research-science-education

Within the contemporary system of acquiring expertise in teaching, we, university faculty, try to support students developing a view and an understanding of our planet as a single, integrated dynamic system governed by complex processes.This understanding is of fundamental importance to comprehend how global change affects local areas; how local changes integrate in a global context; and how to manage Earth's precious natural resources.

It is in this context that I am currently working on a theoretical framework for studying and analyzing:

How we come to understand complexity,

How we understand the mechanisms underlying processes such self-organization, adaptation, emergence,

What role plays the concept of causality in the context of understanding complex systems

When asked what he valued in his own work, Samuel Backett replied:

"What I don't understand"

(Adam Higgins)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

SYSTEMS SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH

Raia F., Causality in Complex Dynamic Systems: A Challenge in Earth Systems Science Education.Journal of Geoscience Education, 56, 81-94, 2008. Article

Raia F. and Steinberg R. N. Understanding causality in complex dynamic systems. AAPT meeting. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, July 26-27, 2006.

Raia F., Steinberg R. N. Making sense of how students make sense of causality, National Summer Conference and Academy Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching, Orono, Maine June 25-30, 2006.

Mack Q., Raia F., and Steinberg R.N. Are students understanding science or memorizing pieces of information?" AAPT meeting, Anchorage, January 23, 2006

Gonzalez-Rubio R., Raia F., and Steinberg R. N. Exploring Student Understanding of Newton's Third Law. Einstein in the City Conference Proceedings CCNY, April 11-12, 2005.

Raia F. Students' understanding of complex dynamic systems. Journal of Geoscience Education. 5 53, 297-309, 2005. Article.