Hall Tomasik, Janice

• ​Tomasik, J. H., Cottone, K. E., Heethuis, M. T., Mueller, A.M. Development and Preliminary Impacts of the Implementation of an Authentic Research-Based Experiment in General Chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 2013, 90(9), 1155-1161. 
• Tomasik, J. H.; Jin, S.; Hamers, R. J.; Moore, J. W. “Design and Initial Evaluation of an Online Nanoscience Course for Teachers.” Journal of Nano Education, 2009, 1(1), 48-67. 
• Tomasik, J. H. “News from Online: The chemistry of sports.” Journal of Chemical Education, 2008, 85(10), 1134-1135. 
• Tomasik, J. H. “News from Online: Water, streaming chemistry.” Journal of Chemical Education, 2008, 85(2), 185-187. 
• Tomasik, J. M. H. I. Direct observation of zirconocene-catalyzed alkene polymerization via NMR and the role of an aluminum alkyl during polymerization. II. Design and evaluation of an online nanoscience course for teachers. Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Wisconsin Madison. 2007. 248 pp. 
• Hall, J. M.; Hoyne, J. H.; Shapley, J. R.; Lee, C. Y.; Park, J. T. “Transition Metal Carbonyl Compounds. A Tungsten(0)-Fullerene-60 Derivative” Inorganic Synthesis, 2004, 34, 107-110.

Invited talks

• Tomasik, J. H. “Researching Inquiry-Based General Chemistry Labs and Online Learning at Central Michigan University” The 65th ACS Local Fall Scientific Meeting, Delta College, Bay County, MI, October 10th, 2009. 
• Tomasik, J. H.; Moore, J. W. “Approaches for Incorporating Nanoscience into High School Classrooms” The 237th ACS National Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, March 22-26, 2009. 
• Tomasik, J. H. (Organizer and Presenter) “Encouraging High Levels of Interactivity in Online Courses” Brown Bag Seminar Series, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, November 21, 2008. 
• Hall, J. M.; Moore, J. W. “Incorporating Nanoscience into Your Courses” Proceedings from New Technologies: A Virtual Symposium on Nanotechnology and Biotechnology for K-12 Science Teachers, Madison, WI , May 9, 2007; Office of Education Outreach, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
• Hall, J. M.; Moore, J. W. “Nanoscience for Teachers” Proceedings from New Technologies: A Virtual Symposium on Nanotechnology and Biotechnology for K-12 Science Teachers, Madison, WI , May 1, 2006; Office of Education Outreach, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

National meetings

• Tomasik, J. H.; Moore, J. W. “Promoting Nanoscience Education via an Online Professional Development Course for Teachers” Abstracts of Papers, 20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Bloomington, IN, July 27-31, 2008. 
• Nevorski, A.; Bullington, S.; Todd, M.; Kelley, B.; Allan, D.; LeCaptain, D.; Tomasik, J. H. “Application of Ultrasonics and Field Flow Fractionation to Biodiesel Production in a ​Continuous Laboratory Process.” Abstracts of Posters, 60th National Pittcon Conference, Chicago, IL. March 8-13, 2009. 
• Tomasik, J. H.; Moore, J. W. “Evaluation of an Online Professional Development Course: Nanoscience for Teachers” Abstracts of Papers, 234th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007. 
• Tomasik, J. H.; Landis, C. R. “NMR Investigation of the Role of an Aluminum Alkyl During Zirconocene Catalyzed Alkene Polymerization” Abstracts of Papers, 234th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007. 
• Tomasik, J. H.; Moore, J. W. “Online Nanoscience Course for Teachers: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation” Abstracts of Papers, 233rd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007. 
• Greenberg, Andrew E.; Tomasik, J. H.; Nutbrown, D.; Pharr, C.; Roberton, K. A.; Moore, J. W. ​ “Making the Nanoscale Larger Than Life: University of Wisconsin-Madison NSEC Education and Outreach” Abstracts of Papers, 233rd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007. 
• Hall, J. M.; Moore, J. W. “Nanoscience for Teachers: An Online Course at UW-Madison” Abstracts, The 19th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, West Lafayette, IN, July 30-Aug. 3, 2006. 
• Regional and Local Meetings Carter, K.; Tomasik, J. H.; Heethuis, M.; Mohanty, A.; Diaz, S.; Squires, D. “Approaching an Inquiry Curriculum: The Development of an Research-Based Experiment for General Chemistry” Abstracts, 65th Fall Scientific Meeting, Delta College, Bay County, MI, October 10th, 2009. 
• Hall, J. M.; Moore, J. W. “Nanoscience for Teachers: An Online Course at UW-Madison Created With Moodle” Abstracts, 37th Great Lakes Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Milwaukee, WI, May 31-June 2, 2006.​

Honors & Awards

• Honors Professor of the Year, CMU Honors Program, May 2012

• Ph. D., Chemistry, emphasis in Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Education, 2007 
• B.S. in Chemistry (High Distinction), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002​

My field of research is in Chemical Education. I am currently working on two different research topics in my laboratory. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how chemistry students learn and how they are impacted by pedagogical approaches that include research-based design and online learning environments. Through my work, I believe I can provide a model for other institutions to follow in order to increase student interest and retention in chemistry and science.

• Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of CMU Research-Based Labs for General Chemistry. I am working to incorporate authentic research-based laboratory experiences into undergraduate chemistry courses that highlight CMU faculty research. The goals of this project are to 1) study the best methods for development and implementation, and 2) study the effects of this research-based approach for teaching chemistry. The literature indicates student responses to these research-based modules are very positive, but less is said about the process for creating the authentic research-based experiences (from getting to know a faculty member’s research, to turning a portion of it into a laboratory appropriate for undergraduate chemistry courses). Also less known are the impacts these programs have on student retention in chemistry and their attitudes towards chemistry. At the time of this writing, there is not much quantitative evidence presented on the impacts on student performance. My research studies multiple aspects: from development of CMU research-based labs, to the best methods for their implementation, and to their impacts on student learning and retention in chemistry.
• Development and Evaluation of the Online Learning Environment in a Continuing Education Course for Teachers. I have created an online continuing education course for teachers about nanoscience. Offering the course through CMU allows us to reach a broader audience of teachers, and to further research the best methods for creating an effective learning environment. A common complaint of students in online courses is the lack of interactivity (both between students and their instructor). My research is on methods to close this communication gap by evaluating ways to increase the interactivity. I am also studying the impacts of the course on teachers a year after they completed it to determine if the course achieved its goal for furthering nanoscience education.

• American Chemical Society
  
• Council for Undergraduate Research