Winter Welcome

We have passed the winter solstice, the moment when daylight begins its slow return. There is something grounding about these darker days on the Pacific Northwest coast. Winter invites us to pause, take stock, and appreciate the quieter rhythms of learning that often emerge when life slows down. Just as the solstice marks a turning point, this season at SMATE has brought a sense of renewal and reflection across our program.

This edition offers a chance to celebrate the hard work and connections flourishing within SMATE and extending out into our community. So get cozy, pour yourself a cup of tea, and enjoy reading about what we’ve been up to.

What’s Inside:

• Message from SMATE’s Director: Emily Borda                
• Spotlight: EduTOYpia                
• Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Norda Stephenson                
• Curriculum in Action: YES Engineering in Elementary Classrooms                 
• Community Membership: Updates                

Message from SMATE’s Director: Emily Borda

I am delighted to share with you all, our K-12 community members, some of the wonderful work going on in SMATE. I am proud of the collaborative work that many of our faculty and staff members are engaged in. This work is both informed by, and is meant to inform, the work of teaching science at various levels. With this newsletter, we begin taking a deeper dive into select faculty members’ work and areas of expertise through the Faculty Spotlight section. Please consider us “thinking partners” in your science education work and let us know if you have a question related to your practice, or an idea for future collaborative work! Finally, I know the floods in December have hit some of your communities particularly hard. I hope you and the families you serve are safe and that rebuilding/recovery efforts are underway.

With gratitude,

Emily

EduToypia: Robotics, Research, and Community Engagement

Our EduToyPia installation in the SMATE Learning Resource Center (LRC) continues to evolve as a vibrant environment supporting play, professional development, and educational research. The space invites pre-service teachers to engage with educational robots during Stay & Play ambient hours, allowing them to explore technology and pedagogy in a low-pressure, curiosity-driven setting. Organized Stay & Play sessions extend these opportunities, offering more structured interactions for both pre-service and in-service teachers.

EduToyPia’s impact stretches far beyond the LRC. Throughout the year, the robotics collection has supported community outreach events and facilitated professional development for practicing teachers who are eager to integrate robotics into their classrooms. The breadth of the collection also sustains ongoing research, providing a rich foundation for multi-layered investigations into accessibility, durability, and classroom usability of robotics tools.

This winter, two major research frameworks, one focused on durability and one on disability, were completed, marking significant project milestones. Meanwhile, the Busy Teachers Guide to Robots (BTGTR) remains an active and exciting endeavor. The team is currently building a dynamic website informed by the extensive data grid created over the past two years. In addition, teacher-friendly “At a Glance” pages are under development. These materials draw on the research literature and pilot data collected during early testing; the team is now conducting interviews and surveys with teachers to validate the information and refine the categories. 

Contact Caroline.hardin@wwu.edu if you’re interested in:

• Stay & Play sessions for both pre-service and in-service teachers                
• Community outreach using EduToyPia robots                
• Professional development for in-service teachers                
• Research grounded in access to a full collection of educational robots                

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Norda Stephenson- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Science Education

We are pleased to highlight the recent scholarly work of Dr. Norda Stephenson, whose publication, “Science Practices in the General Chemistry Laboratory: Hits, Misses, and Near Misses,” offers important insights into how college students engage with scientific practices in laboratory settings. Her analysis demonstrates that meaningful engagement requires more than completing calculations or following procedural steps, it depends on opportunities for students to ask questions, construct explanations, engage in argumentation, and communicate their thinking. By examining the structure of common laboratory activities, Dr. Stephenson identifies where these opportunities are afforded and where they are limited, providing a valuable lens for examining existing lab designs.

These findings are particularly relevant for secondary science educators. Rather than prescribing specific instructional strategies, Dr. Stephenson’s work offers an analytic framework that teachers can use to evaluate the extent to which their own investigations support sensemaking, reasoning, and evidence-based explanation. This perspective encourages teachers in k-12 and postsecondary levels to consider whether students are merely carrying out procedures or actively interpreting data, building models, and developing scientific literacy. Her publication serves as a bridge between research and practice, offering NGSS-aligned insights that can inform thoughtful reflection and improvement of laboratory experiences.

