Jennifer Miller-Ray, PhD. is a cognitive scientist and learning technology expert specializing in STEM literacy, makerspace, instructional design, and pedagogy. Currently , she serves as an assistant professor in reading in the College of Education at Sul Ross State University. She has designed literacy and makerspace events for NASA launch parties held at the Kennedy space center, STEM camps at various museums to include the Perot Museum, and teacher professional development STEM literacy programs. Dr. Miller has received multiple NASA, state, and community grants to fund STEM research programs. In addition, Dr. Miller has developed two Massive Open Online Courses through Canvas's Open Network highlighting NASA MMS Education Outreach programs. Dr. Miller's research centers around a makerspace project-based learning model in which elementary and middle school students connect curriculum content to informal makerspace activities to make an artifact serving the career role of a journalist, scientist, engineer, or journalist. Recently, her dissertation initiatives, funded through a NASA grant and a local library public school program, were highlighted as the innovative research project in the University of North Texas's January 2017 RESEARCH magazine. Jennifer is currently serving as the chair of the Education Department and Reading Specialist coordinator at Sul Ross State University and teaches literacy and leadership courses as she continues her research initiatives improving cognitive intelligence via makerspace environments.
This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provide... more This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provided to teachers within north Texas over the course of a semester. The research employed a constructionist approach delivered via 2D and 3D technologies during STEM instructional activities within a creative space. Participants reported statistically significant increases in self-reported competence in technology integration, confidence levels toward integrating World Wide Web, Emerging Technologies for Student Learning, Teacher Professional Development, and attitudes toward math, technology, science, and STEM careers.
This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, pro... more This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provided to teachers within north Texas over the course of a semester. The research employed a constructionist approach delivered via 2D and 3D technologies during STEM instructional activities within a creative space. Participants reported statistically significant increases in self-reported competence in technology integration, confidence levels toward integrating World Wide Web, Emerging Technologies for Student Learning, Teacher Professional Development, and attitudes toward math, technology, science, and STEM careers.
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), 2014
As US K12 public school leadership attempt to build a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and... more As US K12 public school leadership attempt to build a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) academic and career readiness program, it is essential to understand middle school student perspectives and attitudes associated with STEM and STEM related career pathways. Tyler-Wood, Knezek, & Christensen (2010) developed and utilized the STEM Semantics Survey Instrument, which incorporates 25 items to measure the following category scales: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and career. A research study investigating middle school student attitudes towards STEM during a summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) camp employed the STEM Semantic Survey. Research findings indicate an increase in perceptions towards engineering as a result of experiences during STEAM camp. Middle school females participating in the research study indicated stronger dispositions towards science.
A remote Navajo reservation school is broadening its instruction through a makerspace for an unde... more A remote Navajo reservation school is broadening its instruction through a makerspace for an underrepresented and disadvantaged population of students. The Little Singer Community School (LSCS) is located in Birdspring, Arizona, in the southwestern portion of the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Students attending the school have limited access to enhanced learning experiences. Two LSCS teachers, Wilphina Becenti and Thomas "Tom" Tomas, have master's degrees with an emphasis in bilingual education, specifically pertaining to Navajo and English languages, so most students receive some instruction in the Navajo language and culture. But prior to this program there was little training in STEM literacy and makerspace pedagogy, and LSCS lacked equipment to provide strong training in engineering and the sciences overall. That all changed in 2017, when LSCS partnered with NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), the
This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provide... more This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provided to teachers within north Texas over the course of a semester. The research employed a constructionist approach delivered via 2D and 3D technologies during STEM instructional activities within a creative space. Participants reported statistically significant increases in self-reported competence in technology integration, confidence levels toward integrating World Wide Web, Emerging Technologies for Student Learning, Teacher Professional Development, and attitudes toward math, technology, science, and STEM careers.
This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, pro... more This study investigated a Makerspace professional development program, the Makers' Guild, provided to teachers within north Texas over the course of a semester. The research employed a constructionist approach delivered via 2D and 3D technologies during STEM instructional activities within a creative space. Participants reported statistically significant increases in self-reported competence in technology integration, confidence levels toward integrating World Wide Web, Emerging Technologies for Student Learning, Teacher Professional Development, and attitudes toward math, technology, science, and STEM careers.
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), 2014
As US K12 public school leadership attempt to build a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and... more As US K12 public school leadership attempt to build a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) academic and career readiness program, it is essential to understand middle school student perspectives and attitudes associated with STEM and STEM related career pathways. Tyler-Wood, Knezek, & Christensen (2010) developed and utilized the STEM Semantics Survey Instrument, which incorporates 25 items to measure the following category scales: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and career. A research study investigating middle school student attitudes towards STEM during a summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) camp employed the STEM Semantic Survey. Research findings indicate an increase in perceptions towards engineering as a result of experiences during STEAM camp. Middle school females participating in the research study indicated stronger dispositions towards science.
A remote Navajo reservation school is broadening its instruction through a makerspace for an unde... more A remote Navajo reservation school is broadening its instruction through a makerspace for an underrepresented and disadvantaged population of students. The Little Singer Community School (LSCS) is located in Birdspring, Arizona, in the southwestern portion of the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Students attending the school have limited access to enhanced learning experiences. Two LSCS teachers, Wilphina Becenti and Thomas "Tom" Tomas, have master's degrees with an emphasis in bilingual education, specifically pertaining to Navajo and English languages, so most students receive some instruction in the Navajo language and culture. But prior to this program there was little training in STEM literacy and makerspace pedagogy, and LSCS lacked equipment to provide strong training in engineering and the sciences overall. That all changed in 2017, when LSCS partnered with NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), the
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