Mandy L. Kirchgessner1
Doctoral Candidate, Temple University
Curriculum, Instruction & Technology in Education
MandyK@informallearningconsulting.com
Cell: 847.612.5240
Residence: El Paso, TX
EDUCATION
Temple University College of Education, Philadelphia, Pa.
--Ed.D., Curriculum, Instruction &Technology in Education (CITE)
anticipated Dec 2014
 Dissertation, The Impact of Zoo Live Animal Presentations on Students’ Propensity to Engage in
Conservation Behaviors
 Dissertation Committee: Diane Jass Ketelhut; Kristie Newton; Carol Brandt
University of North Carolina, Wilington (UNCW), Wilmington, NC
--M.A.T. Secondary Education, Science
Advisor: Dennis Kubasko
University of Arizona, Tucson, Az
--B.A., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
May 2008
May 2003
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
Informal Learning Consulting
Owner, consultant
2014-present
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Intern, Literature and Research
2014
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Staff Training and Volunteer Coordinator
2008-2009
Phoenix Zoo
Volunteer Coordinator
2003-2005
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
1
S.A.V.E. Science (Situated Assessments in Virtual Environments)
Research Assistant, Temple University
Principal Investigators: Diane Jass-Ketelhut, Ph.D., Temple University;
Catherine C. Schifter, Ph.D., Temple University,
Brian C. Nelson, Ph.D., Arizona State University
2010 – 2011
College of Education
Graduate Assistant , University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW)
2007
Note: Birth name Amanda Windman
PUBLICATIONS
Schifter, C.C., Natarajan, U.J, Ketelhut, D. Kirchgessner, M. L. & Carey, M. (under review) Data-driven
decision making: Facilitating teacher use of data to inform classroom instruction. Contemporary Issues in
Technology. Submitted August 2014.
Bergey, B. W., Cromley, J. G., Kirchgessner, A. & Newcombe, N. (under review) Using Diagrams Versus
Text for Spaced Restudy: Effects on Learning in 10th Grade Biology Classes. British Journal of
Educational Psychology. Resubmitted with revisions August 2014.
Pecore, J.L., Kirchgessner, M. L., Demetrikopoulos, M. K., Carruth, L. L., Franz, K.J. (under review). Formal
lessons improve informal educational experiences: Influence of cognitive novelty on student
engagement. Visitor Studies. Submitted July 2014.
Tenam-Zemach, M., Kirchgessner, M., Pecore, J., Lai, L. & Hecht, S. (2014) Development of an innovative
method for analyzing the presence of environmental sustainability themes and an ecological paradigm
in science content standards. Studies in Education Evaluation, 4, 133-142.
Pecore, J. L., Kirchgessner, M. L., & Carruth, L. L. (2013). Changes in science content knowledge and attitudes
toward science teaching of educators attending a zoo-based neuroscience professional development. The
Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, 86(6), 238-245.
Kirchgessner, M., & Ketelhut, D. (2012). Book review of Video games and learning: Teaching and
participatory culture in the digital age. Science Education, 96(5), 963-965.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Kirchgessner, M. K., Gill, S. Conservation educators – taking our practice to the next level. 1-hour workshop to be held
at the National Association of Interpreters (NAI) National Workshop, Denver, CO. November 18-22,
2014.
Kirchgessner, M. K. Exploration of animal use in programs and student conservation behavior change. Poster to be
presented at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
September 14-18, 2014.
Pecore, J.L., Kirchgessner, M. L., Carruth, L.L., Demetrikopoulos, M.K., & Frantz, K.J. Pre-trip lesson raises
engagement at zoo by reducing novelty. Poster to be presented at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. September 14-18, 2014.
Pecore, J. L., Kirchgessner, M. L., & Carruth, L. L. Possibilities of informal settings to impact science educators through
unique collaborative professional development. Paper presented at the Association for Science Teacher
Education (ASTE) Annual Conference. San Antonio, TX. January 15-18, 2014.
Kirchgessner, M. L. Interpretive Placement: Fools Gold or Real Wealth? Presentation (concurrently webcast) for the
National Association of Interpretation Annual Workshop, Reno, NV. November 6-9, 2013.
Bergey,B. W., Cromley, J. G., Dai, T., Wills, T. W., & Kirchgessner, M. Comparing Two High School Classroom
Interventions for Improving Comprehension of Chemistry Diagrams. Paper submitted to the annual meeting of
the American Educational Research Association, SanFrancisco, April 27-May 1, 2013.
