Dr. Orit Herscovitz's activities during the last two Decades at the Technion include developing and accessing high order thinking in chemistry education and promoting professional development of pre- and in-service science and technology teachers. In these two research fields she has been promoting the enhancement of constructivist learning environments via advanced educational technologies. She is also an advisor for graduate students and a lecturer in undergraduate and graduate courses in the faculty.

Dr. Herscovitz has published with colleagues articles in peer-reviewed international and national journals, co-authored two book chapters. She has also written four learning units for high school students as first author together with colleagues and presented papers in international and national conferences.

 Dr. Herscovitz was the director of MEYTAV - The Israeli National Center for "Science for All" Teachers between 2011 - 2013. Since 2017 she is the director of the Teacher Induction Division in the faculty.

 

  • Ph.D. Education in Technology and Science, Technion, Haifa, Israel, 1999
  • M.Sc. Education in Technology and Science, Technion, Haifa, Israel, 1996
  • Teaching Diploma Technion, Haifa, Israel, 1985
  • B.Sc. Chemistry, Technion Haifa, Israel, Cum Laude, 1982

Selected Publications:

Papers in Refereed International Journals 

1. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (1996). Cooperative Learning - Application of the Jigsaw Method While Studing Acids and Bases in Chemistry Laboratory. Halach Lemaashe - From Theory to Practice in Curriculum Development, 11, 127-150 (In Hebrew).

2. Dori, Y.J. & Herscovitz, O. (1999). Question Posing Capability as an Alternative Evaluation Method: Analysis of an Environmental Case Study. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36(4), 411-430.

3. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (2000). System Approach in Science Teaching – Theory, Implementation and Evaluation of the Solubility Topic in Science and Technology Teacher Training, Halach Lemaashe - From Theory to Practice in Curriculum Development, 15, 50-73 (In Hebrew).

http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/g-chem/center/mercazim-index.html

4. Y.J. Dori, I.Sasson, Z .Kaberman, & O. Herscovitz (2004). Integrating Case-based Computerized Laboratories into High School Chemistry. The Chemical Educator, 9, 1-5.

5. Y.J. Dori & O. Herscovitz (2005). Case-based long-term professional development of science teachers. International Journal of Science Education, 27, 1413–1446.

6. Pundak, D., Herscovitz, O., Shacham, M., Weizer-Biton, R. (2009). Instructors' Attitudes toward Active Learning. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 5, 215-232. 

http://ijello.org/Volume5/IJELLOv5p215-232Pundak669.pdf

7. Barak, M., Herscoviz, O., Kaberman, Z. & Dori, Y.J. (2009). MOSAICA: A web-2.0 based system for the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. Computers & Education, 53, 841–852.

8. T. Levy-Nahum, D. Ben-Chaim, I. Azaiza, O. Herscovitz & U. Zoller (2010). Does STES-Oriented Science Education Promote 10th-grade Students' Decision Making Capability? International Journal of Science Education, 32(10), 1315-1336.

9. D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz, M. Shacham & R. Weizer-Biton (2010). Attitudes of face-to-face and e-learning instructors toward 'Active Learning'. European Journal of Open and Distance Learning. Retrieved from: http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2010/Pundak_Herscovitz_Shacham.htm

10. S. Avargil, O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (2012). Teaching Thinking Skills in Context-Based Learning: Teachers’ Challenges and Assessment Knowledge. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 21(2), 207-225.

11. S. Avargil, O. Herscovitz and Y.J. Dori (2013). Challenges in the transition to large-scale reform in chemical education. Thinking Skills and Creativity. Special Issue: Scaling-up Science HOT – Higher Order Thinking. 

 

Chapter in a Refereed International Books

1. Y.J. Dori, M. Barak, O. Herscovitz & M. Carmi. (2005). Preparing Pre- and In-service Teachers to Teach High School Science in a Technology-Rich Environment. In, Vrasidas, C. & Glass, G.V. (Eds). Current Perspectives on Applied Information Technologies: Preparing Teachers to Teach with Technology. Information age publication, Greenwich, pp. 303-321.

