email: msabella@csu.edu

(2005) This project enhances our current offerings for Chicago area students by acquiring new, technology-rich equipment for use in our Physics Van Program.

Dissertation:Using the Context of Physics Problem-Solving to Evaluate the Coherenceof Student Knowledge
 

• Conducting investigations into how students come to understand physics
• Use of technology in the classroom
• Investigating how students use conceptual understanding in quantitative problem solving
• Adapting materials for use in the algebra-based and calculus-based physics classes at CSU
   

• “Implementing research–based instructional materials to promote coherence in physics knowledge for the urban STEM student,” M.S. Sabella and S.A. Barr, accepted for publication in the 2008 Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education (2008).

• "Knowledge Organization and Activation in Physics Problem-Solving," M.S. Sabella and Edward F. Redish, Phys. Educ. Res., Am. J. Phys. Suppl. 75, 1017 (2007).
• "Providing support to inner-city students and teachers through the Physics Van Inservice Institute," M.S. Sabella, Phys Teach. 45, 80-84 (2007).
• "Evidence of Intuitive and Formal Schemas in Student Responses: Examples from the Context of Dynamics," M. S. Sabella and G.L. Cochran, 2003 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings, 89-92, (AIP, 2004.).
• "Implementing Tutorials in Introductory Physics at an Inner-City University in Chicago," M. S. Sabella, 2002 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings,79-82 (PERC, 2002).
• "Student performance on multiple-choice diagnostics vs. open ended exam questions," R.N. Steinberg and Mel S. Sabella, Phys. Teach. 35 , 150-155 (1997).
• "StudentUnderstanding of Topics in Calculus" (literature review) 1996
• "StudentUnderstanding of Topics in Linear Algebra" (literature review) 1996
• "StudentUnderstanding of Differential Equations" (literature review) 1996
• "The heat capacity of titanium disilicide,"W.K. Sylla, S.E. Stillman, M.S. Sabella, and E.J. Cotts, J. Appl. Phys.76 (5) 9/1/94
• "Enthalpy Increment Measurements from4.5 to 350K and the Thermodynamic Properties of Titanium Disilicide(cr) to 1700K," Donald G. Archer, Mel S. Sabella, Stacey E. Stillman, and Eric J. Cotts, J. Chem. Eng. Data 1995, 40, 1237-1241

• Building knowledge without building an underlying structure, presented at the Ohio State University Physics Education Research Group Seminar, (Feb 25, 2008)
• The Chicago State University Physics Van In-service Institute, presented at the Wisconsin Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers Meeting, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI (10/2007)
• Involving undergraduate researchers in instructional reform and research on the student learning of physics, with Stephanie A. Barr, Jameson Eisinas, Sean Gallardo, Crystalann Jones, Lorne Nash, presented at Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science Symposium, Roosevelt University (October 2007.)
• Instructional reform and the importance of promoting coherence in physics knowledge, presented at the Summer AAPT meeting, Greensboro, NC (July 2007)
• Helping Tibetan monks develop a domain model of ferromagnetism., presented at the Summer AAPT meeting, Greensboro, NC (July 2007)
• Teaching and Learning Physical Science in Urban Secondary Schools: Assessing the Assessments, presented at the national American Education Research Association, Chicago, IL (April 2007).
• The Physics Van Inservice Institute: Assessing the effectiveness of inquiry-based instructional materials in the high school classroom, presented at the 2007 Capitol showcase sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education (March 2007)
• Applying the Methods and Tools of PER to Reveal Isolated Sets of Knowledge in Physics Students, presented at Summer AAPT meeting, Syracuse, NY (July 2006)
• Improving Introductory Physics at Chicago State University -  parts I and II: Background, Motivation, and Research. K. Coble, S. Bowen, and M.S. Sabella, presented at Summer AAPT meeting, Syracuse, NY (July 2006)
• Implementing and evaluating instructional reform in the urban physics classroom, presented at Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching Conference, University of Maine (June 2006)
  

Chemistry and Physics Department

Chicago State University

page prepared by Mel S. Sabella (last updated 6-07) 
email: msabella@csu.edu