This case study reports my experiences of a PhD project applying the microgenetic approach to study changes in students' conceptual structures as they developed understanding of topics in physics. The microgenetic approach involves sampling (referring to the frequency of application of data collection probes) a phenomenon at a rate which is high…

In 2014, we embarked on a research agenda focused on raising up the voices of urban youth who had disengaged from school before graduating high school. The youth communicated events that not only contributed to their disengagement but also to a sense of mistrust for individuals in traditional "helping roles" (e.g., teachers or parents).…

In my PhD research, I explore the reflective schooling experiences of recently graduated First Nations students in New Brunswick (Canada) provincial schools. Improving educational experiences and academic outcomes for First Nations students is currently considered a priority across Canada; however, most previous research focuses on quantitative…

Presented at the Advanced Placement Annual Conference (APAC) in Las Vegas, NV in July 2013. This presentation reviews new research examining the AP® experience of Hispanic graduates over the past decade. Topics include an in-depth look at the AP Spanish Language and Culture gateway hypothesis and trends in family characteristics such as parent…

For educational achievement tests that employ multiple-choice (MC) items and aim to reliably classify students into performance categories, it is critical to design MC items that are capable of discriminating student performance according to the stated achievement levels. This is accomplished, in part, by clearly understanding how item design…