A Message From

Dean Glenn Good

It’s not hyperbole to say this has been a year unlike any other. All of us have been tested, in so many ways, and yet we continue onward with resolve, hope and excitement for what the future holds.

As we reflect on the past year, it is clear that the impact of our institution is not simply measured by our rising rankings, ambitious research agendas or nearly $103 million in research funding. Our true impact is on how we are transforming education and strengthening society:

• Improving data informed decisions for access to early childhood services.
• Informing policy that impacts every state in the nation.
• Increasing equity in K-12 computer science.
• Facilitating the teaching of reading online in through expanded training and advances in technology.

Strength, true power and endurance, is ours through unity of purpose and equity for all —working together to make the world better for everyone.

With best regards,

Glenn Good, Ph.D.

faculty

In the News

Expanding the reach of our faculty’s expertise through national media to make meaningful impacts on our society.

Making strides in

Student Success

We are removing barriers and building bridges to increase opportunities for every learner, in areas of literacy, special education, counseling, social justice and beyond.

Lastinger Virtual Listening tour

Recognizing the coronavirus’ long-term impacts on education, our Lastinger Center for Learning launched a comprehensive analysis of approaches taken by birth through 12th grade education programs in Florida. Philip Poekert, center director, led a Virtual Listening Tour where researchers gathered responses from parents, teachers and administrators, to explore educational needs in an evolving reality, to help inform policy, and to support research efforts around the college.

Virtually P.K. Yonge 

Kara Dawson, professor of educational technology, and Carrie Geiger, principal at P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School (PKY) led the research of the school’s approach to emergency remote teaching— especially in how teachers approached prioritizing connections and interactions in a variety of contexts — with implications that can support other districts in both future ERT scenarios and as we continue to navigate coronavirus response.

Making strides in

Early Learning

We are leading the way to a future where every child is prepared to enter school, giving children the opportunity to succeed through transdisciplinary collaboration.

Tools for Families

Researchers at the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies are working to expand validated inclusivity practices through collaborations between teachers and families. Funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and based on foundational research on Embedded Instruction for Early Learning conducted by Patricia Snyder, UF Distinguished Professor and center director, the team will explore interventions to help children’s learning across the contexts in which they live, learn and play.

Early Childhood Access Index

Addressing the intricacies of a mixed delivery system, Herman Knopf, research scientist at the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies, led the development of a web-based, integrated data-visualization platform providing centralized access to critical indicators about children, families and early childhood services — the Sunshine State Early Childhood Information Portal — funded through Florida’s Office of Early Learning.

Connecting through

Technology

We are integrating emerging technologies with proven learning techniques to expand opportunity and to create learning environments of the future.

Virtual Teaching Resource Hub

Researchers at the UF Literacy Institute, led by UFLI Director Holly Lane, have developed new tools and resources to support the teaching of reading in online environments — the Virtual Teaching Resource Hub. Free for anyone to use, the hub provides resources including lesson templates and activities, tips on managing behavior and maintaining student attention via remote learning methods, and digital downloads and apps to support development of word reading skills

Realtime data informed teaching

The Collaborative Computing Observation Instrument (C-COI), developed by Maya Israel, associate professor of education technology, allows researchers to observe computer science students’ computer screens and listen to their conversations as they engage in computer programming. Using custom computing languages and data visualizations allow researchers to analyze areas such as time on task, students’ collaborative problem solving, behaviors, persistence, and help-seeking/giving behaviors.

Strengthening

Leadership

We prepare leaders to analyze, develop and administer complex policies at all levels and to transform education through collaboration.

Influencing education policy

Our Education Policy Research Center exists to unite interdisciplinary scholars from across the university to provide research needed to inform education policy in meaningful ways. Led by F. Christopher Curran, associate professor of educational leadership and policy, the center has addressed challenging topics including school preparedness for continuity of education, and reopening guidelines related to the coronavirus, and the effects of school resource officers.

National Policy Impact

The Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform
(CEEDAR Center), while continuing to work on education policy in 22 states, introduced the Family Guide to At-Home Learning, to help parents support learning during coronavirus response. Center Director Mary Brownell, who was recently awarded the title of UF Distinguished Professor, credits the center as one of her greatest accomplishments.

Pictured: Maria Leite, Ed.D., Coordinator, Assessment & Diversity Initiatives, Campus Diversity Liaison