Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

*indicates corresponding authorship


54. Machost, H., Kable, E., Mitchell-Jones, J., Yik, B., and Stains, M.* (2024) Characterization of Physics assistant professors’ reflections on their teaching: Can they promote pedagogical growth? Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research, 6, 14 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43031-024-00105-9


53. Dancy, M., Apkarian, N., Johnson, E., Stains, M., Raker, J.R., and Lau, A. (2024) Physics instructors’ knowledge and use of active learning has increased over the last decade but most still lecture too much. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 20(1), 010119 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.010119 


52.  Kraft, A.R., Atieh, E.L., Shi, L. and Stains, M.* (2024) Prior experiences as students and instructors play a critical role in instructors’ decision to adopt evidence-based instructional practices. International Journal of STEM Education, 11, 18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00478-3


51. Wang, Y., Apkarian, N., Dancy, M., Henderson, C., Johnson, E., Raker, J., and Stains, M.* (2024) A National Snapshot of Introductory Chemistry Instructors and Their Instructional Practices.  Journal of Chemical Education https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00040

                 Selected as an Editor’s Choice article


50.  Lau, A., Henderson, C., Stains, M., Dancy, M., Merino, C., Apkarian, N., Raker, J.R., and Johnson, E. (2024) Characteristics of departments with high-use of active learning in introductory STEM courses: Implications for departmental transformation. International Journal of STEM  Education, 11, 10 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00470-x


49. Feola, S., Lewis, J.E., McAlpin, J.D., Prevost, L.B., Skvoretz, J., Stains, M., Couch, B.A., Earl, B,  Ziker, J.P., Lane, A.K., Shadle, S.E. (2023)  STEM education institutional change projects: examining enacted approaches through the lens of the Four Categories of Change Strategies Model. International Journal of STEM Education, 10, 67 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00458-z
 

48. Couch, B.A, Prevost, L.B., Stains, M.*, Whitt, B., Marcy, A.E., Apkarian, N., Dancy, M., Henderson, C., Johnson, E., Raker, J.R., Yik, B.J., Earl, B., Shadle, S.E., Skvoretz, J., and Ziker, J (2023) Course coordination in introductory undergraduate STEM courses:  An underutilized way to promote knowledge sharing and instructional innovation. Frontiers in Education Vol. 8, p. 209 https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1156781  


47. Machost, H. and Stains, M.* (2023) Reflective practices in education: A primer for practitioners. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 22(2) https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.22-07-0148 


46. Skvoretz, J., Kappelman, K., Marcy, A., McAlpin, J.D., Lewis, J.E., Mertens, K., Ziker, J.P., Earl, B., Shadle, S.E., Couch, B.A., Feola, S., Prevost, L.B., Lane, A.K., Whitt, B., Stains, M. (2023) Social Networks and Instructional Reform in STEM: The Teaching-Research Nexus. Innovative Higher Education https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09642-5 


45. Kraft, A., Popova, M., Erdmann, R.M., Harshman, J. and Stains, M.* (2023) Tensions between Depth and Breadth: An Exploratory Investigation of Chemistry Assistant Professors’ Perspectives on Content Coverage. Chemistry Education Research and Practice https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RP00299J 


44. Shi, L., Popova, M., Erdmann, R. M., Pellegrini, A., Johnson, V., Le, B., ... & Stains, M.* (2023). Exploring the Complementarity of Measures of Instructional Practices. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 22(1), ar1. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.22-03-0047 


43.  Yik, B. J., Raker, J. R., Apkarian, N., Stains, M., Henderson, C., Dancy, M. H., & Johnson, E. (2022). Association of malleable factors with adoption of research-based instructional strategies in introductory chemistry, mathematics, and physics. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 7). https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.1016415 


42.  Vishnubhotla, M., Chowdhury, A., Apkarian, N., Johnson, E., Dancy, M., Henderson, C., Lau, A.C., Raker. J., & Stains, M. (2022) “I use IBL in this course” may say more about an instructor’s beliefs than about their teaching. International Journal of Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40753-022-00186-9

