Conference Presentations

Dunphy, M., Hand, B., Ramey, K., Coleman, J., & Neal, T. (2025, March). Encountering freedom: A comparative case study of a formal classroom and nature-based informal learning environment [Conference presentation]. National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, National Harbor, MD.

*Mabadeje, Y., Ramey, K. E., & Dunphy, M. (2025, March). Nature-based learning as a context for science inquiry: Benefits and challenges from students’ perspective [Conference presentation]. National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, National Harbor, MD.

*Baradaran Shoraka, Z., & Ramey, K. (2025, April). Nature-inspired creativity: K–12 teachers’ experiences in a nature-based learning professional development program [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Ramey, K. E., Velasquez, A., Cheyney, K., Beck, M. E., & Cota, M. G. M. (2025, April). The future is Indigenous: Designing for culturally revitalizing STEAM learning [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

*Schamberger, B., & Ramey, K. (2025, April). Teaching and learning outdoors: More than a space for science inquiry [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Schuh, K. L., Dunphy, M., Rahman, F., & Domingues, R. (2025, April). “Gas stations in the middle of nowhere?”: Uncovering knowledge links in outdoor school experiential learning [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Schuh, K. L., Rahman, F., Dunphy, M., & Domingues, R. (2024, April). Researchers as learners: Experiencing the wild [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Ramey, K., Dunphy, M., Schamberger, B., Baradaran Shoraka, Z., Mabadeje, Y., & Tu, L. (2024, June). Teaching in the wild: Dilemmas experienced by K–12 teachers learning to facilitate outdoor education. In Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2024) (pp. 1195–1198). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://repository.isls.org/handle/1/10655

Schuh, K. L., Rahman, F., Dunphy, M., & Domingues, R. (2024, June). Researchers as learners: Exploring nature, experiences, and biases in data collection and analysis. In Lindgren, R., Asino, T. I., Kyza, E. A., Looi, C. K., Keifert, D. T., & Suárez, E. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS 2024) (pp. 2087–2088). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://repository.isls.org/handle/1/10876

Ramey, K. E., Schamberger, B., & Gorsh, J. (2024, October 21). Social studies in outdoor learning spaces [Conference presentation]. Iowa Council for the Social Studies Conference, Altoona, IA.

*Schamberger, B., Ramey, K., & Gorsh, J. (2024, October). Social studies in outdoor learning spaces [Conference presentation]. Iowa Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting, Altoona, IA.

Dunphy, M., Hand, B., & Ramey, K. E. (2024, November). Encountering freedom across contexts: A comparative analysis of formal and nature-based learning environments [Conference presentation]. National Academy of Environmental Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

*Mabadeje, Y., Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. E. (2024, November). Aligning expectations with learning goals in nature-based learning programs [Conference presentation]. National Academy of Environmental Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Ramey, K., Dunphy, M., Schamberger, B., Baradaran Shoraka, Z., Mabadeje, Y., & Gorsh, J. (2024, November 6). Dilemmas faced by elementary school teachers facilitating nature-based learning [Conference poster]. North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE), Pittsburgh, PA.

Applied Grants 

Ramey, Kay (PI), Gorsh, Jay (Co-PI). “Developing Tools for Collaboration: Preparing Educators to Engage All Students in Outdoor STEM Learning”, submitted to the National Science Foundation, Discovery Research K-12 (DRK-12), $2,164,432. (Summer 2025–Summer 2029).

Unbound / Obermann Center Reading Group

Unbound: Learning Without Limits was selected as an Obermann Center Working Group for the 2024-2025 academic year. The purpose of our Working Group is to foster discussion to better understand and apply research on learning in informal environments to our individual work through a monthly reading group. Our plans for the spring semester include bringing a speaker to campus to share with use their work on conducted research in informal learning spaces. 

* Graduate Students. At times, graduate students work on projects as part of their assistantship. However, in most cases, they work as volunteers.