Dr Zerrin Doganca Kucuk

    Education

    Assistant Professor

    School of Education Building
    2nd Floor
    208

    Biography

    Zerrin joined the Education Department in March 2019. Zerrin has been teaching pedagogy of science and mathematics for more than 10 years to different groups of pre-service and in-service teachers. She holds a Bachelors degree (Undergraduate Mathematics Education Program) and a minor degree (Undergraduate Science Education) from Bogazici University. After studying as a mathematics teacher at  a private school in Istanbul for one year, she worked as a research assistant at the Primary Education Department in Bogazici University. She got her MS and PhD degrees  from the Environmental Sciences Institute at the same university. Prior to joining the Education Department at Maynooth University, she worked as a research assistant and postdoctoral researcher in Bogazici University. She also held the roles of Vice Director at the BAUSTEM Center and Assistant Professor in Faculty of Education in Bahcesehir University. 

    Research Interests

    • Professional teacher development
    • Teaching experiences
    • Science teaching
    • Environmental education
    • Socio-scientific Issues
    • Systems thinking
    • STEM Education

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    EarlySTEM Program Development Project Project Supervisor / BAUSTEM, Bahcesehir University 01-AUG-16
    STEM Leader Teacher Career Development Program Project Supervisor / BAUSTEM, Bahcesehir University 01-AUG-16
    Investigating Teaching Orientations of Freshmen Science Education Students: A Mixed Method Study Post-doc Reseacher / Bogazici University Scientific Research Office 02-DEC-13 02-MAR-15
    System Language of Ecology Expert and Trainer / Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 02-JUN-13 31-DEC-13
    Empowering Primary School Teachers to Improve the Learning Climate in Their Classrooms” Project Assistant / Bogazici University Scientific Research Office 01-JUN-07 27-FEB-09
    Geometry and Architecture Project Assistant & Trainer / Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 01-MAR-02 03-JUN-04

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2020 'Investigation of scientific creativity levels of elementary school students who enrolled in a STEM program'
    Genek, S. E., Doganca Kucuk, Z. (2020) 'Investigation of scientific creativity levels of elementary school students who enrolled in a STEM program'. Elementary Education Online, 19 (3):1715-1728 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2019 'Teaching Orientations of Freshman Pre-service Science Teachers'
    Devrim Guven, Ebru Z. Mugaloglu, Zerrin Doganca kucuk, William Cobern (2019) 'Teaching Orientations of Freshman Pre-service Science Teachers'. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 16 (4):508-520 [IR Link] [Details]
    2018 'Developing Seventh Grade Students’ Understanding of Complex Environmental Problems with Systems Tools and Representations: a Quasi-experimental Study'
    Doganca Kucuk Z.;Saysel A. (2018) 'Developing Seventh Grade Students’ Understanding of Complex Environmental Problems with Systems Tools and Representations: a Quasi-experimental Study'. Research in Science Education, 48 (2):491-514 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 'Implementation of an environmental education course to improve pre-service elementary teachers’ environmental literacy and self-efficacy beliefs'
    Saribas D.;Kucuk Z.;Ertepinar H. (2017) 'Implementation of an environmental education course to improve pre-service elementary teachers’ environmental literacy and self-efficacy beliefs'. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 26 (4):311-326 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2016 'Evaluating effects of an exhibition visit on pre-service elementary teachers' understandings of climate change'
    Saribaş D.;Küçük Z.;Ertepinar H. (2016) 'Evaluating effects of an exhibition visit on pre-service elementary teachers' understandings of climate change'. Journal of Turkish Science Education, 13 (1):19-30 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 'Fulfilling the missing link between university and authentic workplace in teacher training'
    Muǧaloǧlu E.;Doǧanca Z. (2009) 'Fulfilling the missing link between university and authentic workplace in teacher training'. Journal of Workplace Learning, 21 (6):455-464 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]