41. Lane, A.K., Earl, B., Feola, S., Lewis, J.E., McAlpin, J.D., Mertens, K., Shadle, S.E., Skvoretz, J., Ziker, J.P., Stains, M.*, Couch, B. A., and Prevost, L.B.. (2022) Context and content of teaching conversations: Exploring how to promote sharing of innovative teaching knowledge between science faculty. International Journal of STEM Education, 9, 53 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-022-00369-5 


40. McAlpin, J.D., Ziker, J.P., Skvoretz, J., Couch, B.A., Earl, B., Feola, S., Lane, A.K., Mertens, K., Prevost, L.B., Shadle, S.E., Stains, M. and Lewis, J.E. (2022) Development of the Cooperative Adoption Factors Instrument to measure factors associated with instructional practice in the context of institutional change. International Journal of STEM Education, 9, 48  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-022-00364-w  


39. Yik, B. J., Raker, J. R., Apkarian, N., Stains, M., Henderson, C., Dancy, M. H., & Johnson, E. (2022) Evaluating the impact of malleable factors on percent time lecturing in gateway chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses. International Journal of STEM Education, 9, 15  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-022-00333-3   


38. Meaders, C.L., Senn, L.G., Couch, B.A., Lane, A.K., Stains, M., Stetzer, M., Vinson, E., and Smith, M. (2021) Am I getting through? Surveying students on what messages they recall from the first day of class. International Journal of STEM Education, 8, 49 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-021-00306-y


37. Shi, L. and Stains, M.* (2021) Development of the Departmental Climate around Teaching (DCaT) survey: Neither psychological collective climate nor departmental collective climate predicts STEM faculty’s instructional practices. International Journal of STEM Education, 8, 44 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-021-00303-1


36. Apkarian, N., Henderson, C., Stains, M., Raker, J.R., Johnson, E., and Dancy, M. (2021) What really impacts the use of active learning in undergraduate STEM education? PLoS ONE 16(2): e0247544 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247544 


35. Meaders, C., Smith, M.K., Boester, T., Bracy, A., Couch, B.A., Drake, A.G., Farooq, S., Khoda, B., Kinsland, C., Lane, A.K. and Lindahl, S.E.,Livingston, W.H., Maliwal, A., Mccormick, A., Morozov, A.I., Newell-Caito, J.L., Ruskin, K.J., Sarvary, M.A., Stains, M., St, J.R., Thomas, S.R.,  Van Es, C., Vinson, E., Vitousek, M.N., and Stetzer, M.R. (2021) What questions are on the minds of STEM undergraduate students and how can they be addressed? Frontiers in Education, section STEM Education, 6, 28 doi: 10.3389/feduc.2021.639338


34. Popova, M. Kraft, A., Harshman, J. and Stains, M.* (2021) Changes in teaching beliefs of early-career chemistry faculty: A longitudinal investigation. Chemical Education Research and Practice, 22, 431-442  doi.org/10.1039/D0RP00313A


33. Lane, A.K., Meaders, C. L., Shuman, J. K., Stetzer, M. R., Vinson, E. L., Couch, B. A., Smith, M., and Stains, M.* (2021) Making a first impression: Exploring what instructor do and say on the first of introductory STEM courses. CBE Life Sciences Education, 20(1), ar7 doi.org/10.1187/cbe.20-05-0098


32. Lane, A. K., McAlpin, J. D., Earl, B., Feola, S., Lewis, J. E., Mertens, K., Shadle, S. E., Skvoretz, J., Ziker, J. P., Couch, B. A., Prevost, L. B., & Stains, M.* (2020) Innovative teaching knowledge stays with users. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 202012372. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012372117 

31. Meaders, C.L., Lane, A.K., Morozov, A.I., Shuman, J.K., Toth, E.S., Stains, M., Stetzer, M.R., Vinson, E., Couch, B. and Smith, M.K. (2020) Undergraduate Student Concerns in Introductory STEM Courses: What They How They Are, Change, and What Influences Them. Journal for STEM Education Research Online First  https://doi.org/10.1007/s41979-020-00031-1  

