iSTAR 2026
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Inquiry in Scientific Thinking, Analytics, and Reasoning (iSTAR)
The Inquiry in Scientific Thinking, Analytics, and Reasoning (iSTAR) is an assessment designed to measure students’ scientific reasoning skills, with a focus on control of variables, data analytics, and causal decision-making skills.
In this session, we will explore the importance of scientific reasoning skills, why iSTAR was developed, and share the development process behind iSTAR. In addition, we will review key findings from iSTAR implementation and practical strategies for using the iSTAR.
Participants will have time to plan how iSTAR can be integrated into their own courses to better support students’ development of scientific reasoning skills.
This event is free and offered virtually via Zoom.
During the 2025-2026 academic year, we are offering a series of presentation-discussion-workshops to share some of the many research-validated assessment instruments used in the physics education community. Join us to learn how you can use these instruments to inform your teaching, to assess your students' learning, and to contribute to a wider body of knowledge about physics students at two-year colleges.
Facilitators:
- Krista Wood (University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College)
- Kathy Koenig (University of Cincinnati)
