Education:

Research Interests:

Education and Technology:
I am very interested in science education and learning and how hands-on, experiential learning can be enhanced and expanded through technology.  To examine this, my program is continually involved in projects that develop and integrate computer applications into the hands-on learning that occurs in the 4-H Children’s Garden.  Studies typically involve curricula development, including specific technology integration, delivering discovery experiences and evaluating effects on attitudes and learning. 

Very recently I have started to look at how we can use the ideas, concepts, tools and power of Web 2 to even further enhance and expand learning opportunities.  Current projects include:

• Seeds of Science – we are developing and evaluating multi-day 4-H Garden field trip experiences and evaluating effects on students attitudes toward science and changes in their specific content knowledge through concept mapping. (http://4hgarden.msu.edu/seedsofscience/)
• On-line Wonder Wall – Wonder Walls connect learners, teachers, off-site experts and students in real time and asynchronously to persistent, playful, moderated, spatial communication environments designed for collaborative learning.  We are currently examining how various ages and groups use Wonder Walls, the types of questions that are asked and how Wonder Walls affect learning and interactions with scientists. (http://wonderwall.msu.edu/preview)
• Personal Science Assistant – we are studying effects on student learning and retention when the PSA is incorporated into their learning experiences. (http://www.msu.edu/~ramchan1/pda/index.html)
• REAACT – (Reaching Environmental Awareness and Action in Communities Together) – This project is looking at the challenges and opportunities of working with communities of difference around environmental issues. It also involves integration of technology and is looking at changes in environmental attitudes and

Annual Trials:
I coordinate the Annual Trials program at MSU.  Annually we evaluate over 1000 cultivars of annuals for their performance in our garden.  We are also trialing many in containers.  Information and photos of the cultivars trialed is available on-line.

Selected Recent Publications:

Heeter, C., N. Lownds and B. Rhodes. 2006.  Wonderwalls: Playful Peer to Peer to Expert Collaborative Learning Spaces. Proceedings SigGraph 2005, Los Angeles, CA.

Lownds, N.K., P. Maziak and C. Heeter. 2003. 4-H Children’s Garden Wondercasts.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/wondercast

Rhodes, B., Peteu, M., N. Lownds and C. Heeter. 2003. On-line Wonderwall software.  http://35.8.234.223/bea/

Heeter, C. and Lownds, N. Design Discussion, Professional Interaction Design Portfolio Panel, International CHI Conference, April, 2002 (Computer-Human Interaction), Minneapolis.

Maziak, Pete, Mihai Peteu, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 2001. The 4-H Children’s Garden Kidstour. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/

Lownds, N.K. 2001. Connecting to the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden.  Media Spectrum 28: 30-32.

Lownds, N.K. 2001. Growing Tomorrow’s Customers.  The Voice 44:28-31.

Lownds, Mike, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 2001. Build a Plant. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_plantbuild.html

Lownds, M.K., E. Lownds and N.K. Lownds. 2001. School Garden web site.  Summer Garden Club, Wardcliff Elementary School.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/Connected/Wardcliff/

Lownds, N.K. 2001. On-line seed germination experiment. Connected Classrooms project, Wardcliff Elementary 5th grade.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/Connected/germination

Lownds, N.K. 2001. What is Science?  Connected Classrooms project, Wardcliff Elementary 5th grade.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/connected/

Lin, Yiran, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 2001. Magic Typewriter. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_typewriter.html

Lownds, N.K. 2000.  Children's Gardens in a New Millennium.  The American Gardener.  79: 19-23.

Sawyer, Tory, Norm Lownds and Carrie Heeter. 2000. The Alice in Wonderland 3-D On-line Maze.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_maze.html

Peteu, Mihai, Norm Lownds and Carrie Heeter. 2000. Water me Game. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_sunflower.html

Gopal, Sulakshana, Norm Lownds and Carrie Heeter. 2000. Going buggy Game. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_bugs.html

Kurf, P., N.K. Lownds and C. Heeter. 2000. On-line Dance Chimes. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_chimes.html

Maziak, P., N.K. Lownds and C. Heeter. 2000. The On-line Sundial. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_sundial.html

Maziak, P., N.K. Lownds and C. Heeter. 2000.

