Vito M. Dipinto, Ed.D.
Professor Emeritus
Secondary Education, Science
National College of Education
Graduate
SCE480B: Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science
SCE485: Methods of Teaching Middle School Science
SCE520: Chemistry for Teachers
SCE521: Astronomy for Teachers
SCE510: Physical Science for Teachers
SCE500: Science, Technology and Society
SCE501: Advanced Methods for Teaching Elementary School Science
SCE504: Teaching for Conceptual Development in Science
SCE593: Seminar in Science Education
SCE525: Using Informal Sites for Teaching Science-Introduction
SCE526: Using Informal Sites for Teaching Science-Internship
SCE594: Independent Study/Green Organic Chemistry for Teachers
SCE594: Independent Study/ Classical Thermodynamics for Teachers
SCE594: Independent Study/ Quantum Mechanics for Teachers
SCE594: Independent Study/ History and Philosophy of Science and Science Education
SCE594: Independent Study/Biotechnology for Teachers
SCE594: Independent Study/ Naked Eye Astronomy in the City
SCE594: Independent Study/A Study of Vitamin C
SCE529: Zoology for Teachers
SCE595: Special Topics/Science Education/Beyond Text Book Science: Intermediate Grades
SCE595: Special Topics/Science Education/Beyond Text Book Science: Primary Grades
SCE582 WS/Science Education/Topic: Science and Toys—Hands-on Physical Science for the Elementary School
SCE582: WS/Science Education/ Topic: Science Fair Series
ESR507: Graduate Research: Empirical/Quantitative
MLE500: The Middle School: An Overview
MLE 502: Middle School Curriculum
TIE595: Special Topics/Technology In Education/Using Computers for Teaching Science
ESR 505 Educational Inquiry and Assessment
ESR 514 Research in Action: Becoming Practitioner Researchers
ELE 547: Methods of Teaching Health and Physical Education
ELE 545 Methods of Teaching the Arts
SEC 516 Methods of Teaching Physical Science Secondary
SEC 590A-F: Secondary Education Student Teaching Seminar
Student Teaching Supervision (K-12)
Undergraduate
SCE480A: Methods of Teaching Elementary School Science
SCE481: Methods for Teaching Primary Grade Science
CIS 481: Methods for Teaching Primary Social Studies
ELE347: Methods for Teaching Health and Physical Education
ELE 345: Methods of Teaching the Arts
Areas of Expertise:
K-12 science methods, astronomy, chemistry, middle school education, classroom teacher 4-8 grades, interactive online teaching and learning;, multimedia authoring and learning; using children’s literature for teaching and learning science; science fiction and fantasy expert; storytelling; gifted education; digital storytelling; MakerSpaces and Innovation Labs; integrating visual literacy into the secondary science classroom; teaching the Nature of Science (NOS); designing and using virtual labs; clowning, puppetry, performance art
Biography:
Vito M. Dipinto began his professional career as an organic chemist. Realizing later in life that he was really a performance artist he became an educator- a Montessori teacher, a science teacher, curriculum designer and coordinator at the Baker Demonstration School, past chair of NLU’s Science Education Department, and the senior science education faculty member at NLU. However, since the birth of his granddaughter he has become a full-time grandpa and a full time absent-minded professor.
The above is what I usually have included in my published papers. I have been an organic chemist for over two decades. Prior to entering undergrad I worked on research teams at Harshaw Chemical and Case Institute of Technology both in Cleveland. I attended Lake ‘Forest College which had a nationally ACS recognized undergrad chemistry program. For over three years I worked part time at Abbot synthesizing novel substrates for chemical models leading to the design and synthesis of a new class of drugs: antidepressants. My first job out of undergrad was as a research chemist at Kraft Foods R & D where my primary task was to invent new salad type dressing products. I then became the lead chemist at a small pharmaceutical start-up where I synthesized a whole new class of monosaccharides that had potent antiviral properties. Finally, I landed at IIT Research Institute, which did contract research for the government and industry. I was the bench chemist on many FDA, EPA and National Cancer Institute projects. I am still recognized as an international expert on polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxins, PCBs and synthesis of N-nitrosamines. I worked on an FDA project looking at ways to improve bonding capacity of opioid blockers like Naltrexone. I also have the dubious distinction of inventing the “pop” in Pop Rocks. This is my 30th year at NLU where I guess I am still known as the “Science Guy”.
