Rate My Professor Alan Buss

Alan Buss serves as Associate Dean (Faculty) in the College of Education at the University of Wyoming. He earned a B.S. in 1989 and an M.A. in 1993 from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in 1998 from the University of Wyoming. Joining the faculty in 1997, he has held leadership roles including department head for eight years, chair of the College of Education Tenure and Promotion committee for three years, Faculty Senate member, chair of the UW Academic Information Technology Committee, and chair of the university Mobile Computing Task Force. Additionally, he directed the Education Public Access Resource Center from 2001 to 2012, supporting K-12 teachers across five states in geospatial education. In 2020, he was appointed director of the School of Teacher Education.

Dr. Buss teaches science and mathematics methods courses for pre-service elementary teachers, as well as graduate courses in learning theory, the history of mathematics and science education, and integrating technology in the classroom. He supervises students during their residency and practicum experiences. His research interests center on the meaningful integration of educational technologies to enhance students' understanding of science and mathematics. These technologies encompass Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), dynamic geometry software, Vernier Probeware, LEGO robotics, computer gaming, and 3D visualization in immersive virtual reality environments using the Microsoft HoloLens. He has developed curricular materials and a 3D simulation for teaching the concept of density to middle school students and pre-service elementary teachers at the Shell 3D Visualization Center. His current NSF-funded project (award #2021198) focuses on creating immersive, socially mediated augmented reality experiences for exploring atomic-scale phenomena. Buss has collaborated with teachers from 46 of Wyoming's 48 school districts on initiatives including LEGO robotics, integrating children’s literature in science, and using satellite imagery to study community changes. He received the 2020 John P. Ellbogen Lifetime Teaching Award, recognizing his exemplary teaching with average student evaluations of 4.59 out of 5 over the past decade, and has mentored 31 master’s students and five doctoral students to completion.