Dr. Stephanie Hladik

Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, Stephanie Hladik was surrounded by amazing opportunities for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning from an early age. When Dr. Hladik entered postsecondary studies at the University of Calgary, she felt torn in two directions - She loved engineering and design, but loved teaching others about engineering too. She found ways to combine these two interests by completing degrees in Electrical Engineering and Education, focusing on research and practice that broadens opportunities for underserved students in STEM. After working as a Postdoctoral Associate at CU Boulder for a year, Dr. Hladik joined the University of Manitoba. She enjoys teaching courses about technology & society and engineering communication. Outside of work, she loves hiking, reading science fiction and fantasy novels and completing escape rooms with friends.

Area

• Engineering Education

Expertise

• Qualitative research methods, including ethnography and interview studies
• Design-based research in education
• Sociocultural theories of education
• Critical and feminist theory
• Educator-learner interactions
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice in education
• STEM education, including computing education
• Community-based research and design

Research description

Dr. Hladik conducts qualitative and design-based research into engineering education in a variety of settings including K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, museums, library makerspaces, and after-school technology clubs. This work may include designing and implementing new educational activities, studying how educators interact with learners, and investigating how engineering identity can be developed across space and time. She is particularly interested in projects that challenge historical and existing inequities in STEM education.