Mare Taagepera

Picture of Mare Taagepera
Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Chemistry
School of Physical Sciences
PH.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1970
OTH
Phone: (949) 824-6468
Fax: (949) 824-2210
Email: mtaagepe@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
324 Rowland Hall
Mail Code: 2025
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Chemical Education and Physical Organic Chemistry
Academic Distinctions
American Chemical Society Service through Chemistry Award
Outstanding Engineering Educator of Orange County Award
UCI Alumni Association Awards for Community Service and Professional Achievement
Member, state and national committees on science education, including those of the National Research Council and the California State Department of Education
Appointments
1971-73, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of California at Irvine
Research Abstract
The main objective of our research program in science education is to provide information which would make teaching science more scientific. Cognitive research indicates that if meaningful learning is to occur, students need to construct knowledge on their existing knowledge base. The program is currently using the Knowledge Space Theory, developed in mathematical psychology by J.-Cl. Falmagne (UCI) and colleagues, to determine the cognitive organization of students' knowledge.

The major concepts under study have included Lewis structures, bonding, stoichiometry as well as structure-reactivity correlations in organic chemistry. Structure considerations have included electron densities and stereochemistry. Our current area of study is molecular motion. The effect of new instructional materials and methods including server-based learning tools has also been evaluated.
Publications
"Integrating Symmetry in Stereochemical Analysis in Introductory Organic Chemistry," Taagepera, M.; Arasasingham, R. D.; King, S.; Potter, F.; Martorell, I.; Ford, D.; Wu, J.; Kearney, A. M., Chem. Educ. Res. Pract., 2011, 12, 0000.
“Using Knowledge Space Theory To Assess Student Understanding of Chemistry” M. Taagepera, R. D. Arasasingham, in Knowledge Spaces: Applications in Education, D. Albert, C. Doble, D. Eppstein, J-Cl. Falmagne, Xiangen Hu, Editors. 2011, London: Springer-Verlag.
"Following the Logic of Student Thinking Patterns about Atomic Orbital Structures,"Vaarik, A.: Taagepera, M.; Tamm, L. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 2008, 7, 27.
"Assessing the Effect of Web-Based Learning Tools on Student Understanding of Stoichiometry Using Knowledge Space Theory,"
Arasasingham, R. D.; Taagepera, M.; Potter, F.; Martorell, I.; Lonjers, S.
J. Chem. Educ., 2005, 82, 1251.
"Using Knowledge Space Theory To Assess Student Understanding of Stoichiometry,"
Arasasingham, R. D.; Taagepera, M.; Potter, F.; Lonjers, S.
J. Chem. Educ. 2004, 81, 1517.
"Following the Development of the Bonding Concept Using Knowledge Space Theory,"
Taagepera, M.: Arasasingham, R.; Potter, F; Soroudi, A; Lam, G.
J. Chem. Ed. 2002, 79, 756.
"Mapping Students' Thinking Patterns in Learning Organic Chemistry by the Use of Knowledge Space Theory,"
Taagepera, M.; Noori, S.
J. Chem. Ed. 2000, 77, 1224.
"Mapping Students' Thinking Patterns by the Use of the
Knowledge Space Theory,"
Taagepera, M.; Potter, F.; Miller, G. E.; Lakshminarayan, K.
International Journal of Science Education 1997, 19, 283.
"A USA Model of Industry-Academic Partnership in the Dense Urban Area of Orange County, CA." Miller,G.E; Taagepera,M. in Synergy: Case Studies on Education-Industry Partnerships, Isuyama,R; Mapletoft,M., eds. Chemistry Industry Education Center. York, England, 1996.
"The Fall-off of Field Effects with Distance: The Acidity of
Substituted Quinuclidimium and Bicyclo-octyl-ammonium Ions,"
Adcock, W.; Anvia, F.; Butt, G.; Cook, A.; Duggan, P.; Grobb, C. A.;
Marriott, S.; Rowe, J.; Taagepera, M.; Taft, R. W.; Topsom, R. D.
Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry 1991, 4, 353.
Professional Societies
American Chemical Society
National Science Teachers Association
Last updated
07/13/2011