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Steven Zuiker

Assistant Professor
Faculty
TEMPE Campus
Mailcode
1811
Biography
Steve Zuiker is an assistant professor of educational technology and the learning sciences in the division of educational innovation and leadership. His research is broadly based on the notion that ideas are only as important as what we can do with them. Learning environments, like gardens and video games, as well as research findings, like scholarly journal articles, each relates to real-world contexts in which they can be both useful and used. Professor Zuiker's research agenda explores how to design activities, resources, and projects that interconnect classrooms and schoolyards, real-world settings and digital video games, and ultimately, educational practice and educational research.
His research and publications advance two goals related to what we can do with ideas. First, his research develops and improves learning and teaching systems in K-12 science education, often utilizing digital technologies. For example, environmental sensor networks in gardens and virtual environmental scenarios in video games can be tools to support students' meaningful engagement with science in classrooms, schoolyards, and backyards as well as other sites of learning. Second, he investigates how educational research itself is a system of learning and teaching in which research reports remain one among many means of sharing ideas and doing things with them. Professor Zuiker considers how educational practitioners and researchers organize these systems of learning and teaching and how digital technologies can enhance the social relationships through which education stakeholders inspire and enable insight and mutual understanding.
Education
- Ph.D. Learning Sciences, Indiana University-Bloomington
- M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Georgia
- B.A. Psychology, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Google Scholar
Research Interests
Guiding Research Questions:
- How can practical connections between schools, local neighborhoods, and professional disciplinary communities enhance learning and teaching activities in science education?
- How can educational activities inspire and enable students, educators, and researchers, respectively, to expand the reach and impact of what they learn to other settings and contexts?
Current Research Projects:
The Connected Gardening project involves Phoenix area elementary schools in a project-based approach to gardening in schoolyards. It utilizes digital resources like digital sensors in order to plug physical resources like soil into the internet to support learning and teaching. Combining digital and physical infrastructure interconnects student investigations unfolding in classrooms, gardens, and local communities in order to study how soil sustains life. Systematically exploring and explaining how to grow tasty food positions the Next Generation Science Standards as tools for practical applications of scientific ideas in everyday settings.
The Knowledge Mobilization project is an externally funded, interdisciplinary effort to understand existing systems of exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other education stakeholders neighboring three colleges of education in North America. Dr. Zuiker concentrates on how these systems enable any one education stakeholder to learn from others and to share what they have learned.
Publications
SELECT PEER-REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES (* denotes student author)
- Fischman, G., Anderson, K. T., Tefera, A., & Zuiker, S. J. (2018). If mobilizing educational research is the answer, who can afford to ask the question? An analysis of knowledge mobilization for scholarship in education. AERA Open, 4(1), 1-17. DOI:
10.1177/2332858417750133 [all authors contributed equally.] - McMullen, S., Winkler, F., & Zuiker, S. J. (2017). Gardens, machines, and education. Leonardo. DOI: 10.1162/LEON_a_01531 [all authors contributed equally.]
- Zuiker, S. J., Anderson, K., Jordan, M., & Stewart*, O. (2016). Complementary lenses: Using theories of situativity and complexity to understand collaborative learning as systems-level social activity. Learning, Culture, & Social Interaction, 9, 80-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.lcsi.2016.02.003
- Zuiker, S. J., & Wright*, K. (2015). Learning in and beyond school gardens with cyber-physical systems. Interactive Learning Environments, 23 (5), 556-577. doi:10.1080/10494820.2015.1063512
- Zuiker, S. J., & Whitaker, J. R. (2014). Refining inquiry with multi-form assessment: Formative and summative assessment functions for flexible inquiry. International Journal of Science Education, 36(6), 1037-1059. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2013.834489
- Zuiker, S. J. (2012). Educational virtual environments as a lens for supporting and understanding both precise repeatability and specific variation in classroom learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43(6), 981-992. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01266.x
- Hickey, D. T., & Zuiker, S. J. (2012). Multi-level assessment for discourse, understanding, and achievement. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 21(4), 522-582. doi: 10.1080/10508406.2011.652320
- Zuiker, S. J., & Ang*, D. (2011). Virtual environments and the ongoing work of becoming a Singapore teacher. Internet and Higher Education, 14, 34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2010.05.006
- Barab, S. A., Zuiker, S. J., Warren, S., Hickey, D. T., Ingram-Goble, A., Kwon, E. J., Kouper, I., & Herring, S. (2007). Situationally embodied curriculum: Relating formalisms and contexts. Science Education, 91 (5), 750-782. doi: 10.1002/sce.20217
EDITOR-REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES
- Zuiker, S. J. (2016). Game over: Assessment as formative transitions through and beyond playful media. Educational Technology, 56(3), 48-53.
- Zuiker, S. J. (2010). Think global | Design glocal. Educational Technology, 50 (5), 37-42.
