Deepika Menon

Assistant Professor

Department of Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Address: CPEH 270
Lincoln NE 68588-0233
Phone: 402-472-2231 On-campus 2-2231
Email: dmenon2@unl.edu

Dr. Deepika Menon is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in the Department of Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education (TLTE) housed in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to joining TLTE, Dr. Menon was a faculty member in the Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences at Towson University, Maryland.

Grounded by issues related to reforms in teacher education, Dr. Menon’s research focuses on preservice and in-service science teacher education. She is particularly interested in investigating course-related factors that support the development of preservice elementary teacher self-efficacy and identity within the elementary science teacher preparation programs, and the intersection of constructs such as science teaching self-efficacy and science attitudes and their role in science teacher identity development. Dr. Menon’s current research and teaching projects focus on mobile technologies in science education across educational settings. Dr. Menon’s work has published her work in several top-tier science education journals.

Education

Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction (Physics/Science Education), University of Missouri-Columbia (2015)
M.Ed. Science Education, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India (2007)
M.Sc. Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab, India (2002)
B.Sc. Physics Honors, Regional Institute of Education, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India (2000)
B.Ed. Science Education (Middle School Certification), Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India (2000)

Recent Publications:

Menon, D., Wieselmann, J., Haines, S., & Asim, S. (2024). A Meta-synthesis of the literature on science & engineering teaching self-efficacy: Current gaps and future research directions. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2023.2297499

Menon, D., Cheng, D., Ngugi, W. R. (2024). Investigating preservice secondary teachers’ understanding and enactment of the standards-based practices during microteaching. Journal for STEM Education Research, 7(1), 63-95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-023-00093-x

McNeal, P.M., Menon, D., ^Al Shorman, D. A., ^Cox, D & Thomas, A. (2023). Drawing as a tool: Investigating undergraduate conceptions of earth scientists. Journal of Geoscience Education, 72(2), 185-198. https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2023.2246346

Menon, D., ^Al Shorman, D. A., & *Schaefer, P.G. (2023). Preservice elementary teachers’ conceptions and self-efficacy for integrated STEM. Education Sciences, 13(5). 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13050529

Areas of Expertise:

K-6 Integrated STEM education
K-16 Science Education (Physical science/Physics Education)
Elementary Preservice and In-service Science Teacher Education
Integrated STEM Teaching Self-efficacy and Identity

Honors and Recognition:

2012, Chancellors’ Award for Excellence - Graduate Student Leader Award.

2012, Chancellors’ Award for Public Outreach – At Mizzou Adventures in Education Event, University of Missouri-Columbia.

2011, The Southwest Bell Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year Award (by the University of Missouri, Science Education Center).

Experience:

2020 – Present, Assistant Professor of Science Education (Tenure-track), Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Sciences. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE

2015 – 2020 (spring), Assistant Professor of Science Education (Tenure-track), Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences. Towson University, Towson, MD

2014-2015, ReSTEM Associate, The ReSTEM Institute: Reimagining & Researching STEM Spring Education, College of Education, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO

2013-2014, Graduate Assistant, The ReSTEM Institute: Reimagining & Researching STEM Education, College of Education, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO

2008-2012, Project Assistant/Facilitator, The MU Quality Elementary Science Teaching (QUEST) Professional Development Program

Fall 2014, Teaching Instructor, Teaching Science in the Secondary School: Philosophy, History, Scientific Inquiry, Curriculum, Assessment, and Technology III, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO.

2007-2014, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO.

2004-2007, High School Physics Teacher, Shiv Jyoti Public School (SJPS), Jalandhar, India.

Memberships:

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

National Association of Research in Science Teaching (NARST)

Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE)

Mid-Atlantic Association of Science Teacher Education (MA-ASTE)

American Association of Physics Teachers, (AAPT)

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

Physics Education Research Conference (PERC)