Sharon Bendall

Education

  • M.S. Physics, Arizona State University, 1984
  • B.S. Physics, Memphis State University, 1982

Biography

I grew up in Memphis, TN, and lived there until I completed my B.S. Next I moved to AZ to pursue my M.S in physics. After completing my formal education, I accepted a research position with IBM at their Watson Research facility in NY. In graduate school I examined the atomic structure of semi-conductor interfaces, and at IBM I examined ceramic structures. I left IBM after two and a half years to move to San Diego where my interests shifted from traditional science to physics education. My work as a professional scientist changed my views of science education and still influences my work today.

I am currently an adjunct faculty member of the SDSU Physics Department, and an active member of the San Diego science education community. I have consulted for the San Diego Unified School District on numerous occasions and have lead many local and national professional development workshops for teachers. I also consult for the Department of Defense SPAWAR facility in Point Loma. I am proud to be one of the lead authors of the middle school curriculum InterActions in Physical Science. Interactions is a nationally implemented program adopted in many states including California and Florida, and is the San Diego Unified adopted curriculum for eighth grade physical science. I have been PI or co-PI on numerous NSF grants in science education, have served as a committee member on two committees of the American Association for Physics Teachers, have published in a variety of national science education forums, and have served as a proposal reviewer for NSF. Among other professional endeavors, I am now working on responsive teaching as a transformative approach to science education in the elementary grades. 

Appointments

1987 - present:   Associate Member, CRMSE, San Diego State University
1990 - present:   Adjunct Faculty, Physics Department, San Diego State University
1987 - 1990:       Lecturer, Physics Department, San Diego State University
1986 - 1987:       Lecturer, Physics Department, University of San Diego
1984 - 1986:       Associate Engineer, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IBM

Representative Publications

Bendall, S. , Goldberg, F. & Galili, I. (1993) Prospective Elementary Teachers' Prior Knowledge about Light. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 30(9), 1169-1187.

Bendall, S., Goldberg, F., & Galili, I. (1993) Prospective Elementary Teachers' Prior Knowledge about Light. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 30(9), 1169-1187.

Bendall, S., Goldberg, F., Heller, P., & Poel, Robert. (2006). InterActions in Physical Science Teacher’s Edition. Armonk, NY: It’s About Time, Herff Jones Education Division.

Galili, I., Bendall, S., & Goldberg, F. (1993) The Effects of Prior Knowledge and Instruction on Understanding Image Formation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 30(3), 271-301.

Galili, I., Goldberg, F. & Bendall, S. (1991). Some Reflections on Plane Mirrors and Images, The Physics Teacher 29(10), p. 471-477.

Goldberg, F. , Bendall. S. & others (1994). Learning about Light: a set of eight computer programs (and a separate set of computer-videodisc programs) to enhance learning of geometrical optics. Physics Learning Research Group, Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.

Goldberg, F. & Bendall, S. (1992). Computer-video-based Tutorials in Geometrical Optics. In Duit, R., Goldberg, F. & Niedderer, H. (Eds.). Research in Physics Learning: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Studies. Kiel, Germany: IPN.

Goldberg, F. & Bendall, S. (1992). Computer-video-based Tutorials in Geometrical Optics. In Duit, R., Goldberg, F. & Niedderer, H. (Eds.). Research in Physics Learning: Theoretical Issues and Empirical Studies. Kiel, Germany: IPN.

Goldberg, F., & Bendall, S. (1995). Making the Invisible Visible: A Teaching/Learning Environment that Builds on a New View of the Physics Learner. American Journal of Physics 63(11), 978-991.

Goldberg, F., & Bendall, S. (1996). Computer-video-based tasks used to assess understanding and facilitate learning in geometrical optics. In Treagust, D., Fraser, B. & Duit, R. (Eds.) Improving Teaching and Learning in Science and Mathematics. Teachers College Press.

Goldberg, F., Bendall, S. & Galili, I. (1991). Lenses, Pinholes, Screens and the Eye, The Physics Teacher 29(4), p. 221-224.

Goldberg, F., Bendall, S., Heller, P., & Poel, Robert. (2006). InterActions in Physical Science. Armonk, NY: It’s About Time, Herff Jones Education Division.

Selected Funded Projects

  • “Learning Progressions for Scientific Inquiry: A Model Implementation in the Context of Energy,” $2.9 million, 11/30/2007 – 8/31/2011, award number 0732233. The goals of the project are (1) to devise learning progressions for students and teachers in scientific inquiry and its facilitation, with respect to energy, and (2) to develop model materials and strategies for grades 4-6 curriculum and teacher professional development.
     
  • “CIPS Professional Development Project,” a project to develop professional development materials to prepare teachers to teach CIPS, $2.9 million, 9/1/02 – 8/31/05, ESI-0138900. Co-PI with Fred Goldberg, Patricia Heller and Robert Poel. Primary responsibilities included writing materials, delivering training workshops for CIPS teachers and teacher leaders, coordination of all the activities of the 10-member project team, and liaison with the publisher. As well as workshop materials for teachers and teacher leaders, the final products included a three-volume Teacher’s Edition of the curriculum and a comprehensive online teacher resource.
     
  • “Constructing Ideas in Physical Science,” a year-long middle school physical science course, $2.3 million, 10/1/98 – 9/30/03, ESI-9812299. Co-PI with Fred Goldberg, Patricia Heller and Robert Poel. This is known as the CIPS Project, with the final product renamed for publication as InterActions in Physical Science. Responsibilities included writing units, overseeing local pilot and field tests, coordination of all team activities, and liaison with the publisher. The final products included the student textbook and workbook, equipment kits, posters, wall maps, a board game, a fiction companion text, and a website which offers supplementary student materials including animated simulations.

 

 Sharon Bendall

Sharon Bendall
Educator/Researcher

 
E-Mail: [email protected]