Laura O'Dwyer

Laura Mary O'Dwyer
Alma materBoston College
Scientific career
InstitutionsBoston College
ThesisExtending the application of multilevel modeling to data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (2000)

Laura Mary O'Dwyer is a professor of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics at Boston College known for her work on examining the impact of technology in education, especially science education, and for quantifying outcomes for K-12 student success.

Education and career

O'Dwyer has a B.Sc. (1992) and an M.Sc. (1993) from the National University of Ireland.[1] She earned her Ph.D. from Boston College in 2000, where she worked on modeling data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.[2] Following her Ph.D., she worked at University of Massachusetts Lowell until she joined the faculty of Boston College in 2006.[1] O'Dwyer is an associate editor of Irish Educational Studies journal[3] and co-edited a special edition of Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment on the topic of One-to-one computing.[4]

In September 2021, the National Science Foundation announced funding for new Science and Technology Centers[5] and O'Dwyer is participating in the center being led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.[6]

Research

O'Dwyer is known for her application of statistical tools to qualitative data, particularly with respect to analysis of educational outcomes. Her textbook, Quantitative Research for the Qualitative Researcher, was published in 2014.[7] O'Dwyer's graduate research examined data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study,[2] a study which she has further examined to compare success in math across different nations.[8] O'Dwyer has examined math education in the K-12 setting, especially algebra using on-line classes[9] and the perception and assessment of ability in math.[10] In 2016, O'Dwyer received funding from the National Science Foundation to increase student success in algebra.[11][12] For high school students, O'Dwyer has examined their understanding of models in the study of biology, physics and chemistry.[13] O'Dwyer has also assessed the use of technology in the classroom, specifically the impact of assigning individual laptops to students and teachers in classrooms.[14] Her research on one-to-one computing includes quantifying how these programs influence teaching in the classroom[15] and she has examined how e-learning benefits teachers[16] in addition to the students. Locally, O'Dwyer applies her research to analysis of elementary education, as she did in her town of Milton, Massachusetts in an examination of foreign language classes in 2012.[17]

Selected publications

O'Dwyer has an h-index of 32 at Google Scholar, and as of September 2021 has over 5800 citations to her publications.[18]

  • O'Dwyer, Laura; Russell, Michael; Bebell, Damian; Tucker-Seeley, Kevon R. (1 January 2005). "Examining the Relationship Between Home and School Computer Use and Students' English/Language Arts Test Scores". The Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment. 3 (3). ISSN 1540-2525.
  • Russell, Michael; Bebell, Damian; O'Dwyer, Laura; O'Connor, Kathleen (1 September 2003). "Examining Teacher Technology Use: Implications for Preservice and Inservice Teacher Preparation". Journal of Teacher Education. 54 (4): 297–310. doi:10.1177/0022487103255985. ISSN 0022-4871. S2CID 40943904.
  • O'Dwyer, Laura M.; Bernauer, James A. (2014). Quantitative research for the qualitative researcher. Los Angeles. ISBN 978-1412997799.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Peoples, Shelagh M.; O’Dwyer, Laura M.; Wang, Yang; Brown, Jessica J.; Rosca, Camelia V. (April 2014). "Development and application of the Elementary School Science Classroom Environment Scale (ESSCES): measuring student perceptions of constructivism within the science classroom". Learning Environments Research. 17 (1): 49–73. doi:10.1007/s10984-013-9152-8. S2CID 144163422.

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ a b c d "O'Dwyer CV" (PDF). Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b O'Dwyer, Laura Mary (2000). Extending the application of multilevel modeling to data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (Thesis). OCLC 47669824.
  3. ^ "Irish Educational Studies Editorial Board". www.tandfonline.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  4. ^ "Educational Outcomes and Research from 1:1 Computing Settings" (PDF). The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment. 9 (1). 2010.
  5. ^ "New science and technology centers to address vexing societal problems". www.nsf.gov. September 9, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  6. ^ "Professor Laura O'Dwyer and Research Team Receive National Science Foundation Grant". www.bc.edu. September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  7. ^ O'Dwyer, Laura M.; Bernauer, James A. (2014). Quantitative research for the qualitative researcher. Los Angeles. ISBN 978-1412997799.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ O’Dwyer, Laura M; Wang, Yang; Shields, Katherine A (2015). "Teaching for conceptual understanding: A cross-national comparison of the relationship between teachers' instructional practices and student achievement in mathematics". Large-Scale Assessments in Education. 3 (1): 1. doi:10.1186/s40536-014-0011-6. ISSN 2196-0739. S2CID 51914610.
  9. ^ O’Dwyer, Laura M.; Carey, Rebecca; Kleiman, Glenn (March 2007). "A Study of the Effectiveness of the Louisiana Algebra I Online Course". Journal of Research on Technology in Education. 39 (3): 289–306. doi:10.1080/15391523.2007.10782484. S2CID 62653303.
  10. ^ Russell, Michael; O’Dwyer, Laura M.; Miranda, Helena (May 2009). "Diagnosing students' misconceptions in algebra: Results from an experimental pilot study". Behavior Research Methods. 41 (2): 414–424. doi:10.3758/BRM.41.2.414. PMID 19363182. S2CID 25846095.
  11. ^ "$3.8M NSF Grant for BC 'Supporting Success in Algebra' Project". www.bc.edu. March 8, 2017. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  12. ^ "NSF Award Search: Award # 1621011 - Supporting Success in Algebra: A Study of the Implementation of Transition to Algebra". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  13. ^ Gobert, Janice D.; O’Dwyer, Laura; Horwitz, Paul; Buckley, Barbara C.; Levy, Sharona Tal; Wilensky, Uri (2011-03-15). "Examining the Relationship Between Students' Understanding of the Nature of Models and Conceptual Learning in Biology, Physics, and Chemistry". International Journal of Science Education. 33 (5): 653–684. Bibcode:2011IJSEd..33..653G. doi:10.1080/09500691003720671. ISSN 0950-0693. S2CID 145169117.
  14. ^ "A computer per student leads to higher performance than traditional classroom settings". ScienceDaily. January 22, 2010. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  15. ^ Stansbury, Meris (2010-02-16). "One-to-one computing programs only as effective as their teachers". eSchool News. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  16. ^ silicon (2010-08-17). "E-learning benefits teachers, not just students - Discovery | siliconrepublic.com - Ireland's Technology News Service". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  17. ^ Barnes, Jennette (September 13, 2012). "Milton could cap enrollment in popular French immersion program". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  18. ^ "Laura O'Dwyer". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  19. ^ "The Bruce H. Choppin Memorial Award, IEA". www.rasch.org. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  20. ^ "IEA Bruce H. Choppin Memorial Award | IEA.nl". www.iea.nl. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  21. ^ "Newsletter Lynch School of Education BOSTON COLLEGE". studylib.net. March–April 2012. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  22. ^ Peoples, Shelagh M.; O’Dwyer, Laura M.; Wang, Yang; Brown, Jessica J.; Rosca, Camelia V. (April 2014). "Development and application of the Elementary School Science Classroom Environment Scale (ESSCES): measuring student perceptions of constructivism within the science classroom". Learning Environments Research. 17 (1): 49–73. doi:10.1007/s10984-013-9152-8. S2CID 144163422.