Bio
Dr. Mark Newton is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education and serves as the Director of the Anita Zucker Institute for Entrepreneurial Educational Leadership at The Citadel. He spent the first thirteen years of his career as a middle school science and math teacher and taught in both North Carolina and Florida. In 2008 Mark was recognized as the Liberty Middle School Teacher of the Year and in 2009 as the Science Teacher of the Year. Additionally, in 2007, he was selected by Honeywell as one of 250 teachers to attend NASA’s Space Camp for Educators in Huntsville, AL.
Mark’s research has focused on integrating a Socioscientific Issues approach within immersive place-based learning environments. Specifically, Dr. Newton has participated in experiences teaching in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Most recently, his research has included leveraging mixed reality technology in these place-based learning experiences. Some of this research was recognized in 2024 at the Eurasia EduCon and Association for Science Teacher Education as best research papers. Additionally, Dr. Newton was the recipient of the 2024 East Carolina University Scholar-Teacher Award. Prior to The Citadel, Dr. Newton held appointments at Chico State University and East Carolina University.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL - MEd. Earth Sciences
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA - B.S. Elementary Education, minor in Geosciences
SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY
Research Interests
- Socioscientific issues instruction
- Teaching contentious issues using mixed reality
- Developing perspective taking and empathy
- Pro-environmental behaviors
Recent Publications
Newton, M.H. (2025). Leaving a trace: Students (from across campus) talking about projects they completed. In J. Pederson, H. Lettner-Rust, & A. Fink (Eds.) The Role of Domestic Explorations in Developing Critical, Engaged Citizens. London: Taylor & Francis
Newton, M.H. & Olvey, C. (2025) In their own words: Student experiences. In J. Pederson, H. Lettner-Rust, & A. Fink (Eds.) The Role of Domestic Explorations in Developing Critical, Engaged Citizens. London: Taylor & Francis.
Newton, M.H., Annetta, L. (2024). The influence of extended reality on climate change education. Science & Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-024-00518-y
Annetta, L.A., & Newton, M.H. (2024). Perceived cognitive load of extended reality serious educational game about climate change. International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning
Newton, M.H. (2023). Using a socioscientific issues approach in an undergraduate environmental science course. Journal of College Science Teaching, 52(7), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/0047231X.2023.12315876
Newton, M.H., Zeidler, D.L. (2020). Developing socioscientific perspective taking. International Journal of Science Education, 42(8), 1302-1319.