Rebecca E. Vieyra

Research Interests

STEM Teacher Leadership, Physics Teacher Education, Computational Modeling in Physics, Teaching and Learning with Mobile Sensors

Bio

Rebecca Vieyra is a doctoral student studying science education. She is also employed full time as Coordinator of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network of the Organization of American States. Previously, she was the K-12 Program Manager at the American Association of Physics Teachers, and, separately, co-founder with her husband of Vieyra Software, which provides free and low-cost apps to more than 1 million users worldwide. Through her collective work, she manages collaborative grants totalling over $8.5 million. Although her interests span education from the classroom to the international arena, her current projects provide focus areas for her doctoral work, and can be seen below in her publications and grants.

Previously, Rebecca was a high school physics and engineering teacher in Illinois public schools. She earned National Board Teacher Certification in AYA/Science-Physics in 2011, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2013, and served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at NASA HQ in 2014-2015. She earned her B.S. in Physics Education from Illinois State University (2007) and an M.A.S. in Science Education from the Illinois Institute of Technology (2010).

See Rebecca's full professional experience in her Curriculum Vitae.

Publications

See Rebecca's full publications in her Curriculum Vitae.

Selected Publications

Vieyra, R. & Vieyra, C. (accepted). Immersive learning experiences in augmented reality (AR): Visualizing and interacting with magnetic fields. Chapter in Macrine, S. & Fugate, J. (Eds.), Movement Matters: How Embodied Cognition Informs Teaching and Learning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Wenning, C. & Vieyra, R. (August 2020 - in production). Teaching High School Physics: The Nature of Physics Teaching. AAPT / AIP Press. Link
Wenning, C. & Vieyra, R. (August 2020 - in production). Teaching High School Physics: Interacting with Physics Students. AAPT / AIP Press. Link
Wenning, C. & Vieyra, R. (August 2020 - in production). Teaching High School Physics: Managing the Physics Classroom. AAPT / AIP Press. Link
Vieyra, R., Bailey, J., Lopez, R., & McCauliffe, C. (2020). Integration of Earth and space science contexts for teaching physics. Physics Education, 55(5), 1-10. Link.
Vieyra, R., Vieyra, C., Pendrill, A.-M., & Xu, B. (2020). Gamified physics challenges for teachers and the public. Physics Education, 55(4), 1-7. Link
Hite, R., Vieyra, R., Milbourne, J., Dou, R., Spuck, T., Smith, J. (2020, 05). STEM Teacher Leadership in Policy in C. Johnson, M. Mohr-Schroeder, T. Moore & L. English (Eds.), Handbook of Research on STEM Education (pp. 470-480). London, UK: Routledge/Taylor & Francis. Link
Lopez, R. E., Ambrose, B. S., Bailey, J. M., Benson, A. G., Cid, X. C., da Costa Jr., E., Cuntz, M., Jaafari, F., Vieyra, R. E., & Willougby, S. D. (2020). Space science as a context for science education. Proceedings of INTED2020 Conference, 2-4 March 2020, Valencia, Spain, 516-522. Link
American Association of Physics Teachers. (2020, January). Advancing Interdisciplinary Integration of Computational Thinking in Science: Conference Report. American Association of Physics Teachers: College Park, MD. Link
Organization of American States. (2019). Inter-American Teacher Education Network: 2019 Report. Vieyra, R., Owens, A., Suárez Rodríguez, C. del. P., Khayat, N., Moraes, P. [Eds.] Organization of American States: Washington, DC. ISBN 978-0-8270-6995-4. Link
Bundy, B.; Dahl, J.; Guiñals-Kupperman, S.; Hengesbach, J.; Martino, K.; Metzler, J.; Smith, J. F. "Trey"; Spencer, N.; Vargas, M.; Vieyra, R.; Whitehurst, A. (2019, 03). Aspiring to lead: Physics teacher leaders influencing science education policy. The Physics Teacher, 58(3), 210-213.
Vieyra, R. (2018). “Teaching students metacognition through discipline-based research and technology” in Einstein fellows: Best practices in STEM education, 2nd Ed. Peter Lang Inc.
Lopez, R. E.; Ambrose, B. S.; Bailey, J. M.; Cid, X.; Vieyra, R.; & Willoughby, S. D. (2017, 04). Connecting undergraduate instruction to the 2017 solar eclipse. The Physics Teacher, 53(4), 250-251.
Vieyra, R. [Editor]. & AAPT Physics Master Teacher Leader Task Force. (2017, 06). Aspiring to lead: Engaging K-12 teachers as agents of national change in physics education. http://aapt.org/K12/Aspiring_to_Lead.cfm
Vieyra, R., Stefano, M., & Vieyra, C. (2017, 02). Kitchen physics: Lessons in fluid pressure and error analysis. The Physics Teacher. Link
Macchia, S. & Vieyra, R. (7 December 2016). A simple wind tunnel to analyze Bernoulli’s principle. Physics Education, 52, 1. Link
Genz, F. & Vieyra, R. (2016). Evaluating the use of flight simulators for the NASA/AAPT “Aeronautics for Introductory Physics” educator guide. Selected papers from the 20th international conference on multimedia in physics teaching and learning, pp. 139-148.
Vieyra. R. (January 2016, 01). Physics and 21st Century Science Standards: The Role of Physics in the NGSS. http://aapt.org/K12/NGSS/index.html
Vieyra, R., Vieyra, C., Jeanjacquot, P., Marti, A., & Monteiro, M. (2015, 12). Turn your smartphone into a science laboratory. The Science Teacher, 82(9), 32-40. Link
Vieyra, R., Edwards, T., Rowe, E., Asbell-Clarke, J. (2015, Summer). Playing with Science. The Science Teacher, 82(5), 51-59. Link
Vieyra, R., Spaete, D., Han Soh, J., & Thompson, A. (2015, 01). Why you need [to be] a mentor. The Physics Teacher, 53(1), 2-3.
Vieyra, R. & Vieyra C. (2014, 03). Analyzing forces on amusement park rides with mobile devices. The Physics Teacher, 52(3), 149-151. Link
Wenning Vieyra, R. (2010, 09), Materials mayhem. The Science Teacher, 77(6), 67-70. Link
Wenning-Vieyra, R. (2008, Spring). Guidelines and methods for high school teachers for encouraging women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Journal of Physics Teacher Education Online, 4(4), 7-12. Link
Wenning, C. & Wenning, R. (2006, 03). A generic model for inquiry-oriented labs in postsecondary introductory physics. Journal of Physics Teacher Education Online, 3(3), 24-28. Link
Wenning, R., Su, Q., & Grobe, R. (2005, 09). Optical characteristics of a turbid medium between two mirrors. Laser Physics, 16(4), 631-638. Link

