Rate My Professor Jaclyn Easter

Dr. Jaclyn Easter is Associate Professor of Education and Department Chair at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she also serves as Graduate Program Coordinator and Program Director for the Grand View Research & Innovation Symposium Event (GVRISE). Holding a Ph.D. in Education, she has built her career at the institution, beginning as an education instructor noted for co-presenting papers at regional conferences in 2016, advancing to Assistant Professor of Education (Science), and attaining her current associate professor role. Easter oversees key teacher preparation programs, including the Elementary Education major, K-8 endorsements, paraeducator preparation, and the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement, emphasizing reflective, compassionate teaching for grades K-6 and beyond.

Easter's research specializations encompass science education, nature of science, pedagogical views and rationales, fostering positive feedback cultures, optimizing group work, engineering integration in elementary classrooms, philosophy and nature of technology instruction, and equipping students for science-technology-society challenges in contemporary contexts. She frequently presents on the impact of year-long professional development on elementary teachers' math and science instruction. Her publications include "Preparing students for the modern information landscape and navigating science–technology–society issues" (2024), "Making Group Work Natural: Using Group Work to Teach Natural Hazards" (2022), "Learning to Learn: Drawing Students’ Attention to Ideas about Learning" (2022), "Engineering Encounters: Where Have the Birds Gone?" (2019, Science and Children), "Creating a Positive Feedback Culture: Eight Practical Principles to Improve Students' Learning" (2018, Science Scope), "The Impact of a Course on Nature of Science Pedagogical Views and Rationales: Comparing Preservice Teachers in Their First Versus Second Experience" (2017), and "Myths About the Nature of Technology and Engineering" (2017). In 2021, she received the Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award. Easter actively mentors students, guiding them to present at events like the Iowa Science Teachers Association conference, contributing significantly to preservice teacher development and innovative pedagogy.