coE-News: October 15, 2008, VOL 4 ISSUE 2
October 15, 2008
You’re reading coE-News, an electronic newsletter produced monthly during the academic year by the College of Education News & Communications Office to keep faculty and staff up-to-date on college news and activities. Click here to download a PDF version of this edition. You will need a PDF reader to view this document.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Dean’s Message
While economy’s in the tank, COE’s bullish resolve comes to fore
In the face of plunging state budgets and the Wall Street meltdown, COE faculty, staff and students nonetheless remain in high spirits and bullish on tackling the missions at hand. Need evidence? Then read on . . . (more)
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Top Stories
UF awards prestigious Opportunity grant for Project Read Aloud
College of Education researchers are celebrating the highly competitive “Research Opportunity Fund” (ROF) grant they have received from the university’s research office—but the real winners are the young children who figure to benefit from the newly funded studies in early language and literacy development. (more)
Lastinger Center will help top educators share secrets of teaching success
Imagine assembling 100 of Florida’s top K-12 school teachers all in one place, picking their brains about how they teach and why their methods work so well, and then passing on their secrets of teaching success to educators throughout the state, and beyond. That’s exactly what will happen Oct. 24 in Orlando at a statewide professional development and awards program for up to 100 exceptional teachers from Florida public schools—and the UF Lastinger Center for Learning will be right in the thick of it all. The event is sponsored by the Tallahassee-based Foundation for Excellence in Education. (more)
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News & Notices
3-MINUTE INTERVIEW: Q&A with Professor Dale Campbell on Florida’s emerging state college system
St. Petersburg College in 2001 became Florida’s first community college to grant bachelor’s degrees and now offers some 20 four-year degrees. Gov. Charlie Crist in June signed a new law allowing other community colleges to grant a limited number of baccalaureate degrees and creating a new state college system to oversee them. In this quick breeze-of-a-read, Dale Campbell, professor of higher education administration, talks about some of the key implications of this emerging transition—for Florida citizens but also for faculty and students at the College of Education. (more)
‘Fostering Our Global Community’3rd annual celebration of Comparative & International Education Week
Come celebrate Comparative and International Education Week with your colleagues and fellow students. The event will bring together the internationally and culturally diverse people of the College of Education. Together, we’ll explore the ways in which educators and educational institutions are “Fostering Our Global Community”—providing context and meaning within an international and comparative framework.
What: Speakers, Student Panels, Music, Refreshments
When: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 12:30-5 p.m.
Where: Terrace Room, Norman Hall
Contacts: John P. Bailey or James Osterhout, 392-9191, x274
Website: education.ufl.edu/hdose/2008/11/19/63/
Summer institute examines gender role in math-science learning
Some local teachers and school counselors—and their students—are now benefitting from a UF-led effort over the summer to steer more African-American girls toward an interest and learning success in science and mathematics. A COE research team—led by Rose Pringle and Thomasenia Adams in mathematics education and Cirecie West-Olatunji in counselor education—hosted a two-day summer institute at Metcalfe Elementary School for area parents, teachers, counselors and members of a community advisory board. The summer workshop culminated the first year of a three-year, $439,000 study, funded by the National Science Foundation, on the role gender may play in children’s attitudes and achievement in math and science. The researchers led participants in group activities exploring how African-American girls from impoverished communities are steered either toward or away from mathematics and science learning, and examined the impact that teachers, counselors and parents may have on the girls’ interest in the technical subjects. Participants also created a “time capsule” of ideas they planned to institute during the current school year to heighten the interest of all students in math and science. Other COE co-researchers participating were Diane Archer-Banks, Joanne LaFramenta, Dadria Lewis, Dimple Malik Flesner, Katie Milton and Lauren Shure.
New faculty profiles posted on the COE homepage
Visit the COE home page now and you’ll find 3 new faculty researcher profiles flashing on screen:
- Getting past the gatekeepers in science and math—featuring Cerecie West-Olatunji, Rose Pringle and Thomasenia Adams
- Hands-on science—Troy Sadler
- Rethinking education for English language learners—Candace Harper, Ester de Jong, Maria Coady
The profiles are a joint project of the COE Office of Educational Research, News & Communications and Information and Instructional Technology.
Author to discuss “The Trouble with Boys”
It’s one of the hottest topics in education today. Are boys, as a group, really falling behind in school? Are educators unintentionally doing something to cause the lag—or is the problem in the culture outside the classroom? Newsweek writer Peg Tyre shook up popular thinking on the subject with her cover story, “The Boy Crisis.” Now she has penned a book, The Trouble with Boys, which further explores the topic. Tyre will visit UF Oct. 28 to discuss her book, in a free symposium from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Norman Terrace Room. Limited seating still available, so please RSVP to Rosie Warner at rwarner@coe.ufl.edu by Oct. 17. For more information, click here.