EDITOR-REFEREED BOOK CHAPTERS
- Zuiker, S. J., Piepgrass*, N., & Evans*, M. D. (2017). Expanding approaches to design research from researcher “ego-systems” to stakeholder ecosystems. In J. M. Spector, B. B. Lockee, & M. D. Childress (Eds.) Learning, Design, and Technology. An International Compendium of Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. New York: Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_74-1
- Zuiker, S. J., & Jan, M. (2012). A cultural analysis of game-based learning for collective conceptual evolution. In C. B. Lee & D. Jonassen (Eds.), Fostering conceptual change with technology: Asian perspectives (pp. 225-260). Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia.
Research Activity
- Fischman,Gustavo Enrique*, Zuiker,Steven J. For Whom and To What End is Educational Research Ultimately Directed An Analysis of Knowledge Mobilization Strategies. Spencer Foundation Organizational Learning Grant 10003022 (ASUF 30006172). ASU FDN(9/1/2014 - 1/31/2016).
Courses
Spring 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
LSE 593 | Applied Project |
LSE 599 | Thesis |
EDT 684 | Internship |
DCI 691 | Seminar |
EDT 780 | Practicum |
EDT 784 | Internship |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 792 | Research |
DCI 799 | Dissertation |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
TEL 313 | Technology Educational Setting |
EDT 584 | Internship |
LSE 591 | Seminar |
LSE 599 | Thesis |
EDT 690 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDP 540 | LearningTheories&InstrctStratg |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
TEL 313 | Technology Educational Setting |
LSE 570 | Case Exemplars Learning Systms |
EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
LSE 593 | Applied Project |
LSE 599 | Thesis |
EDT 684 | Internship |
EDT 780 | Practicum |
EDT 784 | Internship |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 792 | Research |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
TEL 313 | Technology Educational Setting |
EDT 584 | Internship |
LSE 591 | Seminar |
LSE 593 | Applied Project |
LSE 599 | Thesis |
EDT 690 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDP 540 | LearningTheories&InstrctStratg |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
Spring 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
TEL 504 | Learning and Instruction |
LSE 570 | Case Exemplars Learning Systms |
EDT 590 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 684 | Internship |
EDT 780 | Practicum |
EDT 784 | Internship |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
DCI 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2016 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDP 540 | Theoretical Views of Learning |
EDT 584 | Internship |
LSE 591 | Seminar |
EDT 690 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2016 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 545 | Using the Internet in Educ |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
Spring 2016 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
EDT 591 | Seminar |
LSE 598 | Special Topics |
EDT 684 | Internship |
EDT 784 | Internship |
DCI 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 792 | Research |
DCI 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2015 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 530 | Technology Integration Methods |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
LSE 591 | Seminar |
EDT 690 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 780 | Practicum |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2015 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 545 | Using the Internet in Educ |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
Spring 2015 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
EDT 591 | Seminar |
EDT 684 | Internship |
TEL 702 | Dynamic Contexts of Education |
EDA 702 | Dynamic Contexts of Education |
EDT 784 | Internship |
EDT 790 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 792 | Research |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2014 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 530 | Technology Integration Methods |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
EDT 690 | Reading and Conference |
EDT 780 | Practicum |
EDT 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2014 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
EDT 545 | Using the Internet in Educ |
EDT 580 | Practicum |
EDT 584 | Internship |
Honors/Awards
2010 Best Paper Award, 4th IEEE International Conference on Digital Ecosystems and Technologies
2008 Best Paper Nomination, International Conference of the Learning Sciences
2006 Reviewer of the Year Award, Educational Researcher.
Editorships
- Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Research on Technology in Education
Professional Associations
- American Educational Research Association (aera.net)
- Arizona Educational Research Organization (azedresearch.org)
- International Society of the Learning Science (isls.org)
Service
- Board Member, Arizona Educational Research Organization
- Co-Chair, International Conference on Computers in Education-Subconference on Educational Gamification and Game-Based Learning
Graduate Faculties / Mentoring History
DISSERTATION CO-CHAIR
- Tome Martinez. Educational Technology PhD Program.
- James Thomas. Educational Technology PhD Program. (Graduated 2017)
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER
- Priyanka Parekh. Learning, Literacies, & Technology PhD program.
- Niels Piepgrass. Educational Policy & Evaluation PhD Program.
- Jennifer Vargas Wright. Educational Technology PhD Program.
- Cori Lomonte. Educational Leadership & Innovation EdD Program.
- Dianna Lippincott. Educational Leadership & Innovation EdD Program. (Graduated 2017)
STUDENT RESEARCH COLLABORATORS
- Catharyn Crane. Learning, Literacies, & Technology PhD program.
- Dani Kachorsky. Learning, Literacies, & Technology PhD program.
- Priyanka Parekh. Learning, Literacies, & Technology PhD program.
- Niels Piepgrass. Educational Policy & Evaluation PhD Program.
- ChristiAnne Stephens. Educational Technology PhD Program.
- Kevin Winn. Educational Policy & Evaluation PhD Program.
- Kyle Wright. Educational Technology PhD Program.
- Anna Cirrell. Learning, Literacies, & Technology PhD program. (Graduated 2017)