Carla Zembal-Saul

Carla Zembal-Saul

czem@psu.edu
(B.S., M.S., Ph.D.) Professor, Science Education; Department Head for Curriculum and Instruction

Carla Zembal-Saul has been the Head of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at Penn State since Fall of 2010. She is a Professor of Science Education and holds the Kahn endowed professorship in STEM education. Her research investigates the development of teaching practices that support K-5 children’s participation in scientific discourse and practices. Zembal-Saul has been involved in school-university partnership work for more than ten years, and most of her research takes place in that context. The purposeful use of technology for teaching and learning has played a central role in her teaching and research. In particular, Zembal-Saul has developed online video-based cases of reform-oriented science teaching, used video analysis tools with preservice and practicing teachers, examined the use of software scaffolds to support meaningful science learning, and implemented electronic teaching portfolios in teacher education. In addition, she has experience serving on the editorial boards of the three premiere journals in the field of science education – Journal of Research in Science Teaching (2001-2004), Science Education (2009-present) and the International Journal of Science Education (1998-present).

Full CV available here