Education

Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, Science Education, Indiana University, Bloomington
M.A. in Ecological Anthropology , University of Georgia
B.S. in Biology, University of Miami

Expertise

Science education, secondary teaching methods, secondary education, teacher beliefs, teacher professional development

Background

Christine Lotter is a Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University in 2005. At USC, she teaches high school science methods, science education, and project-based learning courses for graduate and undergraduate students. She also supervises science education doctoral students in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs. Lotter's research interests revolve around the issue of improving secondary teacher education through reform-based teaching strategies. She is specifically interested in teachers' use of inquiry teaching techniques and how their beliefs interact with their practice. Over the years, she has coordinated multiple grant projects to develop high school and middle school professional development workshops and for scholarship funds from the National Science Foundation for USC's MT certification program.

Selected Publications

Lotter, C., Thompson, S., Dickenson, T., *Smiley, W., *Blue, G., & *Rea, M. (2018). The Impact of a Practice-Teaching Professional Development Model on Teachers' Inquiry Instruction and Inquiry Efficacy Beliefs. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 16 (2) 255-273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9779-x

Lotter, C. & *Miller, C. (2017). Learning to teach inquiry through reflection. Research in Science Education, 47:913-942. DOI: 10.1007/s11165-016-9533-y

Lotter, C., *Smiley, W., Thompson, S., & Dickenson, T., (2016). The impact of a professional development model on middle school teachers’ efficacy and implementation of inquiry. International Journal of Science Education. 38:18, 2712-2741, DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2016.1259535

Lotter, C. & *Taylor, L. (Sept/Oct. 2016). Separating a Mixture. The Science Teacher. 83, 61-68.

Thompson, S., Lotter, C., & *Fann, X, *Taylor, L. (2016). Enhancing Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Plant Processes Conceptions. Journal of Science Teacher Education 27:439-463. DOI:10.1007/s10972-016-9469-0.

Lotter, C., Yow, J. & Peters, T. (2014). Building a Community of Practice around Inquiry Instruction through a Professional Development Program. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. 12: 1-23. 10.1007/s10763-012-9391-7.

Lotter, C., Rushton, G., Singer, J. (2013). Teacher Enactment Profiles: How Can We Help Move All Teachers toward Inquiry Practice through Professional Development? Journal of Science Teacher Education. 24, 1263–1291. (doi:10.1007/s10972-013-9361-0)

Lotter, C., Singer, J., & Godley, J. (2009). The influence of repeated teaching and reflection on preservice teachers’ views of inquiry and nature of science. Journal of Science Teacher Education. 20:553-582.

Lotter, C., Harwood, H. & Bonner, J. (2007).  The influence of core teaching conceptions on teachers’ use of inquiry teaching practices. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. 44(9): 1318-1347.

Select Presentations

Lotter, C., Thompson, S., Dickenson, T., & Smiley, W. (January, 2014). Middle School Science Teachers' Efficacy and Implementation of Inquiry: Impact of an Inquiry Professional Development Program. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Science Teacher Education, San Antonio, TX.

Dickenson, T., Lotter, C., & Smiley, W. (April, 2013). Fostering Teacher Efficacy through Professional Development. Presentation at the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco, CA.

Lotter, C. & Thompson, S, Dickenson, T. (April, 2013). Impact of a Professional Development Program on Middle School Teachers' Inquiry Teaching Efficacy. Paper presented at the annual international meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Lotter, C. & Yow, J. (January, 2013). Building a Community of Practice around Inquiry Instruction through a Professional Development Program. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Science Teacher Education, Charleston, SC.

Lotter, C. & Yow, J. (January, 2012). The Influence of Coach-Teacher Teams Inquiry Professional Development on Middle School Teachers' Use of Inquiry Practices. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Science Teacher Education, Clearwater, FL.

Lotter, C. & Yow, J. (March, 2012). ICoach-Teacher Teams Professional Development: The Influence of Coach led Reflection, Practice Teaching, and Content Instruction on Middle School Teachers' Use of Inquiry Practices. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Indianapolis, IN.

Bogiages, C., & Lotter, C. (March, 2012). Investigating Teacher Beliefs about the Importance of Scientific Models through Professional Development. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Indianapolis, IN.

Selected Awards

• 2021 USC, College of Education, Research Award
• 2020 Deborah Tippins Mentor Award, Southeastern  Association for Science Teacher Education
• 2018 Finalist for the John C. Park National Technology Leadership Initiative Fellowship, Association for Science Teacher Educators
• 2016 USC, College of Education, George H. Lackey, Jr. Award for Inspirational Teaching
• 2010-2012 NASA Endeavor Pre-service Science Teacher Educator Fellow