Staff profile

Vanessa studied biochemistry and worked in molecular biology prior to becoming a chemistry teacher. Teaching led to interest in the impact of teacher knowledge on student learning and achievement. Vanessa’s doctorate study investigated longitudinal changes in understanding occurring in post-16 chemistry students, leading to development of novel teaching strategies for specific concepts. Vanessa tested these as head of chemistry (and physics) in a Hull sixth form college, leading to a lectureship in science education at the Institute of Education. After headship of an international school in Norway, she joined Durham in January 2005. Vanessa’s research explores how teachers’ science subject knowledge, beliefs, views about science, self-confidence and attitudes impact on teaching and student learning outcomes. She contributes to international debate surrounding the nature of teacher knowledge and connections between science teacher education policy and practice. Projects include an ESRC-DfiD funded project Transforming Pedagogy of STEM Subjects in Ethiopia; a UK-wide study of practical work in science funded by Gatsby Charitable Foundation; development of chemistry teacher knowledge in South Africa, supported by a British Academy Newton Mobility Grant; and a Wellcome Trust People Award held with Durham Law School on students’ understandings of stem cell research and human cloning via the medium of law. Previous work includes: development of a diagnostic test of chemistry teachers’ subject knowledge for the Royal Society of Chemistry; and interdisciplinary projects in medieval history and archaeology. Vanessa has contributed to international doctoral training schools in Italy, Oslo, Austria and South Africa. She has directed practitioner research for secondary and primary teachers’ small-scale projects linked to school improvement.

Vanessa chaired the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Education Research Group from 2008 - 2015. She was appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2008 and served on the Society’s Education Division Council from 2012 – 2015. She was an Honorary Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Education from 2009 – 2013. Vanessa is currently an Associate Editor of Research in Science Education and an Editorial Board member for International Journal of Science Education and School Science Review. Vanessa was appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2013.

Vanessa is currently Deputy Head of Faculty in Social Sciences and Health, holding the Postgraduate portfolio. She was Director, Science Learning Centre North East from 2011 – 2013 delivering continuing professional development for primary, secondary and post-16 science teachers and technicians.

Vanessa supervises PhD and EdD students in science, chemistry education, teacher knowledge and practice.

Completed Supervisions

A case study exploring developments in non-traditional potential undergraduates’ understandings of chemical language.

 Mapping the development of professional praxis of Higher Education work-based learners via a case-study approach.

THINKING AND DOING: AN INVESTIGATION OF THAI PRESERVICE TEACHERS’ BELIEFS AND PRACTICES REGARDING COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CONTEXT

Students' attitudes and career expectations in science: a cross-age case study of a specialist science school.

Information for prospective doctoral research student supervisions

Vanessa would be interested in supervising prospective doctoral students in Teacher education; Science education - secondary and post 16; Misconceptions; Conceptual change; Pedagogical content knowledge and Teacher development.

• Science teacher knowledge, beliefs, pedagogical strategies
• Science education including practical work and aspects of assessment and the nature of science
• Chemical education including misconceptions, pedagogical practices and conceptual change

• 2018: Keynote Presentation: Hell Symposium on Science Education, Hell, Norway
• 2018: Keynote Presentation: International Science Education Conference, Ministry of Education, Singapore
• 2018: Invited Webinar: Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemical Education Research Group
• 2017: Keynote Presentation: Singapore International Science Teacher Conference
• 2016: Keynote Presentation: Dublin International Conference on Education
• 2016: Visiting Professor: Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong
• 2016: Keynote Presentation: South African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Conference, Pretoria
• 2015: Invited Seminar: Faculty of Education, University of Georgia
• 2015: Keynote Presentation: London International Conference on Education
• 2015: Keynote Presentation: Variety in Chemistry Conference, University of Limerick
• 2014: Keynote Presentation: University of Bogotá, Colombia Pedagogical Content Knowledge Symposium
• 2013: Keynote Presentation: East-Asian Association for Science Education Conference, Institute of Education, Hong Kong
• 2013: Keynote Presentation: Global Chinese Conference on Science Education, Guangzhou
• 2011: Keynote Presentation: Eurovariety in Chemistry Conference, University of Bremen
• 2009: Honorary Associate Professor: Institute of Education, Hong Kong, to 2013
• 2008: Royal Society of Chemistry: Chair, Chemistry Education Research Group, to 2015
• 2000: Associate Editor: Research in Science Education
• 2000: Fellow: Royal Society of Arts
• 2000: Fellow: Royal Society of Biology
• 2000: Fellow: Royal Society of Chemistry, Chartered Chemist
• 2000: Large Grants Reviewer: Templeton World Charitable Foundation

