroom practice, and student learning. She is working to develop stronger theories for understanding how teachers learn ambitious practices for teaching science and hopes to help build better supports for teachers. Melissa's primary areas of interest include philosophy of science and scientific explanations, classroom discourse, and rigorous science education as a social justice construct.
Melissa has been teaching science for 12 years. Her teaching experiences range from working with 10 and 11-year old students learning chemistry and physics to working with high school students in AP Biology courses and working with students at an alternative high school. Currently, Melissa teaches chemistry and physics in an extracurricular academic enrichment program for 6th/7th grade students of color. Melissa and her students are passionate about engaging in intellectual work in science and are glad to be included as one of the video case studies.