Education:
National-Louis University Ed.D.(instructional leadership) 1998
Dissertation Title: “Sciencing with Vito in the Seventh Grade or Teaching as Performance Art” Minor Concentration: Curriculum & Instruction: Science Education
National College of Education MAT (science ed) 1987
American Montessori Society Pre-primary certification (0-6 years) 1979
Lake Forest College B.A. (chemistry) 1970
Honors and Awards:
2013 Dean’s Award
2012 NLU Teaching Excellence Award
1998 NLU Teaching Excellence Award
Conference Presentations:
25 July 2019 It’s a Gas or How to Make the Invisible Visible (and the story of the invention of the “pop” in pop rocks). A presentation and laboratory investigation at ChemEd 2019 with Erika Check Naperville, IL.
3 November 2018 Exploring Preservice Candidates Use of Visual Literacy in High School Science and Social Studies Classrooms A presentation with Xiaoning Chen and Mark Newman at International Visual Literacy Conference Chicago, IL.
5 October 2018 Science is a Story: Storytelling, Literacy and Science presented at Illinois Reading Conference Peoria, IL.
31 July 2018 It Was A Terrible Mistake. . . Chemistry, Literacy and STEM. A presentation at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education South Bend, IN.
9 November 2017 NGSS and Visual Literacy: A STEAM Approach. A presentation at NSTA Midwest Regional Conference Milwaukee, WI with Andrew Bean, Frank Prill and Anthony Tournis.
9 November 2017 The Lady Who Put Salt in Coffee: STEM and Literacy. A presentation at the NSTA Midwest Regional Conference Milwaukee, WI with Anthony Tournis.
1 April 2017 The Game Is Afoot!: Holmes, Literacy and NGSS in the Secondary Physical Science Classroom. A presentation at the NSTA International Science Education Los Angeles 2017 with Andrew Bean, Kevin Levy and Jose Sandoval.
31 March 2017 Veni, Vidi, Vici: Design, STEM and Makerspaces. A presentation at the NSTA International Science Education Los Angeles 2017 with Frank Prill, Andrew Bean, and Jose Sandoval.
30 March 2017 Tales from the Front: Verities, Vanities and Vulgarities of Becoming a Science Teacher in the Age of NGSS. A presentation at the NSTA International Science Education Los Angeles 2017 with Frank Prill, Andrew Bean, Anthony Cerqua and Jose Sandoval.
2 December 2016 It’s In the Bag: The Greening of the NGSS an interactive workshop presentation at the MidWest Regional NSTA Conference, Columbus, OH with P. Fisher and N. Hershiser.
30 September 2016 Engaging Students in Systems Thinking Across the Curriculum a presentation at the Illinois Reading Conference Peoria, IL with P. Fisher, N. Hershiser, C. Hershiser, and R. Turner.
8 April 2016 It’s in the Bag: Ready-to-go Outdoor Learning Experiences a presentation at the Illinois Healthy & High Performing Schools Annual Symposium with C. Herisher and P. Fisher.
13 March 2015 Oobleck in the Secondary Education Classroom: Implementing NGSS and CCS With an Oldie but Goodie a presentation at NSTA International Conference, Chicago, IL with A. Bean, F. Prill, and D. Murphy.
13 March 2015 It’s a Gas The Movie: Grades 8-12 Students Producing Virtual Labs a presentation at NSTA International Conference, Chicago, IL with F. Prill, A. Bean and D. Murphy.
13 March 2015 You Thought You Were THE Science Teacher: Wrong We Are All Teachers of Reading a presentation at NSTA International Conference, Chicago, IL with A. Dipinto.
12 March 2015 The STEM Challenge: Integrating Engineering into a College Secondary Physical Science Methods Course a presentation at NSTA International Conference, Chicago, IL with A. Cerqua.
4 April 2014 Using Virtual Labs in the Secondary Science Classroom a presentation at the NSTA International Conference Boston, MA with A. Bean, F. Prill & D. Murphy.
5 November 2014 Melting Ice: Discovering the wondrous in the mundane. a presentation at International Visual Literacy Association International Conference. Toledo OH with J. Sandoval, D. Murphy, K. Dipinto and A. Dipinto.
16 May 2013: The Thought Experiment: Integrating the Arts into STEM (+ A = STEAM); a presentation at the National Science Teachers Summit on STEM, St., Louis, MO with Anna Dipinto.
30 November 2011: Digital Storytelling: the Arts and the Preservice Teacher: a presentation at the International Conference on Education,Informatics,and Cybernetics. Orlando, FL.
Storytelling
20 February 2012: What’s in Dr. D (XXX) Julius’s Hat? A Storytelling Experience for the National Louis University Library Faculty Author Series, Lisle, IL
31 January 2012: What’s in Dr. D(XXX) Julius’s Hat? A Storytelling Experience for the National Louis University Library Faculty Author Series, Chicago, IL.
