Texas Tech Names Winner of New Education Research Grant
February 8, 2008
By: Sally Post
Texas Tech University today (Feb. 8) announced the winner of a new internal competition
to enhance opportunities in education research.
Texas Tech University today (Feb. 8) announced the winner of a new internal competition
to enhance opportunities in education research.
The $209,000 grant goes to Tigga Kingston, assistant professor in the Department of
Biological Sciences, for her proposal, " Live from the Field: A Research-Based Learning
Environment for Teaching Biological Concepts."
The project will use Kingston’s research into Malaysian bats to develop an integrated
biology curriculum for grades two to eight with a common focus. Curriculum material
will be developed by Texas Tech students majoring in Natural History and Humanities,
a major designed to train students to communicate about the environment, and by Howard
Hughes Medical Education Schools training for careers in science education. Students
in Texas will be able to track the research through an interactive Web site and communicate
with researchers in the field in Malaysia.
"The Education Research Initiative is the latest in a series of internally funded
grants to help stimulate research at Texas Tech," said Karlene A. Hoo, associate vice
president for research. "Research into how learning occurs is an important area. We
hope, with this grant competition, to stimulate new and innovative programs and generate
external funding opportunities."
Kingston is joined in the project by co-principal investigators Mark McGinley, associate
professor, and Kenneth Schmidt, assistant professor, both in the Department of Biological
Sciences.
Proposals were received from 33 researchers across the Texas Tech campus totaling
almost $3.8 million. Each was judged by external experts based on their academic merit
and their likelihood of generating sustainable outside funding. The proposals covered
areas including teaching methods, evaluation and assessment of learning, curriculum
development and other aspects of education research.
CONTACT: Office of Vice President for Research, at (806) 742-3905.