Conference Proceedings (refereed) 

Schuh, K.L., Dunphy, M., Rahman, F., & Domingues, R.* (accepted) Knowledge links in the wild. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2026. Irvine, California: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Ramey, K. E., Schamberger, B., Baradaran Shoraka, Z., Dunphy, M., Crowell, A., Mabadeje, Y., Dixon, P., Gorsh, J. A.(accepted). Distributed Sensemaking Among Formal and Informal Educators Working Together to Support Nature-based Learning. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2026. Irvine, California: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

*Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. (accepted). Building bodies, building minds: A hands-on STEM activity in biomechanical engineering for elementary students. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2026. Irvine, California: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

*Dixon, P., Lira, M. & Ramey, K. (accepted). Nature-based learning and its effects on motivation for students with learning differences. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2026. Irvine, California: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

*Mabadeje, Y. & Ramey, K. (accepted). Designing an embodied learning environment for children’s body-based sense-making. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2026. Irvine, California: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Dunphy, M., Ramey, K., Hand, B. (2025). Encountering freedom in the wild: A comparative case study of a formal classroom and nature-based informal learning environment concerning the role of knowledge authority and subjectification. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H. Lotz-Sisitka & L. Markauskaite (Eds.) Proceedings of the 19^th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2025 (pp. 1007-1015).        Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences. 

*Mabadeje, Y., Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. (2025). “I didn’t know I was into birds”:   Understanding students’ perceptions of nature-based learning. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H. Lotz-Sisitka & L. Markauskaite (Eds.) Proceedings of the 19^th  International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2025 (pp. 2904-2906).    Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Ramey, K., Currington, D., Schamberger, B., Mabadeje, Y., Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Crowell, A. (2025). Infrastructuring STEAM learning: Building interconnected  STEAM learning infrastructure for preservice teachers and K-12 students. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H. Lotz-Sisitka & L. Markauskaite (Eds.) Proceedingsof the 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2025 (pp. 1464-  1468). Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Ramey, K., Velasquez, A., Cheyney, K., Beck, M., Cota, M., Schamberger, B., & Baradaran Shoraka, Z. (2025). Culturally revitalizing STEAM learning as a space for ecologically situated identity work. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H.   Lotz-Sisitka & L. Markauskaite (Eds.) Proceedings of the 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2025 (pp. 226-234). Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Schamberger, B. & Ramey, K. E. (2025). Productive interdisciplinary engagement and teacher    professional learning for social studies in nature-based learning. In A. Rajala, A. Cortez, R. Hofmann, A. Jornet, H. Lotz-Sisitka & L. Markauskaite (Eds.) Proceedings of the 19^th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2025 (pp. 235-243). Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Dunphy, M., Ramey, K., Hand, B. (2025). Encountering freedom in the wild: A comparative case study of a formal classroom and nature-based informal learning environment concerning the role of knowledge authority and subjectification. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2025. Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

*Mabadeje, Y., Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. (2025). “I didn’t know I was into birds”: Understanding students’ perceptions of nature-based learning. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2025. Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Ramey, K., Currington, D., *Schamberger, B., *Mabadeje, Y., *Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & *Crowell, A. (2025). Infrastructuring STEAM learning: Building interconnected STEAM learning infrastructure for preservice teachers and K-12 students. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2025. Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Ramey, K., Velasquez, A., Cheyney, K., Beck, M., Cota, M., *Schamberger, B., & *Baradaran Shoraka, Z. (2025). Culturally revitalizing STEAM learning as a space for ecologically situated identity work. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2025. Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

*Schamberger, B. & Ramey, K. E. (2025). Productive interdisciplinary engagement and teacher professional learning for social studies in nature-based learning. Proceedings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences Annual Meeting 2025. Helsinki, Finland: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

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

Presentations (refereed) 

*Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. E. (accepted). “Look, I am bendy”: Embodied, constructionist STEM learning during a biomedical engineering activity. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Seattle, WA. April 2026.

*Crowell, A. & Ramey, K. E. (accepted). Teacher Boundaries and Student Resilience in Nature-Based Science Learning. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Seattle, WA. April 2026.

*Dixon, P., Lira, M. E., & Ramey, K. E. (accepted). Teaching science using knowledge-in-pieces during nature-based learning. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Seattle, WA. April 2026.

*Mabadeje, Y. & Ramey, K. E. (accepted). Reasoning in levels: Facilitating systems thinking skills in science through embodiment. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Seattle, WA. April 2026.

Schamberger, B., & Ramey, K. E. (accepted). Teacher professional learning for productive interdisciplinary engagement in nature-based learning. Paper presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Seattle, WA. April 2026.

*Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. E. (accepted) “I want to change the world”: Young learners explore biomedical engineering through hands-on engineering design activities. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA. April 2026.

*Mabadeje, Y. & Ramey, K. E. Playful embodied learning: Developing systems thinking in elementary education.Paper presented at the Play Make Learn Conference. Madison, WI. August 2025.

*Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. E. Nature-inspired Creativity: K-12 teachers’ experiences    in a nature based learning professional development program. Paper presented 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 presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. April 2025.

Schamberger, B., & Ramey, K. E. Teaching and learning outdoors: More than a space for   science inquiry. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. April 2025.

Dunphy, M., Hand, B., Ramey, K. E., Coleman, J., & Neal. T. Encountering freedom: A comparative case study of a formal classroom and nature-based informal learning environment. Paper presented 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 presented at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, National Harbor, Maryland. March 2025.

*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.

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.

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

*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.

Grant Applications

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). Unfunded.

Recognition / Support

Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Working Group 2025-2028 (includes $500/year funding)

Psychological & Quantitative Foundations, College of Education Strategic Initiative 2025-2026 (Includes $1,000 and quarter-time GA)

Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Working Group 2024-2025 (includes $500 funding)

Psychological & Quantitative Foundations, College of Education Strategic Initiative 2024-2025 (Includes $1,000 and quarter-time GA)

Psychological & Quantitative Foundations, College of Education Strategic Initiative 2023-2024 (includes $5,115 and half-time GA)

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