Curriculum Vitae Alan B. Sowards, Ed.D. Professor of Education Office: Stephen F. Austin State University Box 13017 SFA Station Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3023 Physical Address: 2428 Raguet Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75965 Room 218 Early Childhood Research Center Telephone: (936) 468-1624 office Fax: (936) 468-1701 E-mail: Web: I. Academic Degrees and Certificates: asowards@sfasu.edu www.education.sfasu.edu Ed. D. Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas 2000 Department: Elementary Education Curriculum, Instruction & Supervision Major: Science Education M.A.T. University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 1980 Department: Environmental Science Major: Environmental Science Minor: Chemistry B.S. Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas 1973 Department: Science Major: Biology Minor: History II. Professional Experience: 1995-Present Professor, Elementary Education Department Elementary Science Center for Professional Development and Technology Stephen F. Austin State University o Teach graduate and undergraduate field based elementary science and social studies courses. Responsible for teaching on-line Student Teaching Seminar.
2005-Present On-Line Instructor-Stephen F. Austin State University Teach on-line undergraduate and graduate classes. Develop course materials and modules, maintain communication with students, and evaluate student work. 1994-1995 Executive Director, Texas Energy Coordination Council, University of Texas at Austin 1993-1994 Environmental Education Coordinator, Public Information and Education Division, Community Education Section- Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 1981-1993 Vice-President, Education, Oil Information Committee, Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, Austin, Texas 1979-1981 Science Coordinator, Plano Independent School District Plano, Texas 1978-1979 Coordinator of Environmental Education, Richardson Independent School District, Richardson, Texas 1976-1979 Lead Instructor, Summer Field Ecology Course, Richardson Independent School District, Richardson, Texas 1974-1978 Teacher, L.V. Berkner High School, Richardson Independent School District, Richardson, Texas 1974 Teacher, Duncanville High School, Duncanville Independent School District, Duncanville, Texas III. Dissertation: Doctorial Dissertation Title, Transfer of Training Through a Science Education Professional Development Program. Committee members, Dr. Wayne M. Linek (Chair), Dr. Gilbert Nazier, Dr. Ben Doughty, and Dr. Carol Walker. Completed August 2000 IV. Publications: Articles: Sowards A., B., Griffin, P., and Boyette, C. (2015). Comparing the Effects of One Community Partnership (Project Learning Tree) on Online Pre-Service Teacher Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Self Efficacy. A Journal for the Informal Science Education Association, Spring 2015 Edition.
Sowards,A.B., and Boyette, C. (2004). Water Works: A Wetland Adventure of an Outdoor Environmental Education Experience. The Texas Science Journal, 33 (2), 8-12. Gresham, G., Sowards, A., Welsh, K., and Dickerson, K., (2009). Ensuring Instructional Change through Conversation. A Journal of the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, Volume 39.1, 19-22. Wagner, S., McDonald, D., Watson, T., Taylor, J., and Sowards, A., (2009). The Lichen-GIS Project, Teaching Students Hoe to Use Bioindicator Species to Assess Environmental Quality. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, Volume 10, 9-18. Wagner, S., and Sowards, A., (2009). Combined Lecture/Laboratory Course Offers Idea Setting For Group Learning. Strategies for Success web newsletter. Pearsonhighered.com/strategies. Gresham, G., Sowards, A., (2011). Enhancing Science Knowledge Through Proven Instructional Strategies. The Texas Science Teacher, Volume 40, Number 1, 15-23. V. Presentations Sowards, A.B., Boyette, C., Boyette, J., Rodewald, E., and Stinchcomb, Z., (2012, Oct.). Symbiosis: Public Schools, Community Resources, EE and University Teacher Programs. Presented at the North American Association Environmental Education (NAAEE) 42st International Conference, Oakland, California.. Sowards, A.B., Boyette, C., Boyette, J. (2012, May). We Have Hybrid Cars, Dogs, and Vegetables. Why Not PLT Workshops Too? Presented at the International Coordinators Conference of Project Learning Tree, Deadwood, South Dakota. Sowards, A.B., (2012, March). Re-imaging Research Now: A Community Partnership Engaged in Improving Science Education. Presented at the Annual International Conference, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Indianapolis, Indiana. Taylor, J., Wagner, S., Sowards, A., (2011, April). Integrating Scanning Electron Microscopy Into The Elementary Science Classroom. Presented at the Texas Society for Microscopy Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Sowards, A. B., (2011, November). Transform Education with Blackboard: From Caterpillars to Butterflies. Presented at the Texas Blackboard Users Group Conference, Richardson, Texas.