    Books

      Year Publication
    2017 STEM Program Book- A Guideline for Classroom Teachers (in Turkish).
    Doğança Küçük, Z. (ed.) (2017) STEM Program Book- A Guideline for Classroom Teachers (in Turkish). Istanbul, Turkey: Pusula Press. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2017 'Measurement and Evaluation Approaches in STEM Education'
    Aşık, G. Doğança Küçük, Z., & Çorlu, M. S. (2017) 'Measurement and Evaluation Approaches in STEM Education' In: STEM Theory & Practice: A Basic Guide for Teachers (in Turkish). Istanbul, Turkey: Pusula Press. [Details]
    2012 'Early Science: Basics of Science and Science Activities for Preschool Children'
    Doğança, Z. (2012) 'Early Science: Basics of Science and Science Activities for Preschool Children' In: An In-depth View for Early Childhood Period (in Turkish). Ankara, Turkey: Ozgunkok Press. [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2010 Effects of Teaching Environmental Issues with Causal Loop Diagrams
    Doganca, Z. (2010) Effects of Teaching Environmental Issues with Causal Loop Diagrams Teaching and Learning 2010 Sevilla, Spain, , pp.188-197 [Details]
    2008 An Attempt to Fulfil “the Missing Link” in Teacher Education: A Collaborative Action Research Project
    Muğaloğlu, E.Z., Doğança, Z. (2008) An Attempt to Fulfil “the Missing Link” in Teacher Education: A Collaborative Action Research Project Teaching and Learning 2008 Averio, Portugal, , pp.836-841 [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2018 STEM teaching efficacy of preschool and classroom teachers in an Early STEM Program.
    Doğança Küçük, Z., Ersoy, Z., Çorlu, M.S. (2018) STEM teaching efficacy of preschool and classroom teachers in an Early STEM Program. [Oral Presentation], Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) Winter Conference 2018, Utrecht, Netherlands [Details]
    2017 Misconceptions of university students about global climate change. Conference of the European Science Education.
    Doğança Küçük, Z., Işık, S. (2017) Misconceptions of university students about global climate change. Conference of the European Science Education. [Oral Presentation], Conference of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2017 First reflections of teachers to integrated teaching.
    Doğança Küçük, Z., Aşık, G., Helvacı, B., Çorlu, M. S. (2017) First reflections of teachers to integrated teaching. [Oral Presentation], International Conference on Education in Mathematics, Science, and Technology (ICEMST), Izmir, Turkey [Details]
    2017 Teachers' views on the implementation of an early STEM education program.
    Doğança Küçük, Z., Aşık, G., Girgin, Ş. (2017) Teachers' views on the implementation of an early STEM education program. [Oral Presentation], Conference of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2015 A Study on Teaching Orientations of Freshmen Science Education Students.
    Güven, D., Doğança Küçük, Z., Muğaloğlu, E. Z., & Cobern, W. (2015) A Study on Teaching Orientations of Freshmen Science Education Students. [Oral Presentation], Conference of the European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Helsinki, Finland [Details]
    2014 Comparing Teaching Orientations of Pre-service and In-Service Science Teachers.
    Doğança, Z., Güven, D., & Muğaloğlu, E. Z. (2014) Comparing Teaching Orientations of Pre-service and In-Service Science Teachers. [Oral Presentation], ISER-2014 World Conference, Nevsehir, Turkey [Details]
    2012 Failure to Understand Stock-Flow Thinking: Is Metacognition a Possible Explanation to This Phenomenon?.
    Aşık, G., Doğança, Z. (2012) Failure to Understand Stock-Flow Thinking: Is Metacognition a Possible Explanation to This Phenomenon?. [Oral Presentation], 5th Biennial Meeting of the EARLI Special Interest Group, Milano, Italy [Details]
    2012 An Interview Protocol for Assessing Students’ Understanding of Dynamically Complex Environmental Problems.
    Doğança, Z., Saysel, A.K. (2012) An Interview Protocol for Assessing Students’ Understanding of Dynamically Complex Environmental Problems. [Oral Presentation], 30th International Conference of the Systems Dynamic Society, St Gallen, Switzerland [Details]
    2011 Teaching Dynamic Ecological Problems with Systems Approach.
    Doğança, Z. (2011) Teaching Dynamic Ecological Problems with Systems Approach. [Oral Presentation], 12th PhD Colloquium of the Student Chapter of the Systems Dynamic Society, Washington D.C., USA [Details]
    2010 Getting Insight about Environmental Issues by Practicing Causal Loops.
    Doğança, Z. (2010) Getting Insight about Environmental Issues by Practicing Causal Loops. [Oral Presentation], System Dynamics and Systems Thinking in K-12 Education, Boston, USA [Details]
    2007 An Examination of an Environmental Training Programme on Prospective Teachers.
    Doganca, Z., Mugaloglu, E. Z. (2007) An Examination of an Environmental Training Programme on Prospective Teachers. [Oral Presentation], 4th World Environmental Education Congress, Durban, Republic of South Africa [Details]

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Primary Education Department, Bogazici University Post-doc Reseacher 09-DEC-13 / 02-MAR-15
    Private Akasya Primary School Mathematics Teacher 04-AUG-03 / 30-JUL-04
    Faculty of Educational Sciences, Bahcesehir University Assistant Professor 01-SEP-17 / 30-JAN-19
    Primary Education Department, Bogazici University Graduate Research Assistant 10-OCT-05 / 05-AUG-13
    Education Department, Maynooth University Assistant Professor 15-MAR-19 /
    BAUSTEM Center, Bahcesehir University Vice-Director 01-AUG-16 / 30-JAN-19
    Primary Education Department, Bogazici University Part-time Instructor 01-SEP-15 / 02-MAR-16

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2003 B.S. graduation Honors Degree Bogazici University
    2009 Dissertation Project Fellowship Bogazici University Scientific Research Office
    2010 Conference Fellowship Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)
    2007 Conference Fellowship Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Turkish Science Education and Research Association Member 01-JAN-10 / 30-DEC-18
    Association for Teacher Education in Europe Member 30-JAN-17 / 30-DEC-18

    Teaching Interests

    Science teaching, pedagogical content knowledge, STEM education, environmental literacy