Kimberley Preston
Kimberley Preston
Kimberley Preston is a Researcher at Oregon State University’s STEM Research Center. She is a science education researcher, with experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods. Her research and evaluation project portfolio spans across the formal and informal science learning spaces and includes topics as diverse as exploring the visitor experience at zoos and aquariums to progressing engineering workforce development.
Prior to her work at the STEM Research Center, Kimberley worked in a variety of fields such as aquaculture, makerspaces, and international immigration. She has experience as an informal science educator and in designing educational activities addressing ecological and natural history concepts for diverse audiences.
Kimberley completed her Master of Science in Environmental Sciences with a focus in Environmental Education, from Oregon State University where she explored nature-connectedness of students enrolled in outdoor recreation training programs. She received her B.S. in Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences and B.A. in International Studies from Oregon State University.
Kimberley’s research interests include STEM learning ecosystems, deep learning and skills transfer, outdoor education, informal science learning, and the affective dimensions of learning.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Projects:
- Authentic Research through Collaborative Learning (ARC-Learn): Undergraduate Research Experiences in Data Rich Arctic Science
- Developing Integrative Manufacturing and Production Engineering Curricula That Leverage Data Science (IMPEL) (2019-2022)
- Examining the Role of Authenticity in Informal Science Learning (2019-2021)
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute LabVenture (2018-2023)
- STEM Beyond School (2016-2019)
- STEM Matters: Investigating the Confluence of Visitor and Institutional Agendas (2016-2020)
- The Circuit: A Platform for Increasing Access to, Deepening and Researching Patterns of Family and Adult Participation in Informal Science (2019-2023)
Past Projects:
- Convergence Accelerator Phase I (RAISE): Analytics-Driven Accessible Pathways to Impacts-Validated Education (ADAPTIVE) (2019-2020)
- Explorer at Large Pilot Implementation (2017-2020)
- Oregon STEM Hubs Evaluation (2016-2019)
- STEM Matters: Investigating the Confluence of Visitor and Institutional Agendas (2016-2020)
Publications
- Fischer, H.A., Preston, K., Staus, N., and Storksdieck, M. (2022). Course Assessment for Skill Transfer: A Framework for Evaluating Skill Transfer in Online Courses (in preparation).
- Kisiel, J., Preston, K., & Storksdieck, M. (2022, September 10). Does the Real Thing Matter? Making Sense of Authenticity in Informal Science Learning [Panelist Session]. Association of Science and Technology Centers Conference, Pittsburg, PA.
- Peake, L., Hammerman, J., Riedinger, K., Storksdieck, M., Sullivan, M., Dickes, A., Preston, K., & De Los Santos, S. (2021, December 7). Revealing Systemic Impacts of a 12-Year, Statewide Science Field Trip Program [Poster]. 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting. https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/1811452_Leigh-Peake_Jim-Hammerman%20poster.pdf
- Preston, K. (2022). How “Science Near Me” Benefits Me—And You. Discover Magazine. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-science-near-me-benefits-me-and-you
- Preston, K., Bottoms, S., & Harte, M. (2022). Immersive reflections: The new diver’s changing conceptualization of the marine environment. Journal of Ecotourism, 0(0), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2022.2126488
- Preston, K., & Dickes, A. (2021, July 7). Revealing Impacts: How does one long-term, statewide field trip program influence a community’s learning ecosystem? [Conference Presentation]. Connected Learning Summit, Virtual.
- Preston, K., & Dickes, A. (2021, July 30). How does one long-term, statewide field trip program influence a community’s learning ecosystem? [Presentation]. 2021 Connected Learning Summit. https://www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/Revealing%20Impacts%20Presentation%20with%20Narration_CLS%202021.pptx
- Preston, K., Riedinger, K., & Storksdieck, M. (2020). Explorer At Large: Pilot Implementation in Ohio: Evaluation Report 2019-2020 [Technical Report]. Oregon State University. http://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1146
- Preston, K., Risien, J., & O’Connell, K. (2022). Authentic Research through Collaborative Learning (ARC-Learn): Undergraduate Research Experiences in Data Rich Arctic Science. STEM Research Center, Oregon State University. https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1156
- Staus, N., Preston, K., Keys, B., & Storksdieck, M. (2019). Taking Stock of Oregon STEM Hubs: Accomplishments and Challenges: An Evaluation Report Prepared for the Oregon Department of Education. Oregon State University. https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1123