Mandy Biggers, Ph.D.

Contact

mbiggers2@twu.edu
940-898-2790
ASSC 341

Biography

Mandy Biggers, Ph.D. is a faculty member in the department of biology. She currently teaches life science for non-science majors, biology labs for majors, and science methods courses for teacher candidates. Before coming to TWU, Dr. Biggers taught at Penn State University in the science education department. Prior to obtaining her graduate degrees, she was a middle and high school science teacher in Texas. Dr. Biggers' interests include (1) exploring how engineering curricula are enacted in elementary classrooms, (2) anaylsis of the amount of teacher-direction and/or student-direction in elementary science lessons and science curricula, and (3) investigating mentor/mentee relationships in science classrooms with student teachers. 

Education

Ph.D., Science Education, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
B.S., Multidisciplinary Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Expertise

Elementary and Secondary Science Teaching; Science Education; Engineering Education; Science Teacher Preparation

Latest Articles

(Mis)alignments in mentorship: Exploring challenges to preservice science teacher preparation
Journal of Science Teacher Education (2019)
Mandy Biggers, Alison Miller, Laura Zangori, Brooke Whitworth

Questioning questions: Elementary teachers' adaptations of investigation questions across the inquiry continuum
Research in Science Education (2017)
Mandy Biggers

Preservice elementary teachers' images of scientific inquiry regarding practices of next generation science standards
Journal of Research in Curriculum & Instruction (2017)
Kyungmoon Jeon, Mandy Biggers

Elementary teachers' use of formative assessment to support students' learning about interactions between the hydrosphere and the geosphere
Journal of Geoscience Education (2015)
Cory T. Forbes, Jamie L Sabel, Mandy Biggers

Chapters

Science, engineering, literacy practices and place-based education: Powerful practices for integration
in Sensemaking in Elementary Science: Supporting Teacher Learning | Routledge (2020)
Mandy Biggers, Jennifer Lynn Cody

Curricular Role Identity: What Kind of Science Teacher Will I Be? Teachers' Curricular Role Identity for Elementary Science
in Studying Science Teacher Identity: Theoretical, Methodological, and Empirical Explorations | Sense Publishers (2015)
Cory T. Forbes, Mandy Biggers

Recent Presentations

Science, engineering, literacy practices, and problem-based education: Powerful practices for Integration
Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, Associate Fellow (2019)
Paper | Mandy Biggers

Using Escape Room Challenges in Your Science Classroom
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (2018)
Faculty Workshop | Mandy Biggers

Mind the Gap: Exploring (Mis)alignment in Inservice and Preservice Science Teacher Mentoring Relationships
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (2018)
Paper | A R Miller, L Zangori, B Whitworth, Mandy Biggers

TABT Presents: A 'Perfect Medley' for teaching science: Combining team-based learning with case studies
Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (2017)
Faculty Workshop | S Westmoreland, K Gardner, J Collier, Mandy Biggers

Developing trajectories for ambitious and equitable elementary science teaching: Exploring novices' knowledge, beliefs, and practices
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (2017)
Paper | E A Davis, A Palinscar, A S Bismack, J F Handley, Mandy Biggers

Introducing technology and engineering to elementary students
Texas STEM Conference (2017)
Paper | Mandy Biggers

Integrating Science and Engineering Curriculum in Elementary Classrooms
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, L A Haefner

Using the popular Serial podcast to teach argumentation to middle-level preservice teachers
Association for Middle Level Education (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, Kim Mowery

Silos belong on farms: Integration of methods courses and field experiences at the middle level
Association for Middle Level Education (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, Kim Mowery

Engineering First: How Engineering Design Thinking Affects Science Learning
American Society for Engineering Education (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, L A Haefner, J Bell

Using the Popular Serial Podcast to Explicitly Teach Argumentation to Preservice Teachers
Association for Science Teacher Education (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers

Elementary Teachers' Use of Engineering Curriculum Materials
American Society for Engineering Education (2016)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, L A Haefner, J Bell

Curriculum Planning and Enactment in Elementary Science: Beyond Fidelity of Implementation
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (2015)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, C T Forbes

Preservice Elementary Science Teachers' Ideas About Engineering," National Association of Research in Science Teaching
National Association of Research in Science Teaching (2015)
Paper | Mandy Biggers

Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater! How to Modify Elementary Science to Optimize Learning
National Science Teachers' Association (2015)
Paper | L Ihrig, Mandy Biggers

Picking up STEAM in Altoona, PA
ASSET Education Conference (2015)
Paper | Mandy Biggers, L A Haefner, H Fleegle

Professional Affiliations

• National Science Teaching Association

Honors & Awards

• ACUE Online Teaching Practices - Cohort D, Association of College and University Educators (2021)
• STEM Certified Educator, Museum of Science, Boston MA: Engineering is Elementary (2020)
• Associate Fellow, Caruth Institute for Engineering Education (2020)
• Selected as a Scholar, Pioneer Teaching & Learning Academy (2019)
• Selected as an Extended Network Provider of Professional Development, Engineering is Elementary (2019)
• On The Bus Colleague Award, TWU Department of Teacher Education (2017)
• Outstanding Visiting Faculty, TWU College of Professional Education (2017)
• Mace Bearer for Commencement, Penn State University (2016)