Research

Clarissa Keen

Assistant Professor of the Practice

Biography

Dr. Keen's research focuses on the study and development of equitable chemistry education for undergraduates, specifically in the foundational and general chemistry courses and teaching laboratories. Their work spans curriculum and laboratory design, focusing on intersections of 21st century skills, environmental justice, and green chemistry. Utilizing Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), Dr. Keen and collaborators analyze how students experience chemistry learning spaces by capturing both the situated learning environment and the activities students engage in. By understanding students' actions and motivations in the classroom, we can assess intended vs achieved learning outcomes.

Representative Key Publications

  • Keen, C., & Sevian, H. (2022). Qualifying domains of student struggle in undergraduate general chemistry laboratory. Chemistry Education Research and Practice23(1), 12-37. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RP00051A
  • Keen, C. A. (2021). Deconstructing productive struggle within the undergraduate chemistry laboratory activity system (Doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts Boston). 
  • Keen, C., Couture, S., Abd El Meseh, N., & Sevian, H. (2020). Connecting theory to life: Learning greener electrochemistry by taking apart a common battery. Journal of Chemical Education97(4), 934-942. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00840
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