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.”
The Intersection of Digital Literacy and Social Media (Campus Technology)
Growing a New Generation of Educators
Grades aren’t foremost on the mind of Laurie Abeel. The College of Education associate professor focuses more on the journey for her graduate-level students. “My approach in every single class deals with growth, not grades,” said Abeel, who teaches gifted education courses. “I’m more concerned with ‘do they understand what I’m trying to teach’ and [...]
College of Education Hosts State Social Studies Education Summer Leadership Meeting
The Virginia Consortium of Social Studies Specialists and College Educators (VCSSSCE) held its Summer Leadership Meeting at UMW’s College of Education on Friday, June 8.
The organization comprises stakeholders in Virginia history and social sciences education, including social studies specialists, college educators, museum professionals, social studies education non-profit professionals and representatives from the Virginia Department of Education.
John P. Broome, assistant professor in curriculum & instruction and director of undergraduate secondary and preK-12 education programs in the College of Education, serves as the State Instructional Committee Chair for the organization.
Second Annual EdTech Conference Unites Virginia Educators
Students from J.W. Alvey Elementary School give a presentation to the Dean of the College of Education Mary Gendernalik-Cooper
Former state technology leader of the year John Hendron assured a group of more than 100 teachers, administrators and instructional technologists at the University of Mary Washington that they still hold a significant role in education.
“Despite the ubiquitous availability of technology, students still need us,” said Hendron, webmaster and supervisor of instructional technology for Virginia’s Goochland County Public Schools. “You are here to inspire a legion of students.”
Hendron, who was recognized as state technology leader of the year in 2006 by the Virginia Department of Education, spoke at the second annual EdTech Conference on Saturday, June 2 titled “Leading through Change: Teaching, Learning, and Technology.”
The conference also included breakout seminars, with such topics as “Integrating an iPod Touch into an Elementary Classroom,” “Cooking Up SMARTER Lessons-A Recipe for Success” and “iPads in the Math Classroom.” One session, “Frames and Share, You Can Do It!,” featured presentations from J.W. Alvey Elementary School students who created short movies and presentations.
The conference was founded by Teresa Coffman, associate professor of education, and Tamie Pratt-Fartro, assistant professor of education, to provide a venue of support for a community of learners around important topics such as teaching and learning, pedagogy and student success.
“This EdTech Conference was started to unite teachers and administrators from various K-12 school systems throughout Virginia for a day-long conference on learning and teaching with technology,” said Coffman.
Laurie Abeel Earns Black Belt
Laurie Abeel, associate professor in graduate education, passed her Black Belt test in Tae Kwan Do on Saturday, April 28 at the Karate Sports Academy in Warrenton. She started as a white belt in April 2004 and three knee surgeries (with one more at the end of May) and eight years later has finally earned her black belt!
John Broome Judges Virginia Championships of National History Day Contest
John P. Broome, assistant professor in curriculum and instruction and director of undergraduate secondary education and preK-12 education programs in the College of Education, judged student-made documentaries for the Virginia state championships of National History Day on Saturday, April 21 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Every year, more than half a million U.S. students conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews, and historic sites for the contest. This year’s theme was “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” After analyzing and interpreting primary and secondary sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ historical significance, students submit their work in original papers, Web sites, exhibits, performances, and documentaries.
Student entries are judged at the district, regional and state levels. The top two winners from each category compete at the national championships at the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest on June 10-14, 2012 at the University of Maryland at College Park.
George Meadows and Tim Owens’ Work Featured in Campus Technology
George Meadows, associate professor in the College of Education, and Tim Owens in the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies were featured in Campus Technology for their work with 3D printing in an article titled “Making Stuff: 3D Printing on Campus.” Meadows and Owens are in the process of exploring the technology and documenting the process at UMW Blogs in preparation to integrate the device as a curriculum component to a freshman seminar course in the fall. 3D printing technology allows students to build 3-dimensional models on a computer using free and easy-to-use software and then “print” them by extruding plastic in layers to create an object.
Laurie Abeel
Laurie Abeel, associate professor of Graduate Education and Program Director for Advanced Licensure, is also the State Director for Destination ImagiNation (DI), a creative problem solving program for ages four through college level. She and her state board successfully ran the April 2 state tournament, which included 97 teams from around the state, with about 1,500 people attending.
Abeel will take 41 teams from Virginia to Global Finals to be held in May at the University of Tennesee in Knoxville, where more than 1,000 teams from around the country and world will present creative solutions to DI challenges. For more information about DI, go to www.idodi.org.
Courtney Clayton
Courtney Clayton, assistant professor in the College of Education’s Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, has written a chapter in the book entitled “Teacher Preparation for Bilingual Student Populations”. “This volume focuses on understanding the structural, substantive, and contextual elements of preparation programs, and provides transformative guidelines for creating Educar signature programs. Designed to improve the practice of teacher preparation by promoting dialogic conversations and applications of praxis in the preparation of bilingual/ESL teacher candidates, it emphasizes that exemplary teacher preparation requires transformative teacher educators.”
Clayton, C. & Brisk, M.E. (2011). It’s my responsibility! Teacher of bilingual learners in an English-immersion context. In B. Bustos Flores, R. Hernandez Sheets & E. Riojas Clark (Eds.). Teacher preparation for bilingual student populations: Educar para transformar. (pp. 182-187). New York, NY: Routledge.