Dilafruz’s recent research has focused extensively on garden-based education – its conceptualization, articulation, and effectiveness in engagement of children and youth that enhances connection to nature, holistic learning and academic performance. She has studied school gardens across 12 states in USA and in many countries across continents.
Her recent scholarship includes:
Williams, D. (2018). Garden-based education. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. George Noblit. (Ed). New York: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.188
Principal Investigator. National Science Foundation. 2014-2018. Science in the learning gardens: Factors that support racial and ethnic minority students' success in low-income middle schools. Co-Investigator, Sybil Kelley, Cary Sneider, and Ellen Skinner, awarded a Discovery Research K-12 (DRL 1418270). $449,999.
This three-year longitudinal research is conducted to study motivational engagement of youth. Videos, curricular and instructional materials are available at: www.learning-gardens.org/
Williams, D. R. & Dixon, P. S. (2013). Impact of garden-based learning on academic outcomes in schools: Synthesis of research between 1990 and 2010. Review of Educational Research 83(2): 211-235. doi:10.3102/0034654313475824
For access to additional research, visit PDX Scholar below.