Degrees and Certifications

Responsibilities

• Instructing Courses Science Teacher Education
• Regional Director for South East Michigan Junior Science & Humanities Symposium

Academic Interests

• Science Curriculum & Instruction
• Science Teacher Education
• Strategies for best practice in science teacher education

Biography

Area of Expertise

• Science Education Best Practices
• Teacher Education and Professional Development

Research Interests

Awards

2020
President's Award for Excellence in Teaching 

2011
COE Dean's Scholarship for Development of Math and Science Education 

2008
Awarded best poster for session- Lawrence Technological University Center for Teaching and Learning: Math Foundations- Development of Math Skills review for Science Teacher Education

Grants

Junior Science & Humanities Symposium
2015 - 2025, Regional director for Tri-Services & NSTA supported program to promote STEM research for High School Students. 
Renewed each year  Award $21,750

Promoting Student Interest in Science and Science Careers through a Scalable Place-Based Environmental Educational Program at a Public Aquarium
NSF funded, under the direction of Sandra Yarema and Jeffrey L. Ram. To increase teacher STEM knowledge and improve teaching effectiveness with resulting increase in their students' knowledge, interest, and awareness of STEM  and STEM careers. 5th grade Teachers participated in Summer Institute- Professional Development conducted at the Belle Isle Aquarium, followed by each engaging their 5th grade class in a field trip to BIA. .September 1, 2016 -  August 31, 2021. Total award $1,193,000

JSHS/FY19 Regional Incentive Program.
Supported by National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), one-time Fiscal Year 2019 incentive funding to support local efforts to increase participation of under-represented students in JSHS/AEOP program. Partnership with Michigan Sea Grant & Center for Great Lakes Literacy.  Award $15,000.00

Promoting JSHS through partnership with College of Education Upward Bound at WSU.
Battelle Memorial Institute/AEOP in support of strategic outreach to increase underrepresented participation in AEOP –JSHS program.  May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018. Engaged COE Upward Bound students in STEM research and participation in regional JSHS program.
Award:  $49, 316.00

Community Engagement Activities

• Consultant to Department of Defense -U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) Virtual Great Lakes & Tribal Nations STEM  K-12 Summer Camps & Saturday Sessions, 2020 - 2024
• Instructor for TeachDETROIT
• Regional Director for SE MI Junior Science & Humanities Symposium

Presentations

• Yarema, S., Schwarz, C., & Karre, N. (2022). Supporting Educators - A Playbook, Blueprint, Plan for Building on the Strengths of Educators. MSTA Conference, Keynote-Panel Discussion. Lansing, MI.
• Yarema, S., Chappelle, G., Tadgerson, A., Hines-Jenkins, A. (2022). Virtual Great Lakes Region and Tribal Nations DoD STEM K-12 Sumer Camps & Saturday Learning Sessions. MSTA State Conference Session, Lansing, MI.
• Yarema, S. (2022). Consider Being a STEM Educator. JROTC Cadet- DPSCD Virtual STEM Learning Session. U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
• Yarema, S., Ulmer, J., Tate, M., Emmert, A., Teisan, J., Chadde, J., Salvo, J., Ram, J. (2022). Community-based Design Research to Promote Equity Oriented Science Education and STEM Careers. ASTE International Conference, Greenville, NC.
• Yarema, S. (2021). Promoting Student Interest in Science and Science Careers through a Scalable Place-Based Environmental Educational Program at a Public Aquarium. STELAR- NSF ITEST PI Meeting. 9/23 – 9/25, 2021, Virtual.
• Yarema, S. & Tate, M. (2019). Promoting Student Interest in Science and Science Careers through a Scalable Place-Based Environmental Educational Program at a Public Aquarium. ASTE International Conference, Savannah, GA: Poster Presentation.

Featured publications

Lessons, Innovation & New Knowledge in Science

Yarema, S. (2023). Driving Change in Science Education: Empowering Educators Detroit 2023. "Lessons, Innovation & New Knowledge in Science. 75"(2). 13-15.