Authored book

• Kind, V., & Kind, P. (2008). Teaching Secondary How Science Works. Hodder Murray for ASE
• Kind, V., & Taber, K. (2005). Science: Teaching School subjects 11-19. RoutledgeFalmer
• Kind, V. (2004). Mas alla de las apariencias: Ideas previas de lost estudiantes sobre conceptos basicos de quimica. Santillana
• Kind, V. (2004). Contemporary Chemistry for Schools and Colleges. Royal Society of Chemistry
• Barker, V. (2002). Building Success in GCSE Science: Chemistry. Folens

Chapter in book

• Kind, V. (2015). On the beauty of knowing then not knowing: Pinning down the elusive qualities of PCK. In A. Berry, P. Friedrichsen, & J. Loughran (Eds.), Re-examining Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Science Education (178-196). Routledge
• Kind, V. (2014). Science teachers’ content knowledge. In H. Venkat, M. Rollnick, J. Loughran, & M. Askew (Eds.), Exploring Mathematics and Science teachers’ Knowledge: Windows into teacher thinking (15-28). Routledge
• Kind, V. (2012). Organic chemistry and the chemistry of natural products. In K. Taber (Ed.), Teaching Secondary Chemistry (303-342). (2nd ed). Hatfield: ASE
• Kind, V. (2012). Extent, rates and energetics of chemical change. In K. Taber (Ed.), Teaching Secondary Chemistry (137-182). (2nd ed). Hatfield: ASE
• Kind, V. (2012). Science teachers' knowledge of science. In J. Oversby (Ed.), ASE Handbook of Science Education Research (58-68). ASE: Hatfield
• Kind, V. (2010). United Kingdom. In B. Risch (Ed.), Teaching chemistry around the world (375-390). Waxmann
• Kind, V. (2007). Context-based science: a 'gift horse' for the talented?. In K. Taber (Ed.), Science Education for Gifted Learners (142-158). Routledge
• Barker, V. (2000). Lifelong learning in science. In J. Sears, & P. Sorensen (Eds.), Issues in Science Teaching (50-60). RoutledgeFalmer

Conference Paper

• Kind, V. (2015). The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Connections between Pre-service Science Teachers’ Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge.
• Kind, V. (2013). Pre-service science teachers’ initial pedagogical content and subject matter knowledge for teaching aspects of science.
• Kind, V. (2013). Pedagogical content knowledge as a tool for developing high quality science teachers: evidence from research.
• Kind, V. (2012). Pre-service science teachers’ orientations toward teaching: Evidence for Constancy and Change across subject matter areas.
• Kind, P., Wilson, J., Kind, V., & Hofstein, A. (2010). Peer argumentation in the school laboratory - exploring the effects of task features.
• Kind, V. (2010). Perspectives from research on pedagogical content knowledge: consequences for changes in science teacher education?. In I. Eilks, & B. Ralle (Eds.),
• Kind, V., & Kind, P. (2009). Qualified to teach? How personal and academic characteristics of pre-service science teachers compare with their understandings of basic chemical ideas.
• Kind, V., & Wallace, R. (2008). Train, teach; taught? How the content of specific science subject matter knowledge sessions impacts on trainee teachers' classroom practice and children's learning. In B. Bungum, A. Wallin, & B. Andersson (Eds.),
• Kind, V. (2007). An exploration of trainee science teachers' subject matter knowledge development and its impact on teacher self-confidence.