30. Xue, D. and Stains, M.* (2020) Exploring students’ understanding of resonance and its relationship to instruction. Journal of Chemical Education. ASAP DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00066 

29. Erdmann, R., Miller, K. and Stains, M.* (2020) Exploring STEM postsecondary instructors’ accounts of instructional planning and revisions, International Journal of STEM Education, 7:7 DOI:10.1186/s40594-020-00206-7  

28. Popova, M., Shi, L., Harshman, J., Kraft A., and Stains, M.* (2020) Untangling a complex relationship: Teaching beliefs and instructional practices of assistant chemistry faculty at research-intensive institutions, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 21, 513-527  DOI: 10.1039/C9RP00217K 

27. Meaders, C. L., Toth, E. S., Lane, A. K., Shuman, J. K., Couch, B. A., Stains, M., ... & Smith, M. K. (2019). “What Will I Experience in My College STEM Courses?” An Investigation of Student Predictions about Instructional Practices in Introductory Courses. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 18(4), ar60 DOI:10.1187/cbe.19-05-0084 

26. Stains, M.* (2019) Trajectories of Reform Implementation in Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Instruction in Levers for Change: An assessment of progress on changing STEM instruction. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science Link

25. Lane AK, Skvoretz J, Ziker JP, Couch BA, Earl B, Lewis JE, McAlpin JD, Prevost LB, Shadle SE, & Stains M. (2019) Investigating how faculty social networks and peer influence relate to knowledge and use of evidence-based teaching practices. International Journal of STEM Education, 6:28 Link

24. Erdmann, R. and Stains, M.* (2019) Classroom as genome: Using the tools of genomics and bioinformatics to illuminate classroom observation data. CBE Life Sciences Education, 18(1), es1 DOI:10.1187/cbe.18-07-0116 

23. Herrington, D. G., Sweeder, R. D., Daubenmire, P. L., Bauer, C. F., Bretz, S. L., Bunce, D. M., ... & Lewis, S. E. (2019). Supporting the Growth and Impact of the Chemistry-Education-Research Community. Journal of Chemical Education. 96 (3), pp 393–397  DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00823 

22. Griep, M.A., Stains, M. and Velasco J. (2018) Coordination of the Chemistry REU Program at the University of Nebraska−Lincoln. In Griep, M.A., & Watkins, L.M. Best Practices for Chemistry REU Programs. 139-156 Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society. DOI:10.1021/bk-2018-1295.ch010

21. Bartelt-Hunt, S., Jones, E. G., Wood, R. L., Erdmann, R. M., & Stains, M. (2018, June). Evaluating the Use of Peer Instruction in Civil Engineering Courses. In ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2018).  

20. Stains, M.,* Harshman, J., Barker, M. K., Chasteen, S. V., Cole, R., DeChenne-Peters, S. E., . . . Young, A. M. (2018) Anatomy of STEM teaching in North American universities. Science, 359(6383), 1468 DOI: 10.1126/science.aap8892 

19. Vickrey, T., Golick, D.; Stains, M. (2018) Educational technologies and instructional practices in agricultural sciences: Leveraging the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework to critically review the literature, NACTA, 62(1), 65-76   

18. Gibbons, R., Villafañe, S., Stains, M., Murphy, K. and Raker, J. (2018) Beliefs about learning and enacted instructional practices: An investigation in postsecondary chemistry education, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 55(8), 1111-1133  DOI: 10.1002/tea.21444

17. Akiha, K., Brigham, E., Couch, B., Lewin, J., Stains, M.,* Stetzer, M., Vinson, E., Smith, M. (2018) What Types of Instructional Shifts do Students Experience? Investigating Active Learning in STEM Classes across Key Transition Points from Middle School to the University Level, Frontiers in Education 2(68)  DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2017.00068

16. Hernandez, H., Stains, M., Bjorkman, K.S., Dorhout, P., Donovan, A., Feig, A., Hammer, P.W., Ross, J., Wesemann, J. and Iyer, S. (2017) Leadership Training for Teacher-Scholars in the ACS Symposium Series volume titled Educational and Outreach Projects from the Cottrell Scholars Collaborative Professional Development and Outreach Volume 2  ACS Symposium Series, Vol. 1259 DOI: 10.1021/bk-2017-1259.ch004 