Sowards, A.B., (2009, November). ISEA Presents: Think Outside the Bubble, Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching, Galveston, Texas. Gresham, G.J., Sowards, A.B., Dickerson, K., (2009, March). I3: Investigate, Integrate, Interact, National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. Sowards, A.B., (2003, November). Teaching Environmental Science Presentation at the Conference for the Advancement of Teaching Science, Houston, Texas. Sowards, A.B., (2003, October). Butterfly Gardening presentation at the Texas Association for Environmental Education (TAEE) fall conference in Hunt, Texas Sowards, A.B., (2002, September). Growing Minds presentation at The Texas Environmental Education Partnership (TEEP) annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. Sowards, A.B., (2002, March). Presented the SFA NASA/NOVA research on Space Education to the NASA/NOVA Conference in Greenbelt, Maryland. Sowards, A.B., (2000, Janurary). Presented Growing Minds Program for the Assoc. for the Education of Teachers in Science (AETS) Annual International meeting at Akron, Ohio. Sowards, A.B., (1999, October). Plant the Seeds and They will Grow. Presented at the 1999 Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching (CAST), Lubbock, Texas. Sowards, A.B., (1998, December). Literacy Coursework via Distant Education: Delight, Dilemmas, and Exploration. Presented at the 1998 National Reading Conference/48 th Annual, Austin, Texas. VI. Educational Consultant Developed Got Oil Café education program for the East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore, Texas. The project included professional development for science and social studies teachers through Region VII Education Center; energy, economics and environmental curriculum development; research; and design of logo and T-shirts and Traveling Barrel (2008-2015). Education Research Endowed Chair for the Humble ISD. Provided professional development training for elementary teachers, and carried out two research projects. (2010-2012).
Worked with grades 1-5 and 6-8 teachers and students at Crockett ISD. Provided professional development for teachers and helped create gardens for 2 nd -5 th and 8th grade (2007-2012). Worked with Jefferson ISD Middle School teachers and students science program (2008-2009). Worked with Spring Hill Middle School 7 th and 8 th grade teachers and students. Presented hands-on science lessons for 8 th grade students and mentored 7 th and 8 th grade teachers (2008). Worked with the Offshore Energy Center in Houston, Texas to develop and present energy education curriculum (2007-2009). Science Education Consultant for Pineywoods Community Academy, Lufkin, Texas (2005-2006). VII. Current Professional and Academic Association Memberships: Texas Association for Environmental Education Texas Science Teachers Association National Association for Research in Science Teaching National Science Teachers Association Kappi Delta Pi International VIII. Current Board Service Friends of Millard s Crossing Historic Village Advisory Board (Local) The Helping House, Autistic Education Board (Local) Texas Project Learning Tree Board (State) IX. Honors and Award 2015 National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator 2014 Texas Outstanding Educator of the Year, Project Learning Tree 2008 Honorary Mention for the U.S. Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching 2005 University Teaching Excellence Award, College of Education Teaching Excellence Award, Elementary Education Teaching Excellence Award 2004 Sadie Ray Graff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Texas Environmental Education, Keep Texas Beautiful 2004 Teaching Excellence Award, SFASU Elementary Education Department 2004 Elementary Education Departments Alumni Ambassador Award, Texas A&M University, Commerce 2002 State of Texas Environmental Award, Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission 1997 Teaching Excellence Award, SFASU Elementary Education Department 1996 Teaching Excellence Award, SFASU Elementary Education Department