Education

• Ph.D., University of Florida
  Major: Science Education
• M.Ed., University of Florida
  Major: Secondary Science Education
• B.S., Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  Major: Physics

Contact Information
Phone: 727.873.4058
Email: mbbutler@mail.usf.edu
Office: COQ 228

Research Interests:

• Multicultural science teacher education
• Coastal and environmental education professional development for teachers
• Writing to learn in science
• Case-based pedagogy in teacher education
• Science content for elementary teachers

Selected Publications

Nutta, J., Bautista, N., & Butler, M. B. (2011). Teaching science to English Language Learners. New York: Routledge.

National Geographic Society. (2010). National Geographic Science and Literacy (K-5). Carmel, CA: National Geographic School Publishing and Hampton-Brown. Program Authors: R. Bell, M. B. Butler, N. K. Duke, J. Lederman, D. W. Moore, & K. C. Trundle.

Atwater, M. M, Freeman, T. B., Butler, M. B., & Draper-Morris, J. (2010). A case study of science teacher candidates’ understandings and actions related to the culturally responsive teaching of ‘Other’ students. The International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 5(3), 287-318.

Lawrence, M. N., & Butler, M. B. (2010). Becoming aware of the challenges of helping students learn: An examination of the nature of learning during a service-learning experience. Teacher Education Quarterly, 37(1), 155-175.

Seung, E., Bryan, L., & Butler, M. B. (2009). Improving preservice middle grades science teachers’ understanding of the nature of science using three instructional approaches. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 20(2), 157-177.

Butler, M. B., & Nesbit, C. (2008). Using science notebooks to improve writing skills and conceptual understanding. Science Activities, 44(4), 137-146.

Lee, S., Butler, M. B, & Tippins, D. J. (2007). A case study of an early childhood teacher’s perspective on working with English Language Learners. Journal of Multicultural Education, 15(1), 43-49.

Butler, M.B. (2007). The invisible science educator. In J. Settlage & A. Johnston (Eds.), Proceedings of the Science Education at the Crossroads Conference. (pp. 18-19). Amherst, MA: National Science Foundation [Available online at www.sciedxroads.org/proceedings2007.html]

Parlo, A. T., & Butler, M. B. (2007). Impediments to environmental education instruction in the classroom: A post-workshop inquiry. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 2(1). 32-37.