Keywords

Science education
Science teaching practice
Advocacy

"Driving Change in Science Education: Empowering Educators" reported on a two-day convening, cosponsored by the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS), which was designed to bring teams of science educators and state-based advocacy groups together to collaboratively advance strong policy and practices in K-12 science education.

Michigan Middle School Students from Native Bay Mills Community Ojibwa, Sault Tribe, and Pokagon Band Tribal Communities Experience STEM Learning

Yarema, S., Chappelle, G., (2023) Michigan Middle School Students from Native Bay Mills Community Ojibwa, Sault Tribe, and Pokagon Band Tribal Communities Experience STEM Learning. Lessons, Innovation & New Knowledge in Science (LINKS). 75(3). 3-4. 

Keywords

STEM learning
Underserved

What do STEM careers look like in Southeastern Michigan?

Yarema, S. (2019). What do STEM careers look like in Southeastern Michigan? AEOP blog.

A Partnership to Promote interest in STEM among underrepresented k-12 students in Southeast Michigan was established between Wayne State University's College of Education Upward Bound Program and the SE Michigan Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS), an existing Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), hosted annually by the COE at WSU. The partnership engaged the Upward Bound students as a way to directly increase participation of underrepresented high school students in the South East Michigan regional JSHS, to showcase these high school students’ STEM research. 

Partnership to Promote Interest in STEM Among Underrepresented k-12 Students in Southeast Michigan

Yarema, S. (2019). Partnership to Promote Interest in STEM Among Underrepresented k-12 Students in Southeast Michigan. MSTA Journal, 64(1), 3 – 7.

Announcement of Results of regional competition- 56th Annual SE MI Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, hosted by the COE at WSU, describing how the partnership with the WSU COE Upward Bound Program successfully engaged underrepresented high school students in STEM research. 

Publications

       Yarema, S. (2024). High School Science Research Showcase: 60th Annual Michigan Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Lessons, Innovation & New Knowledge in Science (LINKS).76(4).

Yarema, S., Tadgerson, A., Chappelle, G., Chemberlin, B. (2022). DoD Stem Educational Programs To Enhance Development of Future DoD Workforce. U.S. Army Acquisition, Logistics & Technology (AL & T) Magazine.  

Grueber, D., *Yarema, S.*, & Ferreira, M.M. ( 2014 ). Learning science in cultural context: Resources from a schoolyard hike. Science and Children, 51(1), 66-69.
available at WSU Libraries and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sandra-Yarema/publication/284351919_Methods_and_Strategies_Learning_Science_in_Cultural_Context/links/5ee9446a458515814a652043/Methods-and-Strategies-Learning-Science-in-Cultural-Context.pdf

Ferreira, M. M., Grueber, D., & *Yarema, S.​* (2012). A community partnership in an effort to leave no child inside. School Community Journal, 22(1), 49-64. available at ​WSU Libraries and : http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ974685.pdf

Courses taught by Sandra Lynn Yarema, Ph.D.

Winter Term 2025 (future)

• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6)
• ELE6550 - Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6)

Fall Term 2024 (current)

• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6)
• ELE6550 - Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6)
• SCE2100 - Integrated Science Content PK-6
• SCE2105 - Integrated Science Lab PK-6
• SCE5100 - Integrated Science Content (PK-6)
• SCE5105 - Integrated Science Lab (PK-6)

Winter Term 2024

• ELE6550 - Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6)
• TED8500 - Integrating STEM Content

Fall Term 2023

• SCE2100 - Integrated Science Content PK-6
• SCE2105 - Integrated Science Lab PK-6
• SCE5100 - Integrated Science Content (PK-6)
• SCE5105 - Integrated Science Lab (PK-6)
• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6)
• ELE6550 - Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6)

Winter Term 2023

• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6)
• ELE6550 - Science Curriculum and Methods (PK-6)

Fall Term 2022

• SCE2100 - Integrated Science Content PK-6
• SCE2105 - Integrated Science Lab PK-6
• SCE5020 - Physical Sciences for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum and Methods (3-6)

Winter Term 2022

• SCE5020 - Physical Sciences for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
• ELE6500 - Science Curriculum: P-8
• TED6380 - Integrating Content

Recent university news spotlights

• Wayne State University College of Education to host 58th annual Southeast Michigan Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

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