Biography

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Dr. Gamze Karaer is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Educational Psychology at Washington State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education with a STEM focus from Eskisehir Osmangazi University in Türkiye. Her doctoral research was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK-2214) International Research Fellowship and she conducted a significant portion of her doctoral research at the University of Iowa, where she collaborated with faculty mentors to develop and evaluate instructional models that integrate science and literacy for students with learning disabilities. Dr. Karaer enjoys mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and has taught courses such as Introduction to Qualitative Methods, Special Education and Inclusion, Students with Learning Disabilities, Individualization and Adaptation of Instruction. Her research focuses on science education for students with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on the effectiveness of generative learning environments in enhancing critical thinking, science, and language skills. Her interdisciplinary work bridges science education, special education, and educational psychology, addressing issues of learning processes, educational inequality, and inclusive environments for students with disabilities and multilingual learners. She employs longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches that integrate advanced quantitative modeling with qualitative inquiry and emerging AI-assisted techniques.

Recent Publications

• Hwang, J., Chanlen, N., Karaer, G., & Hand, B. (2025).  Addressing the disadvantage gap through generative learning: A Case for the Science Writing Heuristic approach. Educational Researcher. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X251324141
• Karaer, G., Hwang, J., Chanlen, N., & Hand, B. (2024).  Longitudinal study examining immersing students with IEPs in argument-based inquiry to improve learning of science. International Journal of Science Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2024.2348823
• Karaer, G., Hand, B., & French, B.F. (2024).  Examining the impact of Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach on development of critical thinking, science, and language skills of students with and without disabilities. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 51, 101443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2023.101443
• Karaer, G., Melekoglu, M. A., & Hand, B. (2024). Examining the use of embedded generative strategies with graphic organizers to improve reading comprehension skills of students with learning disabilities. Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities 27(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.14448/jsesd.16.0002