Sandra Scott

Education

• UBC, 2007, PhD, Science & Environmental Education
• UBC, 1997, MA, Science & Environmental Education
• UBC, 1983, Professional Teaching Programme
• Emily Carr College of Art & Design/Emily Carr University, 1984, Foundation Programme
• UBC, 1980

Biography

Before joining UBC I was a classroom teacher and also worked as a marine educator and park naturalist. These experiences prompted me to pursue a MA and PhD in Science and Environmental Education. I teach elementary science methods as well as courses in communications, environmental learning, and research methods. I enjoy working with Teacher Candidates and undergraduate science students in my role as Faculty Advisor with the Teacher Education Office. My research focuses on elementary science, environmental education, and teacher education. I view myself as a naturalist, scientist, and educator of, for, and in the environment; I am a passionate advocate for learning experiences that nurture our sense of wonder for the human and more than human world.

I am dedicated to science and environmental education, and elementary science is my home. My goal is for students to become confident, knowledgeable, and excited about teaching science. The Having of Wonderful Ideas in both theory and practice is linked through inquiry, doing, collaborating, wondering, reflecting, remembering, and taking action. My dialogical approach emphasizes hands on direct experiences, long-term engagement, and in-depth observation, conversation, and reflection. My course curricula and pedagogies are informed by scholarly and professional literature exploring inquiry, slow pedagogy, ethical caring, constructivism, Storywork, Indigenous ways and decolonizing perspectives, and place as EcoPedagogy.

What I do at UBC

• Area Coordinator, Science Education
• Co-Director UBC Intergenerational Landed Learning
• NSERC PromoScience
• Faculty Lead BEd Dual Degree Programme Physics, Math Forestry, Kinesiology
• Faculty Lead MEd Cohort Curriculum Studies in IB
• Education Community | Member, Board of Governors, Shawnigan Lake School

Invited Presentations

Presentations

2020: UBC, Faculty of Education, Environmental Education How can we make a difference? Panelist, Webinar, UBC Homecoming, October 20^th.

2020: Indigenous Perspectives within Teacher Education Coursework: Presenter with Drs. Jan Hare, Cynthia Nicol, LeAnne Petherick on our work developing course curricula for the NITEP BEd Elementary Cariboo Cohort, October 1.

Scott, S. (November, 2019) Wonder through Place. Bejing Normal University Teacher Educator Cohort, UBC.

Tan, M. & Scott, S. (March, 2017) Honouring our Elders; Learning science through place based approaches. Beijing Normal University Cohort, UBC.

Scott, S. (2016) Marine Education in Informal Settings, Seminar for National Ocean Science Education Center Foundation, National Science Museum of Korea, Daejon, Korea, June 29-July 2.

Moderator

2018: UBC: Moderator: UBC Reads Sustainability – R. Grant Ingram Distinguished Speaker Series St John’s College. with author Duncan McCue, on his work The Shoe Boy.

Conference Presentations

Fuchs, T., Scott, S., & Sonnert, G. (2021). Predictors of high school students’ interest in science and mathematics teaching careers, paper presentation, AERA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 17-21.

Scott, S., Owca, T., Shukri, Z., Han, B. & Nam, S. (2020) Integrating virtual and hands on marine education: experiences, reflections, and addressing challenges, panel and small group presentation at the Annual   Conference of the North American Aquatic and Marine Educators, NAME/CANOE, Virtual Conference,  August 19.

Beattie, E., Scott, S. & Adler, D. (2020) Young Children Learning with Sticks, paper presentation, AERA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 17-21.

Gerofksy, S. & Scott, S. (2020) Developing Pedagogical Witnessing and Community with Kin, on the  Turbulent Edges of Teacher Education. Canadian Perspectives on Environmental and Sustainability   Education in Teacher Education: Establishing A Research Community, paper presentation, AERA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 17-21.

Fuchs, T., Scott, S., Sonnert, G., & Sadler, P. So you want to be a high school science or math teacher?: Comparing high school students’ teaching career motivations by race and ethnicity, paper presentation, The Canadian Society for Studies in Education conference, London, Ontario, May 30-June 4.

Beattie, E., S., Scott, S. &, Adler. J. D. Young Children Learning Science With Sticks, paper presentation, The Canadian Society for Studies in Education conference, London, Ontario, May 30-June 4.

Scott, S. & Adler, D. Matriarchs and Matrilines: Honouring our Elders Transforming STEM in Teacher   Education: Sharing Lived Experiences with Orcas of The Salish Sea. paper presentation STEM 2020  conference, Vancouver, BC, July 9-11.

Beattie, L., Scott, S., Adler, D., & Drouin-Jackson, N. Innovative outdoor place based science pedagogy to enhance academically advanced high school students’ learning experiences, poster presentation, STEM 2020 conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada July 9-11.

Beattie, E., Adler, D., & Scott, S. Decreasing the Gender Gap in School Science Outdoor Science Learning  Experiences. STEM 2020. UBC, Vancouver, BC, Canada July 9-11.

Scott, S. & Beattie, L. (2019) Forest Walkshop, interactive workshop, Classrooms to Communities (C2C), UBC, Vancouver, BC, Sept 22.

