MSSE Core Instructor

walt
Reid Hall Room 451, MSU, Bozeman

Education:

  • Doctoral degree in Curriculum & Instruction at Montana State University with a minor in Adult Education.
  • Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Science. Montana State University.
  • Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a Major in Earth Science and a minor in General Science. Bloomsburg University, PA.

Interests:

Walt is delighted to be able to work in the MSSE program.  He has been fortunate to be able to help develop and work in teacher led professional development experiences.  Ranging from the Better Elementary Science Teacher (BEST) initiative to the Systemic Teacher Education Program (STEP), being the lead facilitator in the E-mentoring for Student Success (eMSS), a teacher and curriculum developer for the Sally Ride Academy and the trainer for online advisors for the NASA/NSTA Educational Digital Assets Project. Walt was also the first developer and trainer for on line teachers in Montana’s Virtual School.  Through all these experiences he has been able to grow as an educator.

His research interests include working with and motivating low ability, high-risk learners, and also working with teachers in furthering their growth and education.  Action Research is a perfect “tool” in doing this as it has teachers collecting, and analyzing data from their own classroom on a project or problem which they are interested in.  This is followed up by an “action” plan as to how this data will impact their future teaching.

Selected Publications and Grants:

Lehnhoff, E, Woolbaugh, W., Rew, L. (2008) “Designing the Perfect Plant: Activities and a Game to Investigate Plant Ecology,” ScienceScope, Vol.32 (3), Nov, 08.
 
Lead Project Investigator for USDA CSREES Secondary-Post Secondary Education Challenge Grant Program, (2005) "Global Student-to-Student, Teacher-to-Scientist Teaching and Learning," A two year, $100,000 matching funds project with two international partner schools, and four US schools. Teachers, students and scientists working on original science research projects (Award No. 2005-38414-15679).
 
Woolbaugh, W., Dunkel, F., (2003) "Marigolds for Montana," The Science Teacher, Vol. 70 (5), May, 03.
 
Sachatello-Sawyer, B., Fellenz, R., Woolbaugh, W.,(2002) "Insights into Preferences for Learning," Informal Learning, Nov., Dec. - 2002, Vol. No. 57. pp - 1-5.
 
Adult Museum Programs: Designing Meaningful Experiences, B. Sachatello, R. Fellenz, H Burton, L. Carlson, J. Mahony & W. Woolbaugh, Altamira Press, CA., 2002.
 
Wrote labs for Holt, Rinehart & Winston textbook Physical Science (2001).
 

W. Woolbaugh, “Invited Paper,” The Science Teacher, Dec. 1997, p. 8.

Created, wrote and tested over twenty-five labs for the Museum of the Rockies "Landforms/Lifeforms” exhibit.  (1996).
 

W. Woolbaugh, E. Charron, J. Amend, "Air Thermometer," Jan. 1996, ScienceScope Magazine.

E. Charron, W. Woolbaugh, "A Room with a View," Nov. 1994, Science Teacher Magazine.