EDUCATION
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction August 2017
Advisors: Dr. Julia Plummer, Dr. Richard Duschl
Thesis: Evaluating Educative Curriculum for an Undergraduate Astronomy Course
M.S., Astronomy & Astrophysics December 2016
Advisors: Dr. Julia Kregenow, Dr. Chris Palma, Dr. Julia Plummer
Thesis: Effectiveness of the Video Game Approach to Astro 001
Union College, Schenectady, NY
B.S., Physics and Astronomy June 2011
Cum Laude, Scholars Program
Senior Thesis: Detection and Modeling of Extrasolar Planetary Transits
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Francis Wilkin
APPOINTMENTS
Department of Physics, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
September 2018 – present
Lecturer of Physics
Taught undergraduate courses (see below)
Member of course design/redesign teams for Observational Astrophysics, Galactic Astrophysics, Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences
Physics Undergraduate Program Committee: Fall 2020 – present.
Studied student interests in and engagement with astronomy through the Texas State Astronomy Club.
Participated in Learning Assistant program as instructor/mentor and coordinator.
Supervised students in performing independent research projects.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (updated as of Spring 2022)
Texas State University
Physics 1315: General Physics I – 13 sections
Physics 1430: Mechanics – 6 sections
Physics 1350: Stars and Galaxies – 3 sections
Physics 2425: Electricity & Magnetism – 1 section
Physics 3418: Methods in Observational Astrophysics – 3 sections
Physics 4321: Undergraduate Research – 2 students Spring 2021, 1 student Spring 2022
PUBLICATIONS
Barringer, D., Olmstead, A., Maldonado, A., Benefits of a student-led astronomy club: lessons to inform instructional design, 2019 PERC Proceedings [Provo, UT, July 24-25, 2019], edited by Y. Cao, S. Wolf, and M. B. Bennett, doi:10.1119/perc.2019.pr.Barringer.
Barringer, D., Plummer, J.D., Kregenow, J., Palma, C. (2018). Gamified Approach to Teaching Introductory Astronomy Online. Physical Review Physics Education Research 14, 010140.
Barringer, D., Walker, C., Pompea, S., Sparks, S. (2011) Astronomy Meets the Environmental Sciences: Using GLOBE at Night Data. In J. B. Jensen, J. G. Manning, & M. G. Gibbs (Eds.), Earth and Space Science: Making Connections in Education and Public Outreach. Proceedings of a conference held at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA 31 July-4 August 2010. Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA
Plummer, J. D., Cho, K., Palma, C., Barringer, D. F., Gleason, T., & Nolan, K. (in press). Assessing preservice elementary teachers’ enactment of science practices using children’s astronomy storybooks. Astronomy Education Journal, 1(1), 1-11.
Plummer, J.D., Palma, C., Gleason, T., & Barringer, D. (2018). Assessing preservice elementary teachers understanding of science practices using dual-purpose children’s storybooks. Paper presented at the NARST: A Worldwide Organization for Improving Science Teaching and Learning through Research annual conference, Atlanta, GA, March 10-13, 2018.