Work with K-12 Students and My Esteemed Colleagues (All graduates of ourTeacher Preparation Programs)
27 October 2016 The Lady Who Put Salt in Her Coffee: A STEAM investigation with eighth graders at ASPIRA Haugen Middle School, Chicago, IL
13-14 October Coffee Can Stoichiometry: Exploring the Pop in Pop Rocks an investigation with third graders at MCC Academy (a Muslim day school), Skokie, IL
7 October 2016 Oobleck Reprise: Introducing Non-Newtonian fluids to chemistry students at Bolingbrook High School, Bolingbrook, IL
6 October 2016 Legoman: Introducing the Use of Qualitative Data in Science an investigation with seventh graders at Devers Elementary School, Chicago, IL
6 October 2016 Oobleck: Exploring qualitative data with 8th graders at Devers Elementary School Chicago, IL
1 September 2016 Inventing A Roller Coaster: Introducing Engineering Practices to sophomores as part of the new NGSS redesign of the physics curriculum St. Charles East High School, St Charles, IL
20 April 2016 Oobleck: Celebrating Earth Week an interactive presentation for third graders at Prairie Crossing Charter School, Grayslake, IL
14 March 2016 MakerSpaces: Building Light Sculptures to Learn Engineering Practices with 8th graders at Devers Elementary School Chicago, IL
3 March 2016 50 Degrees Below Zero: An Introduction to a Weather unit for sixth graders at Devers Elementary School, Chicago, IL
5 December 2015 A Night of Science, presentations to students and their parents as part of Science Family Night at Devers Elementary School, Chicago, IL.
8 December 2015 What Makes the Pop in Pop Rocks an interactive presentation with sixth graders at ASPIRA Haugen Middle School. Chicago. IL\
6 October 2015 Oobleck: An Introduction to States of Matter to 8th graders Devers Elementary School Chicago, IL
8 September 2015 The Engineering Challenge: Introducing high school physics students to design thinking. St. Charles East High School St. . Charles, IL
14 April 2014 Ramps and Balls: Using the Engineering Practices of NGSS with sophomore physics students at St. Charles East High School, St, Charles , IL
16 September 2014 Oobleck: Using the Scientific and Engineering Practices of NGSS for 8th grade students at Devers Elementary School, Chicago, IL
31 October 2014 Oobleck: Recycling an Oldie But Goodie for sophomores and juniors at Bolingbrook High School, Bolingbrook, IL
Recent Publications:
Tournis, A. J. & Dipinto, V. M. (2020) “. . . it was a terrible mistake!”: Science, Chemistry and Storytelling. In Johnson, A. E & Odeleye, O. O. (Eds.) Chemistry Student Success: A Field-tested, Evidence-based Guide. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society Publications.
Chen, X., Newman, M. & Dipinto, V. (in press) Teachers’ visual literacy practices in middle and high school classroom, In D. M. Baylen (Ed.), Senses and experiences: The book of selected readings. Carrollton, GA: International Visual Literacy Association.
Elkordy, A, Dipinto, V. & Keneman, A. (2017) Behind the Curtain; Effective Design of Instructional Experiences for K-12 Learners Using Digital Game Based Learning. In Baek, Y.K., (2017). Ed. Game-Based Learning, Theory, Strategies and Performance Outcomes Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, New York.
Stenson, J., Norfolk, S. & Ford, L. (ed) (2017)). Three chapters: Introduction: Science is a Story; Second grade: The lady who put salt in her coffee. And Fifth Grade: The lady who put salt in her coffee. Science through storytelling: Strategies for the K-5 classroom. Jefferson NC: MacFarland Publishing.
Dipinto, V. M. Murphy, D. and Dipinto, A (2014) Messin’ around: The role of play in middle level science education. International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science, 2(2), 55-66.
Dipinto, V., Dipinto, K. & Rios, J. (2012) Digital Storytelling: The Arts and the Preservice Teacher. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 10(5), 36-38.
Dipinto, V. & Dipinto, A. (2012) You Wonderful You: Developing the Social and Emotional Health of the Gifted Adolescent. Journal of Illinois Association for Gifted Children, 14-17.
Salmon, D., Rossman, A. & Dipinto, V. (2012) Knowing by Doing and Doing by Knowing. Science Scope, 35(6), 70-76.
Dipinto, V. (2011) Clowning around: Nurturing creativity in middle school students. Illinois Association for Gifted Children Journal 2011, 29-33.
Contact Information:
(847) 947-5193
