Years at Knox: 1992 to present

Education
Ph.D., Science Education, 1997, University of Illinois
M.A., Secondary Education & Educational Psychology, 1990, University of Illinois
B.A., U.S. History and Spanish, 1970, University of Illinois

Professional Interests
"I am continuing to work on how children learn science—the cognitive processes of science learning. Most recently, I have begun to look at how Navajo children learn science. In the summer of 2001, I helped sponsor and run a two-month Summer Science Camp for 80 Navajo children and 10 reservation teachers at Atsa Biyaazh Community School in Shiprock, New Mexico. One of my goals for the camp was to encourage Navajo teachers in research and scholarship. Working with two Navajo teachers on a fry bread research project and presenting it with them at the Navajo Studies National Conference was a very proud moment for them and their school—and for me."

Teaching Interests
School & Society, Psychological Foundations of Education, Adolescent Development, Perspectives on Curriculum, Literary & Aesthetic Experiences in the Elementary School, Advanced Preceptorial: Dying & Death

Recent Scholarly Achievements
Publications
Presentations
Awards
Grants
Involvement

Publications
"The Sophomore-Year Experience Project." Co-authored with M. Willhardt, Report for the ACM Engaging Students in the Liberal Arts project, 2006.

"Quality Teaching: Culturally Appropriate Teaching for Navajo Children." Co-authored with Knox professors James Vandergriff and Donna Jurich. The Journal of American Indian Education, 2006. 

"Playing Games or Learning Science? An Inquiry into Navajo Children's Science Learning." Journal of American Indian Education 43, 3: 41-55, 2004.

"Unlocking the Scientist in Each of Us: WEE Science." Co-authored with T. Anderson and C. West (accepted Science and Children), 1999. 

"Integrating Reading and Science Education: on Developing and Evaluating WEE Science." Co-authored with T. Anderson, C. West,  E. MacDonell, and D. Frisbee. Journal of Curriculum Studies 29, No. 6: 711-733, 1997.

"WEE Science—Integrating Content Area Reading and Science Education."  Co-authored with T. Anderson, C. West, E. MacDonell, and D. Frisbee. Center for the Study of Reading Technical Report Series.  University of Illinois, Urbana, 1995.

Presentations
A Multigenerational Study of Several Navajos' Educational Experiences: Part I: Policy as Lived Experience. With L. Tsosie. Navajo Studies National Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Sophomore-Year Experience Project. Panel with M. Willhardt. ACM Conference: The Future of the Liberal Arts College, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"Policy as Lived Experience: A Multigenerational Study of Two Navajo Families' Educational Experiences." Co-authored with James Vandergriff and Donna Jurich. American Educational Research Association annual meeting, San Francisco, California, 2006. 

"Quality Teaching: Culturally Appropriate Teaching for Navajo Children." Co-authored with James Vandergriff and Donna Jurich. National Association for Multicultural Education National Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, 2004.

"Children's Science in Another Culture." Co-authored with R. Frazier. National Association of Research in Science Teaching National Conference, New Orleans, Louisana, 2002.

"Writing culturally appropriate science  curriculum." Co-authored with R. Frazier and Donna Jurich. Proposal accepted for the National Science Teachers Association National Conference, San Diego, California, 2002. 

"Teaching Culturally Appropriate Science." Co-authored with R. Frazier. National Science Teachers Association Regional Conference, Memphis Tennessee, 2001.

"The Chemistry, Culture, and Physics of Fry Bread." With G. Herrin, G. Tracy, and R. Frazier. Navajo Studies National Conference, Flagstaff, Arizona, 2001.

"Teaching on the Rez." Phi Delta Kappa invited speaker, 2001.

"What Are They Saying When We Can't Hear Them?" International Conference on Children's Play, Oslo, Norway, 1999.

"Playing Games or Learning Science: Navajo Children Engaged in Science Inquiry." Annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, 1999.

"Educational Studies at Knox College: The Fusion of Theory and Practice in pre-service teacher education." Co-authored with R. Christen. Annual meeting of the AILACTE, New Orleans, 1998.

"Let's See if We Can Get Them to Mate." American Educational Research Association, Annual Meeting, Chicago, 1997.

"Constructive Lenses for Viewing and Valuing Students' Activities During Inquiry in Science." Co-authored with D. Brown, and R. Frazier. National Association of Research in Science Teaching annual conference, Chicago, Illinois, 1997. 

"Gender Issues in Elementary Science Classes." Co-authored with D. Brown and R. Frazier. American Association of University Women, 1997.

"Siphons and Strawberry Milkshake Machines: Is Fantasy in Science Inquiry a Valuable Context or an Unwanted Distraction?" Co-authored with D. Brown, R. Frazier, and A. Rath. American Educational Research Association annual meeting, New York, 1996. 

Knox College Achievement of Excellence Award, 1997.

Grants
Co-director of Mellon Grant for Sophomore Year Experience Project, 2003-2005

Recipient, Rotary International Grant for University Teachers, to teach science and pedagogy in Costa Rica, 2002.

Grants for Navajo Nation Summer Science Camp, 2001 and 2000.

Recipient, ACM Travel Grant to Costa Rica for Spanish immersion, 2001.

Involvement
Discussant, International Symposium on Environment, Athens Institute for Education and Research, Athens, Greece.

Faculty Observer to the Knox College Board of Trustees, 2001.

President, Phi Delta Kappa local chapter.

Campus member of the Engaging the Liberal Arts Committee, 2003-2005.

Campus delegate to the P-Kal Space Utilization Planning Conference, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York.

Chair, Educational Studies Department, Knox College

Knox College Faculty Secretary, 2001-2002.

Member, editorial review board, Center for the Study of Reading, Technical Report Series, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,  1988-1994, Teaching Education, 1992-2002.  

Sponsor, Navajo Nation Summer Science Camp, Atsa Biyaazh Community School, Shiprock, N.M., 2001 (and grant recipient from the Ettinger Foundation to help fund the camp).

Member, American Educational Research Association

Member, Phi Delta Kappa (Local Chapter President, 2001-2002)

Member, Kappa Delta Pi

Member, International Reading Association

Member, Illinois Reading Council

Member, National Association for Multicultural Education

National Council for Teachers of English

Faculty Executive Committee, Knox College

Member, Board of Directors, and grant writer, Knox County Humane Society

Member, Galesburg Community Chorus

Member, University of Illinois Extension Council

Grant Writer for Discovery Depot Children's Museum, Galesburg, Illinois

Contact
dbeck@knox.edu

What Students Say
"Professor Beck is an exemplary professor, which is why it is so appropriate that she is teaching other people how to teach. In her classes she shows that learning does not have to take place with students sitting in desks listening to someone at the front of the room. Instead, students are involved in active learning inside and outside the classroom."
—Miranda Gutzmer, educational studies major