15. Undersander, M. A., Kettler, R., and Stains, M.* (2017) Exploring the Question Order Effect in a Geoscience Concept Inventory, Journal of Geoscience Education, 65(3), 292-303 https://doi.org/10.5408/16-235.1 

14. Gibbons, R., Laga, E., Leon, J., Villafañe, S., Stains, M., Murphy, K. and Raker, J. (2017) Chasm crossed? Clicker use in postsecondary chemistry education, Journal of Chemical Education, 94(5), 549–557 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00799 

13. Harshman, J. and Stains, M.* (2017) A Review and Evaluation of the Internal Structure and Consistency of the Approaches to Teaching Inventory, International Journal of Science Education, 39(7), 918-936  DOI:10.1080/09500693.2017.1310411 

12. Stains, M.* and Vickrey, T. (2017) Fidelity of implementation: An overlooked yet critical construct to establish effectiveness of evidence-based instructional practices, CBE Life Sciences Education, 16(1), rm1 DOI: 10.1187/cbe.16-03-0113

11. Undersander, M.A., Lund, T.J., Langdon, L.S., and Stains, M.* (2017) Probing Question Order Effect While Developing a Chemistry Concept Inventory, Chemical Education Research and Practice, 18, 45-54 DOI: 10.1039/C5RP00228A

10. Velasco, J. B., Knedeisen, A., Xue, D., Vickrey, T. L., Abebe, M., & Stains, M.* (2016). Characterizing Instructional Practices in the Laboratory: The Laboratory Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM. Journal of Chemical Education, 93(7), 1191-1203 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00062

9. Lund, T.J. and Stains, M.* (2015) The Importance of Context: An Exploration of Factors Influencing the Adoption of Student-Centered Teaching among Chemistry, Biology, and Physics Faculty, International Journal of STEM Education, 2:13 DOI: 10.1186/s40594-015-0026-8

8. Velasco, J.B. and Stains, M.* (2015) Exploring the Relationships between Perceptions of Tutoring and Tutoring Behaviours: A focus on Graduate Students serving as Peer Tutors to College-Level  Chemistry Students, Chemical Education Research and Practice, 16, 856-868 DOI:10.1039/C5RP00103J 

7. Stains, M.,* Pilarz, M., and Chakraverty, D. (2015) Short and Long-Term Impacts of the Cottrell Scholars Collaborative New Faculty Workshop. Journal of Chemical Education, 92(9), 1466-1476 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00324

6. Lund, T.J., Pilarz, M., Velasco, J.B., Chakraverty, D., Rosploch, K., Undersander, M., and Stains, M.* (2015) The Best of Both Worlds: Building on the COPUS and RTOP Observation Protocols to Easily and Reliably Measure Various Levels of Reformed Instructional Practices, CBE Life Sciences Education, 14(2), ar18 DOI: 10.1187/cbe.14-10-0168 

     We have developed a web-based tool to help researchers and instructors classify their COPUS observational data into COPUS profiles:     http://www.copusprofiles.org/ 

5. Vickrey, T, Rosploch, K., Rahmanian, R., Pilarz, M. and Stains, M.* (2015) Research-based implementation of Peer Instruction: A literature review, CBE Life Sciences Education, 14(1)  DOI: 10.1187/cbe.14-11-0198

            Selected for the 2015 Highlights issue of CBE Life Sciences Education.

