*Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. Nature-inspired Creativity: K-12 teachers’ experiences in a nature based learning professional development program. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. April 2025.
Ramey, K. E., Velasquez, A., Cheyney, K., Beck, M. E., & Cota, M. G. M. The Future is Indigenous: Designing for culturally revitalizing STEAM learning. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. April 2025.
*Schamberger, B., & Ramey, K. Teaching and learning outdoors: More than a space for science inquiry. Paper accepted for presentation at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. April 2025.
Dunphy, M., Hand, B., Ramey, K., Coleman, J., & Neal. T. Encountering freedom: A comparative case study of a formal classroom and nature-based informal learning environment. Paper accepted for presentation at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. March 2025.
*Mabadeje, Y., Ramey, K. E.,& Dunphy, M. Nature-based learning as a context for science inquiry: Benefits and challenges from students’ perspective. Paper submitted for presentation at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. March 2025.
Dunphy, M., Hand, B., & Ramey, K. E. Encountering freedom across contexts: A comparative analysis of formal and nature-based learning environments. Paper presented at the National Academy of Environmental Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. November 2024.
*Mabadeje, Y., Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. E. Aligning expectations with learning goals in nature-based learning programs. Paper presented at the National Academy of Environmental Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. November 2024.
Ramey, K. E., Dunphy, M., *Schamberger, B., *Baradaran Shoraka, Z., *Yetunde, M. & Gorsh, J. Dilemmas faced by elementary school teachers facilitating nature-based learning. Paper presented at the National Academy of Environmental Education Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.Nov ember 2024.
*Schamberger, B., Ramey, K. & Gorsh, J. Social studies in outdoor learning spaces. Paper presented at the Iowa Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting, Altoona, IA. October 2024.
Schuh, K.L., Dunphy, M., *Rahman, F., & *Domingues, R. (April, 2025) “Gas Stations in the Middle of Nowhere?": Uncovering Knowledge Links in Outdoor School Experiential Learning. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
Ramey, K., *Dunphy, M., *Schamberger, B., *Shoraka, Z. B., *Mabadeje, Y., & *Tu, L. (2024). 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. (June 2024). 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.). (2024). Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2024. Buffalo, USA: International Society of the Learning Sciences. 2087-2088. https://repository.isls.org/handle/1/10876
Schuh, K.L., *Rahman, F., *Dunphy, M., & *Domingues, R. (April 2024).Researchers as learners: Experiencing the wild.Paper presented to the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
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.
Ramey, K. E., *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.
*Mabadeje, Y. A., *Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. E. (2024, November). Aligning expectations with learning goals in nature-based learning programs. Presented at the 23rd Annual North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Conference, [Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania].
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.
