At Missouri University of Science Technology, my research focuses on real-world and situated learning experiences to support deep-level learning and argumentation. My research focuses on implementing case studies on Huntington’s Disease to track the change in students’ understanding and how real-world situations can continue to support argumentation while learning the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. Furthermore, case studies can be utilized to understand the pattern of scientific reasoning from the instructor and students. This type of work has implications in both secondary and postsecondary education. Many alternative conceptions in biology often begin in middle school, such as conceptions related to the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology. Secondary and postsecondary instructors will likely encounter alternative conceptions and will require pedagogical strategies. My goal is to understand how case studies on Huntington’s Disease can support students’ learning and mitigate alternative conceptions.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters and Conference Proceedings
Naidugari, J., Abou El-Ezz, M., Brown, C., Calderaro, T., Evans, C., Grant, T., Hazelett, R., High, C., Buendia Castillo, D., Ilagan, T., Klier, J., Marguerite, N., Marino, F., McCubbin, S., Meredith, N., Nethery, B., Russell, W., Sommers, N., Dupont-Versteegden, E.E., Krall, R., Sharp, K., Chalfant, J., Brown, M., Danely, M., and Cooper, R.L. (2022). Temperature dependence on the passive effects of K+ on membrane potential of skeletal muscle as an educational module. Proceedings of the 41st Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE).
Bernard, J., Danely, M., Krall, R., Sharp, K., Cooper, R.L. (2022). Authentic curriculum undergraduate research experimentation to learn about the effects of septicemia on cardiac function: frog and larval Drosophila models. Proceedings of the 41st Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE).
Sharp, K.A., Krall, R.M., Cooper, R.L., Danley, M., Barnard, J. (2022). What do animal physiology students learn from a cure investigating the effects of septicemia on cardiac function: frog and larval drosophila models. Proceedings of the 41st Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE).
Sharp, K., Cooper, R., Carter, D. (2022). Semester-Long Projects. Proceedings of the 41st Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE).
International Presentations
Sharp, K. A., Krall, R. M., & Chalfant, J. (2024). Deepening Undergraduate Students’ Thinking about Central Dogma through Problem-based Learning. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Sharp, K.A., Chalfant J. M., Krall, R.M. (2024). Undergraduate Students’ Utilization of Central Dogma Content Knowledge in Argumentation after Problem-based Learning. National Association for Research in Science Teaching International Conference. Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Sharp, K.A., Krall, R.M., Cooper, R.L., Danley, M., Bernard, J. (2023). From Sepsis Case to Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience: Student Learning Outcomes and Views. National Association for Research in Science Teaching International Conference. Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A
Krall, R.M., Sharp, K.A., Goodpaster, S., Peel, M., Keene, A. (2023). A Comparison of Undergraduate Students’ Thinking about Carbon Cycling in Trees Using a Picture Walk. National Association for Research in Science Teaching International Conference. Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Sharp, K.A., Chalfant J. M., Krall, R.M. (2023). Determining College Students’ Understanding of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: A Status Study. Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Krall, R. M., Keene, A., Peel, M., Sharp, K. A., Goodpaster, S. (2023). A Comparison of Three Undergraduates’ Ideas About Carbon Cycling in Trees. Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Krall, R. M., Peel, M., Keene, A., Goodpaster, S., Sharp, K.A. (2022). Tracing the Development of Preservice Teachers’ Understandings About Sources of Energy for Trees. Association for Science Teacher Education International Conference. Greenville, South Carolina.
Criswell, B. A., Rushton, G. T., Sharp, K. A. (2019). Teach to Lead … to Stay?: Examining the Impact of the Structure and Nature of Noyce Master Teacher Fellows’ Program on STEM Teacher Retention. European Science Education Research Association Conference. Bologna, Italy.
National Presentations
Krall, R.M., Sharp, K.A. (2024). A Picture Walk to Spark Student Thinking about Energy Sources and Uses in Trees from an Environmental Context. National Conference on Science Education. Denver, Colorado.
Sharp, K.A., Krall, R.M., Chalfant, J. (2024). Using the Case Study Approach to Support Different Learning Outcomes: Two Ways to Use a Case Study in Biology. National Conference on Science Education. Denver, Colorado.
