Regina Toolin

Associate Professor of STEM Education

Program Coordinator, Computer Science Education Minor

Regina.Toolin@uvm.edu
(802) 656-1024
Regina Toolin
Regina.Toolin@uvm.edu
+18026561024

85 South Prospect St
409B Waterman
Burlington, VT 05401
United States
LinkedIn Page
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education - University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • M.A. in Science Education, Biology - City University of New York
  • B.A. in Physical Anthropology - State University of New York - Oneonta
Affiliated Department(s)

Department of Education

BIO

Regina Toolin's research focuses on sociocultural models of teaching and learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teacher education. She is particularly interested in promoting and researching STEM classrooms that are grounded in the principles and practices of place-based and project-based teaching and learning. Her teaching interests include curriculum, instruction, assessment, diversity and place-based education.

Dr. Toolin is Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program and the GEAR UP Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers (CREST), a co-PI for the National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Network Cluster: Using Big Data approaches to assess ecohydrological resilience across scales. (PI: J. Perdrial; Co-PIs: K. Underwood, R.Toolin, B. Lee, D. Rizzo), and Senior Personnel for the National Science Foundation. EPSCoR RII Track 2 FEC: Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resiliency (INSPIRES). (PIs: A. D’Amato (UVM), A. Weiskittel (UM), S. Ollinger (UNH).

She also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Science Education and Technology and has published her research pertaining to STEM teaching and learning in The Science Teacher, Science Education, International Journal of Science Education, Journal of Science Education and Technology, Electronic Journal for Research in Science and Mathematics Education, Journal of Computational Science Education, International Journal of Social Policy and Education and the Journal of Geoscience Education.

Courses

  • Practicum in Teaching
  • Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
  • Teaching Science in Secondary School
  • Foundations of Place-based Education

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

  • Vermont Association of Science and Engineering (VASE) - Honorary Member
  • National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Network Cluster: Using Big Data approaches to assess ecohydrological resilience across scales. PI: J. Perdrial; Co-PIs: K. Underwood, R.Toolin, B. Lee, D. Rizzo Award Period: Sept. 2020 – Sept. 2025, Award: $3,416,989.00.
  • National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. Preparing STEM+CS Educators for Teaching in Rural High-Need Schools in Vermont. PI: R. Toolin; Co-PIs: R. Waterman, C. Petrick Smith, L. Dion Award Period: Sept. 2020 – Sept. 2025, Award: $1,199,976.00.
  • US Department of Education: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers (CREST). PI: R. Toolin. Award Period: Oct. 2018 – Aug. 2022, Award: $495,000.00. Award Period: Sept. 2013 – Aug. 2018, Award: $934,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation EPSCoR RII Track 2 FEC: Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resiliency (INSPIRES). PIs: A. D’Amato (UVM), A. Weiskittel (UM), S. Ollinger (UNH). Senior Personnel (Theme 4 Education and Outreach): R. Toolin Award Period: August 2019-July 2023, Award: $6,000,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. PI: R. Toolin, Co-PIs: R. Waterman, C. Petrick Smith, T.Tang. Award Period: Oct. 2015 – Oct. 2021, Award: $799,987.00.
  • US Department of Education: Math Science Partnership Program - Vermont STEM (VSTEM) Program. PI: R. Toolin, Co-PIs: D. Rizzo and S. Jorgenson. Award Period: July 2015 – July 2017, Award: $324,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation: Satellites, Weather and Climate Program (SWAC). PI: L-A Dupigny-Giroux Co-PI: R. Toolin. Award Period: Sept. 2010 – Sept. 2013, Award: $489,381.00. Award Period: June 2008 – June 2010, Award: $149,000.00.
  • US Department of Education: Math and Science Partnership Program - Vermont Secondary Science Partnership (VSSP). PI: R. Toolin Co-PIs: L-A Dupigny-Giroux and R. Waterman. Award Period: July 2010 – June 2011, Award: $74,943.00. Award Date: July 1 2009 – June 2010, Award: $75,000.00
  • National Science Foundation. University of Vermont Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. PI: R. Toolin Co-PIs: L-A Dupigny Giroux and R. Waterman. Award Period: Sept. 2009 – Aug. 2015, Award: $899,940.00.
  • University of Vermont STEM Education Research Grant: Computer Science Education Collaborative (CSEC) PIs: R. Toolin, R. Erickson; Co-PIs: A. Tinkler, L. Dion. Award Period: Jan. 2019 – Dec. 2019, Award: $30,000.00
  • University of Vermont CESS Research Grant. The Vermont STEM Education Initiative. PI: R. Toolin Award Period: Feb. 2013 – Dec. 2013, Award: $4,000.00. Award Date: Feb. 2014 – Dec. 2014, Award: $8,000.00

Area(s) of expertise

  • STEM Education
  • Environmental Education
  • Project-based learning
  • Place-based Education
  • Teacher Professional Learning
  • Computer Science Education

Bio

Regina Toolin's research focuses on sociocultural models of teaching and learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teacher education. She is particularly interested in promoting and researching STEM classrooms that are grounded in the principles and practices of place-based and project-based teaching and learning. Her teaching interests include curriculum, instruction, assessment, diversity and place-based education.