Scott, S. & Beattie, L. (2019) Stepping into Place: Forest Walkshop with Mickie Noble, Hilary Leighton, Royal Roads University, Dawn Wiseman, Bishops University, Christine Tippett, University of Ottawa, CSSE  UBC, July 5.

Bigloo, F., Scott, S., & Adler, J.D. (2019) Ecology of Existing, Existing, Disgust, and Experience. Paper  presentation, CSSE Vancouver, BC June 1-6.

Scott, S., & Adler, D. (2019) Elder Knowledge & Wisdom in STEM within Teacher Education, paper presentation, HUIC STEAM/STEM in Education Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 5-7.

Scott, S. & Adler, J.D., (2019) Matriarchs and Matrilines: Honouring our Elders. Paper presentation, Investigating  Our Practices, Vancouver, BC, May 4.

Beattie, E., Adler, D., & Scott, S.  Collaborative Reflective Inquiry as Garden Eco-Pedagogy. Paper presented at AERA, Toronto, ON, Canada, April 5.

Scott, S., Bigloo, F., & Adler, J.D., (2019) Intersectionality through Lived Experiences of the Southern Resident  Orcas, Paper presentation NORA Border Regimes, Territorial Discourses, and Feminist Politics,   University of Iceland, May 22-24.

Scott, S. & Adler, D. (2019) Teaching Through Story: Sharing the Lived Experiences of the Southern Resident Orcas of the Salish Sea in Teacher Education. Conference on Environmental, Cultural, and Economic Sustainability: From Pedagogies of Sustainability to Transformative Change UBC Robson Square, Vancouver, BC January 17-19.

Beattie, L., Scott, S., Adler, J.D., Collaborative reflective inquiry as garden eco pedagogy. Paper presentation at American Education Research Association, Toronto, Ontario, April 5-9.

Beattie, A. E. and Scott, S. (2018, May). Developing An Improved Outdoor Learning Environment For Elementary School Children’s Science and Environmental Education. Single Paper Presentation at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE), Science Education Research Group (SERG), Regina, SK, May 26-39.

Bruyere, J., Flett, A., Rich, C., Beattie, A. E., Friedman, S., Scott, S., and Adler, D. (2018, May). Collaborative      Inquiry in the School Garden. Forty-minute presentation at the annual meeting of the Investigation Our Practices (IOP) Conference, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.

Beattie, A. E., Gerofsky, S., Scott, S., Urueta Ortiz, T. and Friedman, S. (2017). Conference in the Community Day Hosted at the UBC Farm Children’s Garden and the UBC Orchard Garden. Full day workshop at the   biennial meeting of the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), Vancouver, BC, September 11.

Tan, M., & Scott, S. (2017). Honouring our Elders: Learning science through place-based approaches. Posterpresented at the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), Vancouver, BC, Canada, September   9-15.

Ostertag, J., Gerofsky, S. & Scott, S. (2017). Learning to teach environmental education by gardening the margins of the academy. Paper presented at The Canadian Conference of Studies in Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 28-June 3.

Scott (June, 2016) Panel Discussion: Directions and Functions of a National Marine Science Museum, Seminar for National Ocean Science Center Foundation, National Science Museum of Korea, Daejon, Korea, June 29-July 2.

Adler, J. D., Nashon, S., Scott, S., & Ludeman, J. (2014). Interpreting students’ understanding of choking in children through web-based learning experiences. Paper presented at The International Conference of STEM in Education, UBC, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, July 12-15, 2014.

Macdonald, A., Milner-Bolotin, M., Carolan, J., Fisher, H., Nashon, S., & Scott, S. (2014) Analyzing undergraduate students’ attitudes and beliefs about physics: Influence of gender and year of study. Paper presented at The International Conference of STEM in Education, UBC, Vancouver, B.C., Canada July 12-15, 2014.

Adler, J.D., & Scott, S. (2014) Facilitating science methods through an inquiry approach. Paper presented at The International Conference of STEM in Education, UBC, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, July 12-15, 2014.

Butler, G., Kennedy, E., Millar, E., & Scott, S. (2014). Motivations for and recommendations from the Equinox summit. Panel discussion at the Equinox Summit: Learning 2030, UBC, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, March 3, 2014.

Kim, J., Anderson, D., & Scott, S. (2013). Korean elementary school students’ perceptions of marine organisms. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the North American Aquatic and Marine Educators, Crescent Beach, B.C., Canada, July 14 – 18.

Kim, J. & Scott, S. (2013). Korean elementary school students’ perspectives of their Interconnectedness to marine plants and animals. Paper presented at East Asian Association for Science Education Conference, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, China, July 4 – 6.

Scott, S. & Adler, J.D. (2013). Re-imagining a science methods course through an environmental education lens.     Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Studies in Education, Victoria, B.C., Canada, June 1– 5.

Scott, S. & Adler, J.D. (2012). Searching for effective environmental education: A study of children’s environmental knowing in a marine science programme. Paper presented at American Education Research Association  (AERA) Conference, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, April 16 – 19.