Revised 4-H Children's Garden web page: http://4hgarden.msu.edu

Lownds, N.K., B. Winn and C. Heeter. 1999. 4-H Children's Garden "Talk Back".

http://4hgarden.msu.edu/askdrnorm

http://4hgarden.msu.edu/askdrnorm/norm.html

Chen, Jiatyan , Jill Hallden, Barry Carr, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 1999. The Garden Pizza Place.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_pizza.html

King, Christy, Jason Freevol, David Fueling, Pete Maziak, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 1999. Shakey the Caterpillar.      http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_shakey.html

Hicks, Katherine, Brad Dixon, Carrie Heeter and Norm Lownds. 1999. ABC's and 123's. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/kidstour/game_abc.html

Leach, Matt, Norm Lownds and Carrie Heeter. 1999. The Important Stuff, Tips for Parents.  http://4hgarden.msu.edu/pandt/parents.html

Sabba, R.P., T.M. Sterling and N.K. Lownds. 1998. Effect of picloram on resistant and susceptible yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis): The role of ethylene. Weed Sci (accepted)

Gleason, J., C. Gonzales, K. Wiburg and N.K. Lownds. 1998. Digital Desert Library: A model for teacher change using culturally-relevant, inquiry-based science education. http://horizon.nmsu.edu/ddl

Gleason, J., C. Gonzales, K. Wiburg, N.K. Lownds and M. Anklam. 1997. Seeds of Change Garden. http://horizon.nmsu.edu/garden

Lownds, N.K. 1997. Cooperative creation of school gardens: New Mexico State University Landscape Horticulture classes and Valley View elementary school. Taproot (in press).

Sterling, T.M., N.K. Lownds and L.W. Murray. 1996. Effect of broom snakeweed stage of pland growth on picloram uptake and picloram-induced ethylene production. J. Range Mgmt.

Morrison, R.G., N.K. Lownds and T.M. Sterling. 1994 Picloram uptake, translocation and efficacy in relation to water status of Russian Knapweed (Centaurea repens L.) Weed Sci. 43:34-39.

Lownds, N.K., M. Banaras and P.W. Bosland. 1994. Relationships between postharvest water loss and physical properties of pepper fruit (Capsicum annuum L.) HortScience 28:1182-1184.

Berghage, R.D. and N.K. Lownds. 1991. Using writing in horticultural education. HortTechnology 1:124-126.

CD-ROM Materials:

Sawyer, Tory, N.K. Lownds and C. Heeter. 2002. Enchanted Math in the Garden.

King, K., C. Heeter and N.K. Lownds.  2001.  The Garden Symphony.

Lownds, N.K., B. Winn, S. Telschow, P. Maziak, G. Casarol and C. Heeter. 1999. Michigan 4-H Children's Garden, Virtual Tour and Plant Problems.

Other publications:

Valenzuela-Valenzuela, J., N.K. Lownds and T.M. Sterling. 2001. Ethylene is not involved in clopyralid action in yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.)  Pestic. Biochem. and Phys. 72: 142-152

Valenzuela-Valenzuela, J., N.K. Lownds and T.M. Sterling. 2001 Clopyralid uptake, translocation and metabolism and ethylene induction in picloram-resistant yellow starthistle (Centuarea solstitialis L.)  Pestic. Biochem. and Phys. 71:11-19.

Sterling, T.M., N.K. Lownds and L.W. Murray.  2001.  Picloram-resistant and -susceptible Centaurea solstitialis accessions have similar competitive ability. Weed Sci. 49:42-47.

Knoche, M., N.K. Lownds and M.J. Bukovac. 2000.  Spray Application Factors and Plant Growth Regulator Performance: IV. Dose Response Relationships.  J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125: 195-199.

Garden Links:

DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE
Michigan State University

Please send your comments to Ms. Sandy Allen allens@msu.edu
This page was last edited in 07/30/08 .