Dr. Chris Merrill
Professor
Technology
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
Merrill has over 28 years of teaching experience at the high school (Gardner-South Wilmington and DeKalb High Schools) and university (The Ohio State University and Illinois State University) levels. Before his career as a high school teacher, Merrill was a cabinetmaker in the Peoria area.
Current Courses
307.001Competencies For Teaching
497.001Introduction To Research Methodology
425.001STEM Education Leadership
303.001Engineering Design
299.001Independent Honor Study
287.002Independent Study
404.001Special Projects In Industrial Technology
424.001Stem Education Integrated Curriculum
305.001Teaching Transportation, Energy, & Power Technologies
Teaching Interests & Areas
Technology & Engineering Education, STEM education, Career and Technical Education, and standards-based teaching and learning are Merrill's primary teaching and research interests.
Research Interests & Areas
Technology & Engineering Education, STEM education, Career and Technical Education, and standards-based teaching and learning are Merrill's primary teaching and research interests.
Ph D Integrated Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
MS Curriculum and Instruction with Supervision
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
BS Industrial Technology Education
Illinois State University
Other
Illinois Central College
Other Cabinetmaking
Olney Central College
2021 Distinguished Alumni, Department of Technology
Illinois State University
2021
Presidential Citation
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
2020
National Teacher Educator of the Year
Association for Career and Technical Education
2019
Research Award
Illinois State University Department of Technology
2019
ACTE Region III Teacher Educator of the Year
Association for Career and Technical Education
2019
IACTE Teacher Educator of the Year
Illinois Career and Technical Education
2019
Service Award
Department of Technology
2017
Award of Distinction
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
2014
Technology and Engineering Educator of the Year
Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education
2014
Distinguished Technology and Engineering Professional
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
2013
Book, Chapter
Merrill, C. Technology education perspectives of STEM education. M.K. Daugherty and V. Carter (EDs), The Mississippi Valley Conference in the 21st Century (2019): 277-299.
Merrill, C. Authentic Research for Technology Education. Marc de Vries (EDs), Handbook of Technology Education. Springer International Publishing (2018): 101-108.
Merrill, C. A Nontraditional High School Technology and Engineering Education Setting. Marie Hoepfl (EDs), Yes, Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education 61st Yearbook. Council on Technology and Engineering Teacher Education 61 (2017): 184-193.
Conference Proceeding
Merrill, C. Open Source Maker Movement: Opportunities for the Engineering Design Classroom. American Society for Engineering Education/Engineering Graphics Division 69.1 (2014): 12-18.
Devine, K., Merrill, C., & Brown, J. Using Solid Modeling in High School Mathematics Instruction: A Professional Development Partnership. Proceedings from the 65th Annual American Society for Engineering 6 Education/Engineering Design Graphics Division Mid-Year Meeting (2010)
Journal Article
Hughes, A. J., & Merrill, C. (2021). Implementing the method of sections to design, build, and test trusses: Combining theory with practice. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 80(5), 15-20.
Hughes, A. J., & Merrill, C. (2021). Transforming technology and engineering educator inputs into desired student outputs through mechanism analysis and synthesis. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 81(2), 21-25.
Hughes, A. J., & Merrill, C. (2020). Analyzing concrete beam designs: Verifying predictions in the T&EE classrooms. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 79(5), 14-19.
Hughes, A. J., & Merrill, C. (2020). Method of joints: Theory and practice of designing, building, and testing trusses. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 80(2), 28-35.
Hughes, A. J., & Merrill, C. (2020). Solving concurrent and nonconcurrent coplanar force systems: Balancing theory and practice in the T&EE classroom. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 80(1), 16-22.
Newsletter
Arnett, S., Brown, J., & Merrill, C. Poverty in education: Use of differentiated learning. OTT Professionalism to Practice Newsletter (2016)
Translation
Merrill, C. On Excellence: Craftsmanship and Leadership. Kathleen De La Paz (EDs). Technology and Engineering Teacher 73.3 (2013): 33-35.
Presentations
Merrill, C. (2023). Perceptions of High School Students Pursuing STEM: Initial Focus Group Findings from Illinois High Schools. Presentation at the 85th Annual International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Merrill, C. (2023). Engineering Design and Creativity. Presentation at the Annual Illinois Technology Education Conference, Normal, IL.
Merrill, C. (2022). Engineering Design and Creativity. Presentation at the Annual Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference, Normal, IL.
Merrill, C. (2022). Using the New Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy. Presentation at the Annual Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference, Normal, IL.
Whitman, D., Merrill, C., & Hendricksen, C. (2022). Sea, Land, and Air: A Deep Dive into SeaPerch. Presentation at the Annual Illinois Technology Education Conference, Normal, IL.
Designing, Building, and Testing Trusses with Accurate Predictions. International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. (2021)
Merrill, C., & Christensen, B. (2021). Professional Teaching and Learning in TEE: The 5E Process. Presentation at the 83rd Annual International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Christensen, B., McQuality, R., Merrill, C., Cotie, G., Westergreen, E., & Suter, A. (2021). The 5E Structure and How to Use It, Even Online. Presentation at the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference.
Christensen, B., Suter, A., Merrill, C., Ponce, A., McQuality, R., & Budde, N. (2021). Middle School Career Development: Teaching Career Exploration Through Hands-on Projects. Presentation at the Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education Conference.
Hughes, A., & Merrill, C. (2021). Transforming Educator Inputs into Desired Student Outputs. Presentation at the 83rd Annual International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Grants & Contracts
Illinois Technology Student Association. Illinois State Board of Education. State. (2023)
Illinois Technology Student Association. Illinois State Board of Education. State. (2022)
Illinois Technology Student Association. Illinois State Board of Education. State. (2021)
Illinois Career and Technical Education Innovative Curriculum Resources Project. Carl D. Perkins and the Illinois State Board of Education. Federal. (2020)
Illinois Career and Technical Education Innovative Curriculum Resources Project. Carl D. Perkins, Illinois State Board of Education. Federal. (2020)