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| Stephanie Holmquist with her doctoral committee (from left), Drs. Bill Blank, Susan Zucker, and Victor Hernandez. Dr. Yi-Hsin Chen participated via Skype. |
May 6, 2014. Tampa, FL. Congratulations to Stephanie Holmquist
who successfully defended her dissertation on April 3, 2014. The title of her
dissertation is, A multi-case study of
student interactions with educational robots and impact on Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning and attitudes.
The purpose of her study was to describe the interactive process
of using educational robotics to facilitate elementary school students’
understanding of and attitudes towards Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math (STEM) concepts. Her doctoral committee included Dr. Victor Hernandez who
served as her Major Professor, Dr. Bill Blank, Dr. Susan Zucker, and Dr.
Yi-Hsin Chen. To facilitate the dissertation defense, Dr. Zucker, served as the Outside Chair.
With a teaching background in science, mathematics, and
technology, Stephanie launched an educational consulting practice—Holmquist
Educational Consultants—to assist schools interested in the implementation of
approaches to integrated curriculum and instruction. In this capacity, she
helps schools and districts customize unique curriculum solutions that are
interdisciplinary, hands-on; and aligned with local, state, and national
standards in the following areas: Information technology, legal issues and the
internet; and integrating math, science, and technology into the classroom. Her
work on the integration of technology across the curriculum has been recognized
with numerous awards over the years.
Building upon her professional background and interest in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), she designed a study
driven by the following questions:
- How do elementary school students interact with an educational robot to design and test problems?
- Does interacting with an educational robot impact the understanding of STEM concepts?
- Does interacting with an educational robot impact attitudes towards STEM?
Stephanie holds an undergraduate degree in theater and a master’s degree in career and technical education, both completed at USF. Thus, with the completion of her Ph.D. in Career and Workforce Education at USF, Stephanie is now three times a Bull. Given her longstanding association with USF, in addition to serving as President and CEO of Holmquist Educational Consultants; Stephanie serves as Government Relations Chair on the USF Foundation Board of Directors.
President Judy Genshaft officially conferred Stephanie’s
doctorate at the Spring 2014 Commencement ceremony held on May 3 at the
USF-Dome. At the commencement event, Drs. Victor Hernandez and Bill Blank had
the honor of hooding Stephanie. After the ceremony Stephanie’s husband Terry
Johnson, family, and friends gathered at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center
Traditions Hall to celebrate her professional milestone.
