A little about Dr. Richardson

Tasha Richardson, PhD, OCT, has been teaching students at the intermediate/senior level, in the fields of physics, biology, and general science since 1997.  They have taught in multiple learning  environments (online, remote, hyflex, synchronous, asynchronous), in day school, night school, and summer school. Dr. Richardson completed a two year secondment at the Ontario Science Centre (2021-2023), where they enjoyed teaching grade 12 students physics in the OSC Science School, as well as working as an educator (development and delivery) for school programs. Dr. Richardson is the Ontario recipient for the prestigious 2024 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics. In addition to teaching in the secondary panel, Dr. Richardson has worked as a Research Assistant (University of Toronto; York University; University of Western Ontario), lecturer in the Faculty of Education at OISE/UT and Western University, and Faculty Advisor at OISE/UT. 

Intrigued by the findings from their Master's thesis, Exploring Ontario Grade Ten Students' Decisions to Select or Reject School Physics, Dr. Richardson decided to pursue a doctorate degree at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) in order to explore how technology - and specifically video games - can support a positive physics identity for elementary teacher candidates. The thesis, The Use of Digital Video Games in an Elementary Teacher Education Program: Exploring Teacher Candidates’ Attitudes and Interest towards Physics, won the 2021 SERG Dissertation Award is now available on T-space.

Additional research interests include: physics and science education, gender issues in STEM education, physics identity, integration of technology into the classroom, and game based learning.

Dr. Richardson is a member of the University of Toronto's Centre for Science Mathematics and Technology Education. 

Courses

Secondary courses taught, include:

• ​Grade 9 & 10 Science: SNC1D, SNC2P, SNC2D
• Grade 11 & 12 Biology: SBI3U, SBI4U

• Grade 11 & 12 Physics: SPH3U, SPH4C, SPH4U, SPH4O
• Introduction to Computer Science

Post-secondary courses taught, include:

• CTL7016 Integrating Technology into the classroom: Activities and Issues. OISE/UT. (2021-2023)
• EDUC5466 Curriculum and Pedagogy in STEM Education, Western University. (2018-2019)

Upcoming Conferences

• ​​Richardson, T. “An exploration of the influence of past experiences in secondary school science on Elementary Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy” to be presented at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education, George Brown College. (accepted)