Elizabeth

Spingola
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(419) 204-8274
Lizsping@vt.edu

Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
PhD student in Engineering Education, College of Engineering
Masters Student in Data Analytics and Applied Statistics

Engineering Courses
Graduate
Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics
Usability Engineering
Transfer and Application of Emerging

Technology
Foundations of Engineering Education
Research Methods of Engineering Education
Assessment in Engineering Education
Design to Change Power and Authority

Education Courses
Graduate
Qualitative Research Methods 1
Integrative STEM Pedagogy
Graduate Teaching Assistant Workshop
Quantitative Research Methods

Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Major in Engineering Education (ABET accredited) Minor in
Mathematics, Concentration in Computer Science
Certification to teach AYA mathematics (5 year license) Successful
Completion PRAXIS I & PRAXIS II, AYA Mathematics

Engineering Courses
Undergraduate
Programming 1, 2 & 3
Statics
Dynamics
Electric Circuits
Differential Equations
Calculus 1, 2, 3 & 4
Computer Applications
Robotics
Engineering Material Science
Net-Centric Computing
Modeling Curiosity: The Mars Rover (EPICS)
Abstract Algebra
Engineering Education Senior Design
3-D Modeling and Design
Engineering Education 1 &2

Education Courses
Undergraduate
Culture and Schooling
Curriculum and Assessment
Communication in the Classroom
Foundations of Mathematics
Foundations of Geometry
Integrated Mathematics Methods
Exceptional Learners
Development Across the Lifespan
Literacy Across the Content Areas
Educational Psychology
International Lesson Planning (EPICS)
Field Experiences 1,2,3,4,5,6
Student Teaching
Statistics for Engineers & Scientists

Related Knowledge

AutoCad
SolidWorks
Inventor
Java
C++
Html
Matlab
Qualitative Analysis
R for Quantitative

Analysis
NiVivo
Line-by-line coding
analysis
Whole text qualitative
analysis
Transcription
Interviewing skills
Focus group

Interviewing skills
IRB submission
Assessment design
Exam design
Curriculum design
Lesson plan design
Integrative lesson plan
design

Organizations
o American Society of Engineering Educators, Student Chapter-Officer (treasurer, Ohio Northern University,
Virginia Tech)
o Disabilities Alliance and Caucus- President and Caucus Chair (Virginia Tech)
o Special Delegate for Graduate Student Assembly for the Disabilities Alliance and Caucus (Virginia Tech)
o Academy for Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Excellence member (Virginia Tech)

Employment Experience
Research Internship, Olin College of Engineering, Needham (Boston), Massachusetts
June 2013 August 2013
Research Topic: Self-Efficacy in First-Year Engineering Design Courses: Satisfaction, Sense of
Belonging Team Roles and Gender
Qualitative and quantitative data collection
MIT course on qualitative analysis
Introduction to R for qualitative analysis
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio
January 2012 May 2013
Designed an educational website for secondary teachers emphasizing knowledge updates for STEM
curriculum (lead) and developed a classification scheme for Introduction to Engineering courses at the
university level (team member).
Summer Research, Graduate research assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
June 2014 August 2014
Led a project that redesigned the curriculum of a junior level Civil Engineering classroom. This redesign
led to a blended classroom where there was some amount lecture each class period, followed by an
engaging activity that were related to the students.
Helped in the development of a survey to gauge the effectiveness of this new pedagogy and its
fulfillment of ABET criteria
Produced an interview guide to talk with the instructors of the course about the effectiveness of the
course layout.
CAREER Work, Graduate research assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
August 2014 May 2015
Participating in the inductive qualitative analysis of focus groups data
Participated in running a think aloud protocol to help inform survey development.
Developed an interview guide and IRB proposal to expand upon the data found in the focus groups
Summer Research, Graduate research assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
May 2015 August 2015
Literature Review on K-12 Engineering standards
Analysis of collegiate funding opportunities
Work towards Journal of Engineering Education research article
Produced an interview guide to talk with the instructors of the course about the effectiveness of the
course layout.
Instructor of Record, Graduate teaching assistant, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
August 2015 May 2016
Lead instructor of a section of Foundations in Engineering, the first year engineering course
Mentor and Supervisor to Undergraduate Graders, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
August 2015 May 2016
Manage and mentor all of the undergraduate graders for all 60 sections of Foundations of Engineering
Instructor: Center for Talented Youth: Physics of Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
June 2016 July 2016
Taught 7 hours a day for three weeks personalized lessons for John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
o Physics of Engineering
College of Engineering Deans Office Instructional Technology Support, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
August 2016 May 2017

Research & Achievements

Achievements:
o

2014 Catherine Freed Leadership Award at Ohio Northern University, May, 2014. The award
named for former University First Lady Catherine Freed, recognizes the outstanding female leader
on campus.
First person in the nation to graduate with a B.S. in Engineering Education. 2014.

Research
o
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Co-author on 13 published, peer-reviewed conference papers

Co-author on 1 peer-reviewed journal article (under review)
Co-facilitator to 3 conference workshops
Reviewer for 2 K-12 engineering/mathematics textbooks
Co-author for 1 K-12 engineering teachers edition textbook (under development)
Undergraduate Research Assistant designed an educational website for secondary teachers
emphasizing knowledge updates for STEM curriculum (lead) and developed a classification scheme
for Introduction to Engineering courses at the university level (team member).