Journal Article

• Alemu, M., Kind, V., Tadesse, M., Michael, K., Kind, P., & Rajab, T. (2021). The knowledge gap between intended and attained curriculum in Ethiopian teacher education: identifying challenges for future development. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 51(1), 81-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2019.1593107
• Leta, D. T., Ayele, M. A., & Kind, V. (2021). Dialogic Teaching Approach vis-à-vis Middle School Physics Teacher’s Content Knowledge. Eurasia journal of mathematics science and technology education, 17(1), https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/9613
• Rees, S., Kind, V., & Newton, D. (2019). Meeting the Challenge of Chemical Language Barriers in University Level Chemistry Education. Israel Journal of Chemistry, 59(6-7), 470-477. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201800079
• Luft, J., Whitworth, B., Berry, A., Navy, S., & Kind, V. (2019). Science Education Trajectories: Charting the Course for Teachers, Educators, Researchers, and Policymakers. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 30(1), 63-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560x.2018.1535226
• Kind, V., & Chan, K. (2019). Resolving the amalgam: connecting pedagogical content knowledge, content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge. International Journal of Science Education, 41(7), 964-978. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2019.1584931
• Neumann, K., Kind, V., & Harms, U. (2019). Probing the amalgam: the relationship between science teachers’ content, pedagogical and pedagogical content knowledge. International Journal of Science Education, 41(7), 847-861. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2018.1497217
• Rees, S., Kind, V., & Newton, D. (2018). The development of chemical language usage by “non-traditional” students: the interlanguage analogy. Research in Science Education, 51(2), 419-438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-018-9801-0
• Rees, S., Kind, V., & Newton, D. (2018). Can language focussed activities improve understanding of chemical language in non-traditional students?. Chemistry education research and practice, 19(3), 755-766. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8rp00070k
• Pattinson, S. D., & Kind, V. (2017). Using a Moot to Develop Students’ Understanding of Human Cloning and Statutory Interpretation. Medical Law International, 17(3), 111-133. https://doi.org/10.1177/0968533217726350
• Kind, V. (2017). Development of evidence-based, student-learning-oriented rubrics for pre-service science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. International Journal of Science Education, 41(7), 911-943. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2017.1311049
• Kind, V. (2016). Preservice Science Teachers' Science Teaching orientations and Beliefs about Science. Science Education, 100(1), 122-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21194
• Kind, V. (2014). A degree is not enough: a quantitative study of aspects of pre-service science teachers' chemistry content knowledge. International Journal of Science Education, 36(8), 1313-1345. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2013.860497
• Kind, V., & Kind, P. (2011). Beginning to teach chemistry: How personal and academic characteristics of pre-service science teachers compare with their understandings of basic chemical ideas. International Journal of Science Education, 33(15), 2123-2158. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2010.542498
• Kind, P., Kind, V., Hofstein, A., & Wilson, J. (2011). Peer Argumentation in the School Science Laboratory - Exploring effects of task features. International Journal of Science Education, 33(18), 2527-2558. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2010.550952
• Kind, V. (2009). Pedagogical Content Knowledge in science education: potential and perspectives for progress. Studies in Science Education, 45(2), 169-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260903142285
• Kind, V. (2009). A conflict in your head: An exploration of trainee science teachers' subject matter knowledge development and its impact on teacher self-confidence. International Journal of Science Education, 31(11), 1529-1562. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690802226062
• Kind, P., & Kind, V. (2007). Creativity in science education: perspectives and challenges for developing school science. Studies in Science Education, 43(1), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057260708560225
• Kind, V. (2006). Bringing Chemistry to Life: Using contexts in teaching chemistry in Ireland
• Kind, V., & Hadi-Talab, R. (2005). Demonstrating chemistry, Part 2: A chemist's 'toolkit' - measuring, controlling and making new products. School science review, 86(317), 95-106
• Kind, V., & Hadi-Talab, R. (2005). Demonstrating Chemistry Part 1: From element origins to chemical reactions. School science review, 86(316), 61-68
• Barker, V., & Millar, R. (2000). Students' reasoning about basic chemical thermodynamics and chemical bonding: what changes occur during a context-based post-16 chemistry course?. International Journal of Science Education, 22(11), 1171-1200

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• Cramman, H., Kind, V., Kind, P., Lyth, A., Gray, H., Younger, K., …Coe, R. (2019). Monitoring practical science in schools and colleges, school data 2016-2017. [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.5255/ukda-sn-853446
• Cramman, H., Kind, V., Kind, P., Lyth, A., Gray, H., Younger, K., …Coe, R. (2019). Monitoring practical science in schools and colleges, higher education data 2016-2018. [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.5255/ukda-sn-853459

Presentation

• Kind, V. (2014, December). Towards an Evidence-Based Model of Pre-service Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge

Report

• Cramman, H., Kind, V., Lyth, A., Gray, H., Younger, K., Gemar, A., …Kind, P. (2019). Monitoring practical science in schools and colleges. [No known commissioning body]
• Kind, V. (2018). Transforming teaching quality through active learning in Ethiopia. [No known commissioning body]