Scott, S. (April 2012). Teaching Science Methods Through a ‘Green’ Lens. Presentation for University of British Columbia Sustainability Fellows. A presentation on the USI Sustainability Research Grant project, Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, UBC, April 2012.

Scott, S. & Adler, J.D. (2012). Searching for effective environmental education: A study of children’s
environmental knowing in a marine science programme. Online Paper Repository for American Education Research Association (AERA) Conference, Vancouver, Canada, April 16 – 19, 2012.

Nashon, S., Adler, J. D, Ludemann, J., & Scott, S. (2011, August). Web Based Education: Investigating Students’ Understanding and Interpretation of Choking in Children – Lessons Beyond Cultural Borders. Paper Presented at ICT and Informatics in Globalized World of Education (IIGWE) Conference, Mombasa, Kenya, Africa.

Adler, J. D.; Nashon, S., Ludemann, J., & Scott, S. (2011, May). Students’ Understanding and Interpreting Choking in Children by Grade Fives. Paper presented at the 2011 CSSE Annual Conference. University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Kelly, N. & Scott, S. (2009, October). Using the 7 principles for good practice to evaluate a service learning course. Paper presentation at the Ninth International Conference on Service Learning, International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Kelly, N. & Scott, S. (2009, May). Using the 7 principles for good practice in undergraduate education to evaluate a community-based learning course. Paper presentation at the First Year in Focus: Engaging Students in their First Year and Beyond Conference, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada.

Adler, J.D., Scott, S.A., Nashon, S. M. (2008). The Relationship Between Philosophical, Pedagogical, & Content Knowledge Among Elementary Science Teacher Candidates. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study Of Education (CSSE) at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC., Canada.

Adler, J.D., Scott, S.A., Nashon, S.M. (2008). The Relationship Between Philosophical, Pedagogical, & Content Knowledge Among Elementary Science Teacher Candidates. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, New York City, NY, U.S.A.

Scott, S. (2004, August). Multi-perspective environmental education. Workshop and paper presentation at the Developmental Education for a Sustainable Future Conference, the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EEC), Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Scott, S. (2004, April). Children’s environmental knowing. Poster presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, California, U.S.A.

Scott, S., & Mayer-Smith, J. (2004, April). Environmental knowing through multi-perspective learning. Poster presentation at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Bigloo, F., Scott, S. & Adler, D. (2021, May 14). Understanding curriculum as geo/biospheric text. Prospects. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-021-09553-x

Fuchs, T., Sonnert, G., Scott, S., Sadler, P.M., and Chen, C. (2021, May 28). Preparation and Motivation of High School Students Who Want to Become Science or Mathematics Teachers, Journal of Science Teacher Education, DOI: 10.1080/1046560X.2021.1908658.

Book Chapters

Ostertag, J, Gerofsky, S. & Scott, S. (2020). Learning to teach environmental education by gardening the margins of the academy. In D. Karrow and M. DiGiuseppe (Eds), Environmental Education and Sustainability Education in Teacher Education: Canadian Perspectives, Springer Series International Explorations in Outdoor and Environmental Education, volume 4, pp.111-130. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-030-25016-4#toc

Ostertag, J., Gerofsty, S. & Scott. S. (2017). Learning to teach environmental education by gardening the margins of the academy. In D. Karrow, M. DiGiuseppe, P. Elliot, Y. Gwekwerere, & H. Inwood (Eds.) Canadian Perspectives on Initial Teacher Environmental Education Praxis. Ontario, Canada: Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE). (pp. 186-216). ISBN 978-0-9947451-5-6

Books

Scott, S. (1999). An intertidal voyage. In A. Griffiths & J. Mayer-Smith (Eds.), Kidscience: Real science your child can do. Vancouver, BC: APASE.

Scott, S. (1991, 2002). Life at the edge in BC coastal parks. Victoria, B.C., Canada: Queens Printer.

Scott, S. & Sutherland, T. (1987) Vancouver Island: A colour portrait. Vancouver, B.C., Canada: The Focus Group.

Research Projects

• Community Field Experience with Ocean Networks Canada
• Dual Degree Programme BEd Secondary Students
• UBC Intergenerational Landed Learning
• Place as Eco-Pedagogy – Southern Resident Killer Whales of the Salish Sea

Students Supervision

I am currently accepting Master’s students interested in, but not limited to!, science education, teacher education, environmental education, climate and nature education, and marine/ocean education.

Courses Taught

• EDCP 349/SCED 320 Science Methods Elementary
• EDCP 328 Environmental Education
• EDCP 538 Theory & Research in Environmental Education
• EDUC 316c Communication in Teaching
• EDUC 450a/b/451a/b/452b, Inquiry Seminars 1, 2, 3 Elementary, Secondary, Dual Degree
• EDUC 430 Community Field Experience
• EDUC 500 Education Research Methods
• EDUC 315, 319, 399 Short Practicum Elementary, Secondary, Middle Years, Dual Degree
• EDUC 415, Long Practicum Elementary, Secondary, Middle Years
• EDUC 329 Extended Practicum Beyond the Classroom
• CUST 416b Investigating Science with Children