Faculty

DR. JOHN G. WELLS
Associate Professor/Program Leader

Ph.D., Technology Education, Virginia Tech
M.S., Technology Education, Virginia Tech
B.S., Biological Science, Florida State University
B.S., Industrial Arts, Florida State University
Phone: (540) 231-8471
email: jgwells@vt.edu

Dr. Wells specializes in research focused on the cognitive demands addressed through technological and engineering design based teaching and learning, instructional strategies for design based biotechnology literacy, integrative pedagogical practices among STEM education areas, and instructional design and technology. Teaching assignments include graduate courses in Integrative STEM Education.

Dr. Wells currently serves as Director of Rural Coordination for the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) project, Co-PI for Understanding High School Pre-Engineering Student Design Cognition, and VT Director for the Engineering By Design Student Assessment and Design Challenge partnership. Select previously funded research projects include: NASA, Graduate Student Researcher Project (1994-1998); NASA, Technology Education Biotechnology Curriculum Project (1998-2002); U.S. DOE, Trek 21: Educating Teachers As Agents of Technological Change (1999-2003); Bell Atlantic, Online Multimedia Development Project (1996-1998). Dr. Wells has more than twelve years of secondary technology and biology teaching experience, and over 20 years in higher education at Virginia Tech and West Virginia University. He serves as a National faculty for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education (1998-present) and was a National Finalist for the NASA Teacher In Space Project (1985-present).

DR. JEREMY V. ERNST
Assistant Professor

Ed.D., Technology Education, North Carolina State University
M.S., Technology Education, North Carolina State University
B.S., Technology and Human Resource Development, Clemson University
Phone: (540) 231-2040
email: jvernst@vt.edu

Dr. Ernst specializes in research focused on dynamic intervention means for STEM education students categorized as at-risk of dropping out of school. He currently serves as the PI for the NSF funded Transforming Teaching through Implementing Inquiry Project (2011-current) and Co-PI for the NSF funded Re-designed High Schools for Transformed STEM Learning Project (2011-current). Selected previously funded research projects include the NIH funded Do Engineering Curricula Improve Science and Mathematics Learning in Elementary School Students? Project (2009-2011); FRPD funded Social Adjustment for Students Identified as At-Risk (2010-2011), NSF funded Online Course/Business Partnership (2008-2010).

Dr. Ernst has teaching, advising, and research experiences in various capacities at the postsecondary and secondary levels.  His previous academic appointment was at North Carolina State University (2006-2011) where his responsibilities included teaching courses in Imaging Technology, Advanced Digital Media, and Emerging Issues in Technology.  His current teaching assignments at Virginia Tech include graduate courses in Technology Education and Integrative STEM Education.