Teaching Tactics
Lauren Puglia applies lessons learned in her classroom.
Educating Innovators
Professor Teresa Coffman shows her education graduate students how to integrate technology into the classroom.
Summer Maker Camp Uses UMW’s Learner Space
A student learns about circuitry by using tools in UMW’s LearnerSpace
Thirteen students ages 8 to 14 participated in a unique summer program using tools contained in the UMW College of Education’s LearnerSpace, a new maker space for education on the Stafford campus. The College sponsored this first-time camp and COE Professor George Meadows worked with program personnel and the students during the week-long camp from August 5 to 9.
Campers worked with a number of the resource materials in the LearnerSpace, including 3D printing, coding video games, simulations and interactive stories, and learning about microelectronics and circuitry through various devices. One student composed a musical arrangement of ‘Lean On Me’ entirely using computer code. Kids also launched rockets constructed from paper, challenged each other in creating squishy circuits made with conductive dough, and even made use of sewing machines, needles, conductive thread, and LED’s to make electronic stuffed animals. One student created an interactive electronic doll version of the Creeper, a character from the popular online game, Minecraft. Another student, continuing with the Minecraft theme, used the alternative input device, the Makey Makey, to build a large Play Dough game controller to move his character around the Minecraft environment.
The week-long camp taught children about 3D printing, electronics and robotics
The camp was organized by NoizIvy.org as one of its kidOYO educational technology programs. NoizIvy is a local non-profit engaged in helping educators deliver advanced programs in schools, as well as producing a host of other student-driven educational programs.
For more information about NoizIvy visit NoizIvy.org/services. To find out more about the College of Education’s LearnerSpace contact George Meadows at gmeadows@umw.edu.
Flipping the Classroom
Passion plus creativity equals great teaching for one UMW grad.
Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 to Serve as Educator-in-Residence, 5/1
Barbara Bishop Mann ’66 will share her insights from more than three decades as an educator and activist during the University of Mary Washington’s third annual College of Education Educator-in-Residence event on Wednesday, May 1. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. at the North Building of UMW’s Stafford campus.
Prior to the lecture, graduating students from the College of Education will present their research projects from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Mann’s lecture will be followed by recognition of the College of Education graduates at 6:30 p.m. and a reception at 7 p.m. The lecture, presentations and reception are free and open to the public.
Mann retired from Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2003, after 35 years as an elementary school teacher. She served on the Virginia Education Association (VEA) Board of Directors for 12 years and as president of the Chesterfield Education Association (CEA). Mann remains active in the VEA Retired Council, the CEA Board of Directors and the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
An active member of the UMW alumni community, Mann has served on the UMW Alumni Association Board and its Executive Committee. She is a member of the College of Education’s first Advisory Board and is a supporter of UMW education students through two endowed scholarship funds.
Mann received a bachelor’s in history from Mary Washington and a master’s in elementary education from Old Dominion University.
For a full schedule of student presentations, visit http://education.umw.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/81/files/2013/04/Grad_Pres_Sched.pdf.
Prior to the lecture, graduating students from the College of Education will present their research projects from 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Mann’s lecture will be followed by recognition of the College of Education graduates at 6:30 p.m. and a reception at 7 p.m. The lecture, presentations and reception are free and open to the public.
Mann retired from Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2003, after 35 years as an elementary school teacher. She served on the Virginia Education Association (VEA) Board of Directors for 12 years and as president of the Chesterfield Education Association (CEA). Mann remains active in the VEA Retired Council, the CEA Board of Directors and the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
An active member of the UMW alumni community, Mann has served on the UMW Alumni Association Board and its Executive Committee. She is a member of the College of Education’s first Advisory Board and is a supporter of UMW education students through two endowed scholarship funds.
Mann received a bachelor’s in history from Mary Washington and a master’s in elementary education from Old Dominion University.
For a full schedule of student presentations, visit http://education.umw.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/81/files/2013/04/Grad_Pres_Sched.pdf.Patricia Reynolds to Present Research
Patricia Reynolds
Patricia E. Reynolds, assistant professor in the College of Education, and Caroline Noxon, a 2012 M.Ed. graduate, will present at the Virginia ESL Supervisors Conference on Saturday, Feb. 2 in Richmond.
The presentation, “‘You Can’t Talk To Me Like That’: Origins and Attitudes of Elementary Classroom Teachers about Bilingual Code Switching,” is based on Noxon’s research for her master’s thesis.
Reynolds has been invited to present her doctoral research, “Learning the Ropes: Children Crossing Cultures,” at the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language meeting in Liverpool, U.K. in April 2013.
Teresa Coffman Publishes Book
Teresa Coffman, associate professor of education, is the author of a recently published book, “Using Inquiry in the Classroom: Developing Creative Thinkers and Information Literate Students.”
The book, published by Rowman & Littlefield in January 2013, provides an overview of inquiry learning and the importance of developing creative thinkers and information literate students in 21st century education. The text explores how learning can be directly applied in a classroom setting using real world application through technology oriented activities. Coffman showcases WebQuests, Web inquiry, telecollaborative, and problem-based activities with examples and skill-building exercises for readers to implement in their classroom. Readers work through strategies for effectively integrating technology into a teaching and learning environment so students gain maximum knowledge and understanding of core concepts. Plus, the content is personalized so that the reader can create activities and lessons for specific curriculum needs.
Coffman, T. (2013). Using inquiry in the classroom: Developing creative thinkers and information literate students. (2nd Ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education. ISBN 978-1-61048-851-8
Homework Helpers
College of Education students tutor area children -- and collect textbooks for a good cause.
Suzanne Houff Publishes Book on Instructional Design
Suzanne G. Houff, professor of education, is the author of the recently published book “Instructional Alignment: Optimizing Objectives, Methods, and Assessment for Developing Unit Pairs.” The book, released by R&L Education in September 2012, “offers a concise and basic approach to instructional design.”