Leave your legacy with a commemorative brick
There’s a new way you can ensure your place in the history—and the future—of the College of Education. Now you can celebrate cherished UF memories, honor a colleague or favorite professor, or commemorate a birthday, retirement or graduation with a personalized brick paver at the COE’s Norman Hall Plaza (by the west archway entrance facing SW 13th Street). Space is limited, so act now! Check out the details for the new brick campaign on the COE Development Office’s Web site by clicking here.
New UF initiatives strive to help budgets and environment
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce our budgets and embrace sustainability, the University of Florida has launched a new program, “Think Before You Ink.” The program affects printed materials from all areas of UF, and has three separate initiatives: Save the Paper, Print to Web, and Printer Certification. (more)
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Grant Awards
TOPIC: Biotechnology career education
TITLE: OUTBREAK: Opportunities to Use immersive Technologies to explore Biotechnology Resources, career Education And Knowledge.
AMOUNT: $1.49 million (2008-2011)
FUNDED BY: National Science Foundation
INVESTIGATORS:
- Troy Sadler (PI) and Rick Ferdig, UF College of Education
- Len Annetta, North Carolina State University
- Mary Jo Koroly, UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training
- Richard Snyder, UF Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology
SUMMARY:
Florida and North Carolina stand out as states with a high demand for skilled workers and scientists in biotechnology. The need will continue to rise as the nation becomes more dependent on biotech applications and products.In this three-year project, the researchers will develop a computer-based gaming environment for high school students to explore biotechnology content and processes. Computer-based games have become immensely popular among adolescents and young adults, and educational researchers have begun to document how the gaming medium can be used as a context for meaningful learning. Partnering researchers at UF and North Carolina State will create the game and supporting curriculum and gauge their effectiveness in generating interest and preparing high school learners for careers in the biotechnology workforce.
TOPIC: Leadership in math education
TITLE: Project COMPUTE: Creating Opportunities for Mathematics Progress Utilizing Teacher Education
AMOUNT: $ 788,291 (2008-2012)
FUNDED BY: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
INVESTIGATORS:
Cynthia C. Griffin (PI), UF Special Education- Joseph Gagnon (co-PI), UF Special Education
- Stephen Pape (co-PI), UF Teaching and Learning
SUMMARY:
Federal funding provided for Project COMPUTE will support the leadership preparation of five full-time doctoral students in special education at UF. Students will participate in mathematics teacher education and research activities designed to improve the underachievement in math of students with disabilities. Each doctoral student will receive tuition remission, travel funds, and a generous stipend each year for four consecutive years, starting in 2009. Along with regular doctoral coursework, six new doctoral seminars have been created specifically for Project COMPUTE students. For further information, contact Cynthia Griffin atccgriffin@coe.ufl.edu; 352-392-0701, ext. 253.
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Student Laurels
EAP doctoral student named first graduate fellow by NCCHC
Desiree D. Zerquera, a doctoral student in educational administration and policy, has been chosen as the first graduate research fellow for the National Community College Hispanic Council. Under the fellowship, she will receive a stipend and conduct about five hours of research per week. She also will attend council-sponsored symposiums to present her research findings. The symposiums also will expose Zerquera to networking opportunities with community college presidents and administrators from across the country who share a common focus on Hispanic student success at community colleges.
Women’s studies center awards scholarship to counselor ed doctoral candidate
UF’s Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research has selected Rebecca Goldberg, a doctoral candidate in counselor education, to receive the 2008 Irene Thompson Scholarship, which honors outstanding UF students pursuing studies on women and gender issues. The scholarship, named for a founding member and the first director of the women’s studies program, is worth $500. Goldberg was selected on the strength of her doctoral dissertation study, in which she examined relationally aggressive behaviors—often referred to as the “queen bee” or “mean girl” complex—among female college students.
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Publications
Archer-Banks, D.** & Behar-Horenstein, L.S. (2008). African American parental involvement in their children’s middle school experiences. Journal of Negro Education 77(2), 143-156.
Behar-Horenstein, L. S., Mitchell, G. S., & Graff, R.* Faculty Perceptions of a Professional Development Seminar. (2008). Journal of Dental Education 72(4), 472-483.
Clark, M.A., Lee, S., Goodman, W. & Yacco, S.* (2008). Examining Male Underachievement in Public Education: Action Research at a District Level. NASSP Bulletin, 92 (2), 111-132.
