Name:

Dr. Deena Gould

Title:

Assistant Professor

Department:

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy

Describe your research in about 200 words.

I partner with children, youth, teachers, and communities on the design, development, and research of interdisciplinary learning experiences and materials. My research focuses on the design and study of STEM learning opportunities for youth and communities spanning across formal, informal, face-to-face, and digital spaces. Taking an ecological perspective, I study the development of STEM interests and STEM identities in multi-age, connected learning environments. My collaborative research leverages, and builds upon, the assets and interests that marginalized groups bring to STEM learning environments. The theoretical goal of my work is to create more equitable and inclusive opportunities for the development of STEM expertise, STEM identity, and interest-driven learning.

What’s the most interesting thing you have learned from a student?

Students have taught me that their life experiences and their diverse perspectives are the best foundations for growing their STEM knowledge and their STEM identities.