2. Herscovitz, O., Kaberman, Z., Saar, L. & Dori, Y.J. (2011). The relationship between metacognition and the ability to pose questions in chemical education. In: Zohar A. & Y.J. Dori (Eds). Metacognition in Science Education. Springer. N.Y. Accepted.

Papers in National Journals (In Hebrew)

1. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (1997). The “Quality of Air Around Us" Module Teaching through Cooperative Learning, Bulletin of Bilogy Teachers, 154, 78-81.

2. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (1999). The “Quality of Air Around Us"- An Interdisciplinary Module, Bulletin of Bilogy Teachers, 158, 78-81.

3. O. Herscoviz, Z. Kaberman, I. Sasson and Y.J. Dori (2003). Case-based Computerized Laboratories and Molecular Modeling in Chemistry, Bulletin of Chemistry Teachers- ALCHEMIA, 4, 30-37.

4. Z. Kaberman, I. Sasson and O. Herscovitz (2004). Case-study and its Integration into Chemistry Study. The official site of the Ministry of Education, Curricula Department, Israel (In Hebrew).

http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/Tochniyot_Limudim/Portal/TochniyotLimudim/CativaElyuna/Chemya.htm

5. O. Herscoviz (2004). From disciplinary Teaching/learning to interdisciplinary – Integrating case-studies into Chemistry teaching. Bulletin of Chemistry Teachers- ALCHEMIA, 6, 23-30.

6. O. Herscoviz, Z. Kaberman and Y.J. Dori (2006). National model for assessing the Laboratory unit in Chemistry – Experiment and control, Bulletin of Chemistry Teachers- ALCHEMIA, 10, 37-45.

7. O. Herscoviz, Z. Kaberman and Y.J. Dori (2007). The "Taste of Chemistry" Unit, Bulletin of Chemistry Teachers- ALCHEMIA, 11, 39-47.

8. M. Maoz, O. Herscovitz, M. Sacham & O. Muller (2008). Students leading workshops for promoting active learning in multiple failed Courses. Bulletin of Higher Education- AL-HGOVA, 7, 65-66.

9. O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman & Y.J.Dori (2009). Teachers' Preparation and Professional Development via Distance Teaching and Learning as a Way of Coping with Lack of Teachers. Invited Literature Review for the Israel Academy of Science, http://education.academy.ac.il/files/dori-ohad.pdf

(http://education.academy.ac.il/Admin/Data/Publications/Teacher-Shortage-Report.pdf)

10. D. Pundak, O. Herscovitz & M. Sacham (2010). Reading Characteristics of Text Books and On-line Learning Materials among College and University Students. Bulletin of Higher Education- AL-HGOVA, 9, 20-25.

Textbooks (In Hebrew)

1. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (1998). The Quality of Air Around Us, 2nd edition, Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Gestelit Publication, Haifa. 150 pages 

2. O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman, I. Sasson and Y.J. Dori (2002). Computerized Chemistry Laboratory. Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. 126 pages 

3. O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman, I. Sasson and Y.J. Dori (2002). Computerized Chemistry Laboratory – Teacher Guide. Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. 75 pages 

4. O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman and Y.J. Dori (2007). Test of Chemistry. Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Yesod publication, Holon. 153 pages 

5. O. Herscovitz, Z. Kaberman, S. Abargil and Y.J. Dori (2007). Test of Chemistry - Teacher Guide. Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. 80 pages. https://edu.technion.ac.il/Projects/CE/index_heb.html

6. O. Herscovitz, L. Saar and Y.J. Dori (2007). All Chemistry – Analyzing Adapted Science articles and case-studies. Yesod publication, Holon. 62 pages.

7. O. Herscovitz, L. Saar and Y.J. Dori (2007). All Chemistry – Analyzing Adapted Science articles and case-studies- Teacher Guide. Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. 80 pages. 

https://edu.technion.ac.il/Projects/CE/index_heb.html

8. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (2012). The Quality of Air Around, 2nd edition, Yesod publication, Holon. 104 pages.

9. O. Herscovitz & Y.J. Dori (2012). The Quality of Air Around - Teacher Guide. Department of Education in Science and Technology, Technion IIT, Haifa, Israel. 100 pages.