Cromley, J. G., Bradley, B. W., Kirchgessner, M. & Willis, T. W. Combining Conventions of Diagrams Instruction
and Repeated Practice in Biology Classes, Paper accepted for the annual meeting of the American
Educational Research Association, SanFrancisco, April 27-May 1, 2013.
Tenam-Zemach, M., Pecore, J., Tenam Lai, L. & Kirchgessner, M. A Methodological Approach to Analyze
Florida’s K-12 Next Generation Sunshine State Science Content Standards. Paper accepted for the annual
meeting of the American Educational Research Association, SanFrancisco, April 27-May 1, 2013
Teufel, C., Natarajan,U., Ketelhut, D.J., Shelton, A., Kirchgessner, M., & Schifter, C.C.
Designing Professional Development for Scientific Inquiry. Presentation delivered at the annual meeting of the
National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA) Conference, Indianapolis, IN. March 31, 2012.
Shelton, A., Willard, C., Kirchgessner, M., & Shriver, J. Technology Evaluations and Integration Ideas. Paper
presented at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference,
Hershey, PA, February, 14, 2012.
Cromley, J. G., Bergey, B. W., Fitzhugh, S. L., Wills, T. W., Kirchgessner, M., Newcombe, N. Effectiveness of
Student-Constructed Diagrams Versus Self-Explanation Instruction. Paper presented at the 2012 annual
meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, CA, April 13-17, 2012.
Natarajan, U., Kirchgessner, M. & Jass Ketelhut, D. (2012) A Design Strategy for Scaling Up Implementations in
Virtual Environments. Poster presented at European Conference of Game Based Learning (ECGBL),
Cork, Ireland, October 4-5, 2012.
Dai, T., Cromley, J. G., & Kirchgessner, M. Change in implicit self-beliefs about ability in biology and its effect on
retention in STEM majors: A latent growth modeling approach. Paper presented at the 2012 annual meeting of
the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, CA, April 13-17, 2012.
Kirchgessner, M., Perez, A. C., Dai, T., & Cromley, J. G. The Interplay Between Contingencies of Self-worth and
Anxiety in Final Chemistry Grades. Paper presented at the 2012 annual meeting of the American
Educational Research Association, Vancouver, CA. April 13-17, 2012.
Kirchgessner, M., Huffman, R, Fischetti, J. (2007). Why Most Teachers are Staying. Poster presented at the North
Carolina Teacher Educator Forum (NCTE): Raleigh, NC.
INVITED LECTURE
 Should Zoos Exist? (May 2014) Invited by 6th grade teachers of Eisenhower Elementary School: Fort
Leavenworth, Ks.
 Teaching the Nature of Science (November 2, 2011) Invited by Dr. John Pecore: Temple University,
Philadelphia, Pa.
 Emerging Trends in Gaming and Computers in Education (March and October 2011). Joint discussion with
Shelton, A. and Teufel, C. Invited by Dr. Catherine Schifter: Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.
 Biology Teacher Summer Workshop: Dispelling Common Misconceptions and Clarifying Challenging Concepts (June
2007). Invited by Dr. Dennis Kubasko of UNCW and supported through the Science and Math
Education Center (SMEC); Wilmington, NC.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
 American Educational Research Association (AERA)
 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
 National Association of Interpreters (NAI)
 National Science Teacher Association (NSTA)
 North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA), Local Chapter President 2007-2008.
 Visitor Studies Association (VSA)
INTERESTS
 Informal Education: Zoo, Aquarium, and Museum Education
 Conservation Psychology
 Environmental and Outdoor Science
 Affective and Behavioral Transformation through Informal Contexts
 Gaming Use and Assessment in Education
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Computer Skills:
 Experienced in Blackboard structure and feature application
 Oversaw database software development and honed user-intuitive properties with external contractor
 Designed online educational mini-series for doctoral technology use and volunteer content education
 Proficient with Microsoft Office Applications
 Practiced in using a wide range of “cloud” storage and distribution systems (ie: Dropbox ©,
TaskStream©, Google Docs,Prezi, etc)
 Familiar with Raiser’s Edge, Donor Management System
Proficient in Redworks: Volunteer Works set up and management
AWARDS
 “Graduate Fellowship” (2013-2014). College of Education, Temple University.
 “Volunteer of the Year” (2009). Chicago USAREC, United States Army.
SERVICE
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El Paso Zoo Volunteer
Operation Homefront Event Volunteer
National Association of Research in Science Teaching Conference.
Volunteer Assessor, Strand 6: Science Learning in Informal Contexts.
Army FRG volunteer, leader, treasure
August 2014 - present
July 2014 – present
March 2012
2007 - present