       Featured for two consecutive months (March and April 2015) on the iclicker blog

4. Baker, L.A., Chakraverty, D., Columbus, L., Feig, A.L., Jenks, W.J., Pilarz, M., Stains, M., Waterman, R. and Wesemann, J.L. (2014) Cottrell Scholars Collaborative New Faculty Workshop: Professional Development for New Chemistry Faculty, Journal of Chemical Education, 91(11), 1874-1881 DOI: 10.1021/ed500547n

3. DeChenne, S.E., Carew, J., and Stains, M.* (2014) Published freshman laboratory exercises as indicators of awareness and adoption of instructional practices grounded in discipline-based education research, Journal of College Science Teaching, 43(6), 89-99; access it here

   This article was featured in the Editor's Choice section of Science (August 1st, 2014 issue); access it here

2. Griep, M., Stains, M., Malina, V., and Velasco, J. (2013) Renovating Four General Chemistry Laboratory Rooms at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In L. O’Connell (Ed.) Innovations and Renovations: Designing the Teaching Laboratory. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society  DOI: 10.1021/bk-2013-1146

1. Chase, A., Pakhira, D., & Stains, M.* (2013) Implementing Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning for the First Time: Adaptations and Short-term Impacts on Students’ Attitude and Performance, Journal of Chemical Education, 90(4), 409-416 DOI: 10.1021/ed300181t

Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Work

Peer-Reviewed Publications

7. Stains, M. and Sevian, H. (2015) Uncovering Implicit Assumptions: A Large-Scale Study on Students' Mental Models of Diffusion, Research in Science Education, 45(6), 807-840 DOI: 10.1007/s11165-014-9450-x

6. Sevian, H. & Stains, M. (2013). Implicit assumptions to track the progress of learning about the structure and motion of matter in students aged 13 through graduation from university. In G. Tsaparlis & H. Sevian (Eds.), Concepts of Matter in Science Education. Dordrecht: Springer. Click here to access

5. Stains, M., Escriu-Sune, M., Molina Alvarez, M. L., and Sevian, H. (2011). Assessing Secondary and College Students’ Understanding of the Particulate Nature of Matter: Development and Validation of the Structure and Motion of Matter (SAMM) Survey. Journal of Chemical Education, 88(10), 1359–1365 DOI: 10.1021/ed1002509

4. White, B., Stains, M., Escriu-Sune, M., Medaglia, E., Rostamnjad, L., Chinn, C., & Sevian, H. (2011). A Novel Instrument for Assessing Students’ Critical Thinking  Abilities. Journal of College Science Teaching, 40(5), 102-107

            Featured in CBE Life Sciences Education, Winter 2011, Vol. 10, 334–337 doi: 10.1187/cbe.11-09-0086

3. Stains, M. & Talanquer, V. (2008). Classification of Chemical Reaction: Stages of Expertise. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 45(7), 771-793. DOI: 10.1002/tea.20221

2. Stains, M. & Talanquer, V. (2007). Classification of Chemical Substances Using Particulate Representations of Matter: An Analysis of Student Thinking. International  Journal of Science Education, 29(5), 643-661; Erratum 29(7), 935  DOI: 10.1080/09500690600931129

1. Stains, M. & Talanquer, V. (2007). A2, Element or Compound? Journal of Chemical Education, 84(5), 880-883. DOI: 10.1021/ed084p880

          Featured in an Editorial in the Journal of Chemical Education,  2007, 84 (5), p 745 DOI: 10.1021/ed084p745


Educational Materials

6. College Board (2009). The AP Vertical Teams Guide for the Sciences. (Assistant Editor and Author)

5. Abraham, M., Gelder, J., & Greenbowe, T. (2007). During Class Inventions and Computer Lab Activities (Vol. 2). Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Inc. (Author of some of the tutorials)

4. Abraham, M., Gelder, J., & Greenbowe, T. (2006). During Class Inventions and Computer Lab Activities (Vol. 1). Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Inc. (Author of some of the  tutorials

3. NSF-STC of Materials and Devices for Information Technology (2005-2006). The Optrium-Online Virtual Science Museum.  (http://concave.stc.arizona.edu/thepoint/Optrium/) (Co-author)

2. NSF-STC of Materials and Devices for Information Technology (2005-2006). The Point-Learning Modules and Interactive Manipulatives. (http://concave.stc.arizona.edu/thepoint/Optrium/) (Co-author)

1. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and Arizona Board of Regents (Learner Centered Education) (2003-2004). ChemThreads – The Vertical Integration Project. (http://www.chem.arizona.edu/chemt/) (Co-author)