Journal Articles

Ramey, K. E., Dunphy, M., Schamberger, B., Baradaran Shoraka, Z., Mabadeje, Y., & Gorsh, J. A. (2026). Teaching in the wild: Dilemmas experienced by formal educators in adapting to facilitating nature-based learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 181, 105719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2026.105719

Conference Proceedings (refereed) 

2026

Schuh, K. L., Dunphy, M., Rahman, F., & Domingues, R. (2026). Knowledge links in the wild. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2026. 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. (2026) Distributed Sensemaking Among Formal and Informal Educators Working Together to Support Nature-based Learning. In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2026. International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Baradaran Shoraka, Z. & Ramey, K. (2026). Building bodies, building minds: A hands-on STEM activity in biomechanical engineering for elementary students. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2026. International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Dixon, P., Lira, M. & Ramey, K. (2026). Nature-based learning and its effects on motivation for students with learning differences. Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2026. International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Mabadeje, Y., & Ramey, K. (2026). Designing an embodied learning environment for children’s body-based sense-making. In B. K. Litts, D. DeLiema, C. Lee, S. Krist, A. Mawasi, L. Martin, & K. Kumpulainen (Eds.), Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2026. International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2026.396907

2025

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 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2025 (pp. 1007–1015). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2025.201482

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 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2025 (pp. 2904–2906). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2025.635849

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). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2025.647362

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 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2025 (pp. 235–243). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2025.460332

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.), Proceedings of the 19th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2025 (pp. 1464–1468). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2025.322624 

2024

Ramey, K., Dunphy, M., Schamberger, B., Baradaran Shoraka, Z., Mabadeje, Y., & Tu, L. (2024). Teaching in the wild: Dilemmas experienced by K–12 teachers learning to facilitate outdoor education. In R. Lindgren, T. I. Asino, E. A. Kyza, C. K. Looi, D. T. Keifert, & E. Suárez (Eds.), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2024 (pp. 1195–1198). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2024.227170

Schuh, K. L., Rahman, F., Dunphy, M., & Domingues, R. (2024). Researchers as learners: Exploring nature, experiences, and biases in data collection and analysis. In R. Lindgren, T. I. Asino, E. A. Kyza, C. K. Looi, D. T. Keifert, & E. Suárez (Eds.), Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2024 (pp. 2087–2088). International Society of the Learning Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22318/icls2024.227736

Presentations (refereed) 

2026

Baradaran Shoraka, Z., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). “Look, I am bendy”: Embodied, constructionist STEM learning during a biomedical engineering activity [Conference presentation]. NARST Annual International Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.

Crowell, A., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). Teacher boundaries and student resilience in nature-based science learning [Conference presentation]. NARST Annual International Conference, Seattle, WA, United States. 

Dixon, P., Lira, M. E., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). Teaching science using knowledge-in-pieces during nature-based learning [Conference presentation]. NARST Annual International Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.

Mabadeje, Y., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). Reasoning in levels: Facilitating systems thinking skills in science through embodiment [Conference presentation]. NARST Annual International Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.

Schamberger, B., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). Teacher professional learning for productive interdisciplinary engagement in nature-based learning [Conference presentation]. NARST Annual International Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.

Baradaran Shoraka, Z., & Ramey, K. E. (2026, April). “I want to change the world”: Young learners explore biomedical engineering through hands-on engineering design activities [Conference presentation]. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

2025

Mabadeje, Y., & Ramey, K. E. (2025, August). Playful embodied learning: Developing systems thinking in elementary education [Conference presentation]. Play Make Learn Conference, Madison, WI, United States. 

Baradaran Shoraka, Z., & Ramey, K. E. (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, United States. https://doi.org/10.3102/IP.25.2190354

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, United States. 

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

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, United States. https://doi.org/10.3102/2187472 ResearchGate

Dunphy, M., Hand, B., Ramey, K. E., & 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 Annual International Conference, National Harbor, MD, United States. NARST

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 Annual International Conference, National Harbor, MD, United States.

2024

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, United States. https://doi.org/10.3102/2097558

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

Dunphy, M., Ramey, K. E., & Hand, B. (2024, November). Encountering freedom across contexts: A comparative analysis of formal and nature-based learning environments [Poster presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Mabadeje, Y., Dunphy, M., & Ramey, K. E. (2024, November). Aligning expectations with learning goals in nature-based learning programs [Poster presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

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 [Poster presentation]. North American Association for Environmental Education Research Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Grant Applications

Case, A. (PI), Ramey, K. E. (Co-PI), & Mahatmya, D. (Co-PI). (2026). University of Iowa Training Program for Engaged Education Researchers. Institute of Education Sciences, Research Training Programs in Education Sciences. $796,798. Proposed project period: August 2027–July 2030.

Case, A. (PI), & Ramey, K. E. (Co-PI). (2026). Recognizing Opportunities and Original Talents in STEM through Family Engagement (DBG ROOTS). National Science Foundation, STEM K–12. $333,081. Proposed project period: January 2027–December 2028. Submitted.

Ramey, K. E. (PI). (2025). Examining interdisciplinary, experiential learning environments as contexts for building resilience not breaking young people down. Priscilla and Eugene Zimmermann Resilience in Education Fund. $5,100. Project period: January 2025–December 2025. Funded.

Ramey, K. E. (PI), & Gorsh, J. (Co-PI). (2025). Developing tools for collaboration: Preparing educators to engage all students in outdoor STEM learning. National Science Foundation, Discovery Research PreK–12 (DRK–12). $2,164,432. Proposed project period: Summer 2025–Summer 2029. Not funded.

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)