Pending Publications

Vieyra, R., Smith, J. F. “Trey”, & Hite, R. (submitted). Bold actors in policy spaces: Supporting teachers as change agents through a fellowship for science educators. Educational Leadership.
Vieyra, R. & Hite, R. (submitted). Conceptualizing K-12 science teachers as large-scale policy agents: A review of literature on teachers’ strategic leadership. Studies in Science Education.
Vieyra, R.; Megowan Romanowicz, C.; Fisler, K.; Lerner, B. S.; Gibbs Politz, J.; & Krishnamurthi, S. (submitted). Supporting physics teachers to integrate computational modeling in their instruction. Journal of Science Teacher Education.
Milbourne, J., Hite, R., & Vieyra, R. (submitted). Advancing teacher professionalism in the age of Covid-19. Phi Delta Kappan.
Apple, L., Baunach, J., Baunach, J., Connelly, G., Gahlhoff, S., Megowan Romanowicz, C., Vieyra, R., & Walker, L. (submitted). Computational modeling in the high school physics classrooms: Illustrations from CMPF-B. The Physics Teacher.
Hogan, D., Barnes, C., Hodges, M., McPherson, A., Melara, A., Rivera, C., & Vieyra, R. (submitted). Connecting cultures using picture books for STEAM. Young Children.
Vieyra, R.; Himmelsbach, J.; & Elby, A. (in preparation). Teachers’ disciplinary-boundedness in the implementation of integrated computational modeling in physics.

Honors & Awards

Honors & Awards

University of Maryland Dean's Fellowship, 2018-2019 & 2019-2020 & 2020-2021
Illinois State University Outstanding Young Alumni Award, 2017
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, 2014-2015
Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, 2013
National Board Teacher Certification, Adolescent/Young Adult, Science-Physics, 2011
Illinois Science Teacher Association New Teacher of the Year, 2011
National Science Teachers Association New Teacher Academy Fellow, 2009
Robert G. Bole Scholar, top 14 of graduating class, Illinois State University, 2006
Laurine E. Reiske Scholarship, C.A.S., Illinois State University, 2006
Delta Kappa Gamma In-State Grant Aid Scholarship for Teachers, 2006
Barbara Lotze Scholarship for Future Teachers, American Association of Physics Teachers, 2005
Undergraduate Research Award, American Physical Society, Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 2005
Girl Scout Gold Award, 2003
4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholar and National Conference Delegate, 2003

Grants & Projects

Grants & Projects

Computational Modeling in Physics: NSF 1640791, co-PI, Conference on Advancing the Integration of Interdisciplinary Computational Thinking in the Physical Sciences and Life Sciences (STEM+C)
Computational Modeling in Physics: NSF 1640791, co-PI, Research on the Integration of Computational Modeling and Algebra-Based Physics to Improve Teaching and Learning of Computational Thinking (STEM+C) [Project Page]
Teacher Recruitment in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics: NSF 1821462, co-PI, Collaborative Research: Get the Facts Out: Changing the Conversation around STEM Teacher Recruitment (IUSE) [Project Page]
Women's Physics Identity and Career Aspirations: NSF 1720869, prior PI, Collaborative Research: Mobilizing Teachers to Increase Capacity and Broaden Women's Participation in Physics (DRK12) [Project Page]
Physics Learning with Mobile Sensors: NSF 1822728, co-PI, Mapping Fields in Augmented Relaity with Personal Mobile Devices: Enhancing Visualization Skills for Education and Industry (Cyberlearning) [Project Page]
Physics Teacher Policy Leadership: AIP Venture Partnership Fund, PI, AAPT/AIP Master Teacher Policy Fellowship [Project Page]
Physics Learning with Mobile Sensors: APS Mini Grant, PI, Family Mobile Physics Challenge [Project Page]
Teaching and Learning Physics in an Earth and Space Science Context: NASA NNX16AR36A, PI, Research-Based Teaching Resources for Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Education [Project Page]

Fellowships

Fellowships

University of Maryland's Dean's Fellowship, 2018 & 2019
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, placed at NASA HQ (Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate), 2014-2015
National Science Teachers Association New Teacher Academy Fellow, 2009