Sullivan, K., Sharp, K.A., Copper, R.L. (2023). Optimizing Staining Methods for Arabidopsis Thaliana for Future Studies Understanding Interactions Between Lipopolysaccharide and Glutamate-Like Receptors. National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Keene, A.R., Peel, E.M., Krall, R.M., Goodpaster, S., Sharp, K.A. (2022). Undergraduate’s Understanding of the Carbon Cycling in Trees: From Where Do Trees Get Their Energy? School Science and Mathematics Association. Missoula, Montana.
Sharp, K.A., Krall, R.M., Cooper, R.L., Danley, M., Bernard, J. (2021). What do animal physiology students learn from a CURE investigating the effects of septicemia on cardiac function: frog and larval Drosophila models. Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Virtual Conference due to COVID-19.
Bernard, J., Danely, M., Krall, R., Sharp, K., Cooper, R.L. (2021). Authentic curriculum undergraduate research experimentation to learn about the effects of septicemia on cardiac function: frog and larval Drosophila models. Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Virtual Conference due to COVID-19.
Naidugari, J., Abou El-Ezz, M., Brown, C., Calderaro, T., Evans, C., Grant, T., Hazelett, R., High, C., Buendia Castillo, D., Ilagan, T., Klier, J., Marguerite, N., Marino, F., McCubbin, S., Meredith, N., Nethery, B., Russell, W., Sommers, N., Dupont-Versteegden, E.E., Krall, K., Sharp, K., Chalfant, J., Brown, M. and Cooper, R.L. (2021) Temperature dependence on the passive effects of K+ on membrane potential of skeletal muscle as an educational module. Association for Biology Laboratory Education. Virtual Conference due to COVID-19.
Buendia Castillo, D., Naidugari, J., Abou El-Ezz, M., Brown, C., Calderaro, T., Evans, C., Grant, T., Hazelett, R., High, C., Buendia Castillo, D., Ilagan, T., Klier, J., Marguerite, N., Marino, F., McCubbin, S., Meredith, N., Nethery, B., Russell, W., Sommers, N., Dupont-Versteegden, E.E., Krall, R., Sharp, K., Chalfant, J., Brown, M. and Cooper, R.L. (2021). Temperature dependence on the passive effects of K+ on membrane potential of skeletal muscle: Educational module. The annual meeting of the American Physiological Society. Virtual meeting due to COVID-19.
Sharp, K.A., Everson, H. R., Krall, R. M. (2020) Examining Curricular Trends in Introductory Biochemistry Courses at Large Universities. Experimental Biology. San Diego, California. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
Sharp, K. A., Krall, R. M. (2020). Argumentation in University Biochemistry Education and a New Model to Promote Critical Thinking. School Science and Mathematics Association. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Regional Presentations
Sharp, K.A., Chalfant, J., Krall, R.M. (2023). Tracking Undergraduate Students’ Arguments of the Central Dogma during Problem-based Learning using the Case-Based Method. Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research Midwest Regional Meeting. St. Louis, Missouri.
State Presentations
Schwartze, M., Sharp, K., Alexander, J. (2024). Spice up your formative assessment with these FACTs!. Missouri Association of College for Teacher Education Spring Conference. Columbia, Missouri.
Sharp, K. A., Criswell, B. A., Hutchinson, A. E., (2019). Investigating the Persistence and Trajectories of Noyce Master Teaching Fellows. Tennessee STEM Education Conference. Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Local Presentations
Schwartze, M., Sharp, K., Alexander, J. (equal co-authors) (2024). Creative ways to Assess for Learning. Missouri S&T Innovation in Teaching and Learning Conference. Rolla, Missouri.
Emerson, N., Sharp, K.A., (2022). Analysis of Publicly Available Syllabi to Determine Curricular Trends in Undergraduate Biochemistry Courses at Research One Universities. Stephens College Spring Health Science Research Conference. Columbia, Missouri.
Sharp, K. A., Criswell, B. A., Hutchinson, A. E., (2019). Investigating the Persistence and Trajectories of Noyce Master Teaching Fellows. University of Kentucky Spring Research Conference. Lexington, Kentucky.