Dr. Toolin is Principal Investigator (PI) of the National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program and the GEAR UP Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers (CREST), a co-PI for the National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Network Cluster: Using Big Data approaches to assess ecohydrological resilience across scales. (PI: J. Perdrial; Co-PIs: K. Underwood, R.Toolin, B. Lee, D. Rizzo), and Senior Personnel for the National Science Foundation. EPSCoR RII Track 2 FEC: Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resiliency (INSPIRES). (PIs: A. D’Amato (UVM), A. Weiskittel (UM), S. Ollinger (UNH).

She also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Science Education and Technology and has published her research pertaining to STEM teaching and learning in The Science Teacher, Science Education, International Journal of Science Education, Journal of Science Education and Technology, Electronic Journal for Research in Science and Mathematics Education, Journal of Computational Science Education, International Journal of Social Policy and Education and the Journal of Geoscience Education.

Courses

  • Practicum in Teaching
  • Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
  • Teaching Science in Secondary School
  • Foundations of Place-based Education

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

  • Vermont Association of Science and Engineering (VASE) - Honorary Member
  • National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Network Cluster: Using Big Data approaches to assess ecohydrological resilience across scales. PI: J. Perdrial; Co-PIs: K. Underwood, R.Toolin, B. Lee, D. Rizzo Award Period: Sept. 2020 – Sept. 2025, Award: $3,416,989.00.
  • National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. Preparing STEM+CS Educators for Teaching in Rural High-Need Schools in Vermont. PI: R. Toolin; Co-PIs: R. Waterman, C. Petrick Smith, L. Dion Award Period: Sept. 2020 – Sept. 2025, Award: $1,199,976.00.
  • US Department of Education: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Champlain Research Experience for Secondary Teachers (CREST). PI: R. Toolin. Award Period: Oct. 2018 – Aug. 2022, Award: $495,000.00. Award Period: Sept. 2013 – Aug. 2018, Award: $934,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation EPSCoR RII Track 2 FEC: Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resiliency (INSPIRES). PIs: A. D’Amato (UVM), A. Weiskittel (UM), S. Ollinger (UNH). Senior Personnel (Theme 4 Education and Outreach): R. Toolin Award Period: August 2019-July 2023, Award: $6,000,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. PI: R. Toolin, Co-PIs: R. Waterman, C. Petrick Smith, T.Tang. Award Period: Oct. 2015 – Oct. 2021, Award: $799,987.00.
  • US Department of Education: Math Science Partnership Program - Vermont STEM (VSTEM) Program. PI: R. Toolin, Co-PIs: D. Rizzo and S. Jorgenson. Award Period: July 2015 – July 2017, Award: $324,000.00.
  • National Science Foundation: Satellites, Weather and Climate Program (SWAC). PI: L-A Dupigny-Giroux Co-PI: R. Toolin. Award Period: Sept. 2010 – Sept. 2013, Award: $489,381.00. Award Period: June 2008 – June 2010, Award: $149,000.00.
  • US Department of Education: Math and Science Partnership Program - Vermont Secondary Science Partnership (VSSP). PI: R. Toolin Co-PIs: L-A Dupigny-Giroux and R. Waterman. Award Period: July 2010 – June 2011, Award: $74,943.00. Award Date: July 1 2009 – June 2010, Award: $75,000.00
  • National Science Foundation. University of Vermont Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. PI: R. Toolin Co-PIs: L-A Dupigny Giroux and R. Waterman. Award Period: Sept. 2009 – Aug. 2015, Award: $899,940.00.
  • University of Vermont STEM Education Research Grant: Computer Science Education Collaborative (CSEC) PIs: R. Toolin, R. Erickson; Co-PIs: A. Tinkler, L. Dion. Award Period: Jan. 2019 – Dec. 2019, Award: $30,000.00
  • University of Vermont CESS Research Grant. The Vermont STEM Education Initiative. PI: R. Toolin Award Period: Feb. 2013 – Dec. 2013, Award: $4,000.00. Award Date: Feb. 2014 – Dec. 2014, Award: $8,000.00

Areas of Expertise

  • STEM Education
  • Environmental Education
  • Project-based learning
  • Place-based Education
  • Teacher Professional Learning
  • Computer Science Education

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