In addition to her recent scholarly contributions, we are also thrilled to share that Dr. Stephenson’s tenure and promotion case has received a strong positive recommendation. While final approval from the Provost is anticipated later this winter, this recommendation reflects her sustained record of scholarship, teaching excellence, and service to the SMATE community. Achieving this milestone represents a significant professional accomplishment. Congratulations, Dr. Stephenson!

Curriculum in Action: YES Engineering in Elementary Classrooms

Throughout the past year, Dr. Debi Hanuscin and Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez have brought the Museum of Science’s YES (Youth Engineering Solutions) curriculum into multiple elementary schools around Bellingham, helping young learners engage deeply with engineering practices while simultaneously supporting the development of pre-service teachers. This hands-on work has given teacher candidates the opportunity to analyze curriculum quality, consider alignment with NGSS standards, and practice facilitating engineering design challenges with our local elementary students.  Because the YES curriculum is research-based and freely available to local schools, the pre-service teachers can bring this experience using the curriculum directly with them  into their future teaching.

The YES curriculum encourages learners to define problems, design prototypes, test solutions, and reflect on their progress; experiences that help children see themselves as capable engineers. For our pre-service teachers, these classroom-embedded opportunities have strengthened their ability to evaluate, adapt, and implement engineering lessons. This work represents a powerful model of how SMATE blends research, practice, and community engagement to prepare teachers who are ready to support rich STEM learning. 

We are also thrilled to celebrate the recent achievements of both faculty members. Dr. Debi Hanuscin was named the 2025 WSTA Excellence in Science Teaching Award recipient recognizing her leadership and contributions to science education across Washington state. Dr. Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez was elected an AAAS Honorary Fellow, honoring his distinguished contributions to marine ecology, science education, and public engagement. Their dedication to Western’s preservice teachers delivering high quality STEM lessons, and their individual accomplishments, demonstrate the strength and impact of SMATE’s faculty community.

Community Membership Updates

In the spirit of reducing barriers and strengthening our relationships with local schools, families and community partners, SMATE has revised its Community Membership policy. Our goal is to ensure that access to SMATE resources, particularly the Learning Resource Center, remains equitable, affordable, and supportive of the educators and partners who engage with our programs.

Updated membership details can be found on the SMATE Membership page.

Under the new structure, Family Memberships are now available for $35 per year, providing access to our Storybook center, EduTOYpia and support (from Whitney Morrison) for home learning and enrichment. School Memberships have been adjusted to $100 per year, offering educators shared access to SMATE resources to enhance classroom instruction and support collaborative learning.

In recognition of the important role practica placements and grant-funded partnerships play in our community, teachers participating in SMATE practica or grants, or hosting SMATE interns will now receive membership access for their entire teaching staff. This change reflects our commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and ensuring that the teachers who work most closely with SMATE, and our preservice teachers, benefit fully from our resources and support.

As an example of the reciprocal work taking place in our community, teacher Juan Gaona, with support from specialist Jesus Perez Linerez of Madison Elementary in the Mount Vernon School District, hosted a Museo de Animales this November. The event provided students with access to SMATE specimens for up-close, observational learning. Both educators are affiliated with SMATE grant programs and have free access to instructional materials, further enriching classroom experiences.

We look forward to continuing to build strong, accessible connections with the families, schools, and districts we serve. Let Whitney Morrison (houckw@wwu.edu) know if you have any questions about the updated membership options or how to access benefits. 

A full list of schools and community partners affiliated with SMATE grants, and therefore included in a free Community Membership, is available on our website: SMATE Community Membership Information.

Closing Notes

As days continue to lengthen, we’re grateful for the partnerships, creativity, and scholarship that continue to shape SMATE’s work. Whether through research, community outreach, faculty accomplishments, or classroom collaboration, you each play a role in making SMATE a vibrant space for science education. We wish you a restful and inspiring winter season and look forward to continuing this meaningful work with you in the coming months.

Warmly,

Whitney Morrison
Facilities, Collections and Technology Manager | Senior Instructor
SMATE | WWU | College of Science & Engineering

To opt in/out- email Whitney Morrison at houckw@wwu.edu