Two Westminster Professors and Student Present Research at

Two Westminster College education professors and their student recently presented their joint research, "Re-Thinking the Dark Side of the Moon: Confronting Misconceptions and the Development of an Instrument," at the National Science Teachers' Association conference in Dallas.

Laurajane LaVerde, a senior elementary major, Dr. Patrick Krantz, assistant professor of education, and Dr. Eileen Morelli, associate professor of education, conducted this joint research project.

"Dr. Morelli initiated this  research as an inquiry-based project in her junior block class," Krantz said.  "After the class, Laurajane still had questions, so I enrolled her in an independent study and the three of us continued the research."

"This experience has influenced my views on education in a tremendous way, and I owe much of my growth to the opportunity Dr. Krantz and Dr. Morelli afforded me," LaVerde said.

 LaVerde is a daughter of Charlotte LaVerde and the late Philip LaVerde.  She is a graduate of Oil City Area High School.  LaVerde is active in the Westminster College Chapel Staff, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Seekers, and vice president of Kappa Delta Pi.

"This project was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how faculty and student research projects can be developed," Krantz said.  "LaVerde did not do this as a requirement, she pursued this because she had questions.  If you ask her, I think she'll say that she learned a lot."

For more information, contact Krantz at (724) 946-7181 or e-mail krantzpd@westminster.edu; or Morelli at (724) 946-6035 or e-mail morellme@westminster.edu.

Dr. Patrick Krantz, Laurajane LaVerde, and Dr. Eileen Morelli