Clark, M.A. (2008). Embracing Diversity: Teaching and Modelling Appreciation for Other Cultures. In B. Swaffield and I. Guske, Education Landscapes in the 21st Century: Cross-cultural Challenges and Multi-disciplinary Perspectives. pp. 56-64. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Conwill, W.L., & Jooma, K. (2008). Thwarting ethnoviolence against Muslim women: Performing identity in social action. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 1(2), 30-47.
Dix, A.* Behar-Horenstein, L. S., LeFave, M.** (2008). Curriculum professors’ contributions to evidence-based research. Education and Society 26(1), 83-98.
Leite, W. L., Huang, I., & Marcoulides, G. A. (2008). Item selection for the development of short-forms of scales using an Ant Colony Optimization algorithm. Multivariate Behavioral Research.43(3), 411-431.
Mendez, J.P. & Mendoza, P. (2008). The implications of financial aid packages on African American student retention. National Association of Student Affairs Professionals Journal, 11(1).
Mendoza , P.(2008). Academic Capitalism and Doctoral Socialization. Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag Dr. Müeller Publishers.
Taliaferro, L.A., Rienzo, B.A., Miller, M.D., Pigg, R.M., & Dodd, V. J. (2008). High school youth and suicide risk: Exploring protection afforded through physical activity and sport participation. Journal of School Health, 78(10), 545-553.
Thomas, S. P., Thompson, C., Pollio, H. R., Greenberg, K., Conwill, W., Sall, A., Klukken, G., Davis, M. W., & Dias-Bowie, Y. (2007). Experiences of struggling African American students at a predominantly white university. Research in the Schools, 14(2), 1-17.
West-Olatunji, C. (2008). Culture-centered case conceptualization: The case of “Joseph.” In C. C. Lee, D. A. Burnhill, A. L. Butler, C. P. Hipolito-Delgado, M. Humphrey,
O. Munoz, & H. Shin (Eds.), Elements of culture in counseling (pp. 163-176). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
West-Olatunji, C.A., Behar-Horenstein, L. S., Rant, J.* & Phillips, L. (2008). Enhancing cultural competence among teachers of African American children using mediated lesson study. Journal of Negro Education 77(1), 27-38.
Wood, R. Craig, & Dayton, John, “School Funding Litigation,” The Principal’s Legal Handbook, Dayton Ohio: Education Law Association, Chapter 34, pages 551-578, 2008.
* denotes graduate student
** denotes former graduate student
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Presentations
Jones is featured speaker Oct. 22 at History of Science Colloquium
Linda Cronin Jones, associate professor of science and environmental education, is one of six UF faculty scholars featured in a speaker series marking the universitywide History of Science 2008 Fall Colloquium. Jones will give an hour-long presentation Oct. 22 at 3 p.m., titled, “Don’t Know Much About History: Is a Historical Perspective Really Necessary in High School Science Classes?” The periodic series, sponsored by the History of Science Society, runs Sept. 10 through Dec. 3. All talks are held in Pugh Hall Room 210. For more information, contact: info@hssonline.org.
Mendoza, P., & Kuntz, A., Berger, J.B. (2008). The effects of market forces on faculty work in science and engineering. The 2008 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York City.
Mendoza, P., & Mendez, J.P. (2008). Financial accessibility in community colleges: Assessing the impact of Oklahoma’s Promise program vs. the Federal Pell grant and Stafford Loans. The 2008 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York City.
Mendoza, P. (2008). How doctoral socialization shapes the academic culture. Symposium: Expanding models of doctoral student socialization. The 2008 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, New York City.
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P. K. Yonge News
Blue Wave birthday on the ball field
Members of the UF lab school’s first 11-man football team and first cheerleading squad will be honored Friday night, Oct. 17, at the Blue Waves’ 2008 Homecoming football game at 7:30. Former Blue Wave player and ex-Gator football coach Doug Dickey is expected to be on hand. The reunion is part of P.K. Yonge School’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration, which (literally) kicked off this week.
NAS semi-finalist is PKY’s first since 1996
Blue Wave senior Jonathan Fethiere has been named a semi-finalist in the National Achievement Scholarship program. The NAS program, geared to African-American students, is similar to the National Merit Scholarship honor and is also based on outstanding PSAT scores. Some 150,000 black students took the PSAT in 2007 and only 1,600 nationwide achieved semi-finalist status. Jonathan is one of only semi-finalists from Alachua County. He is PKY’s first semi-finalist since 1996.
P.K. points of pride
Looking for a school with straight A’s, as in a well-rounded program of academics, athletics and the arts? Then ponder the balance of these PKY points of pride:
- The Department of Education’s 2007 report card on Florida’s public schools has P.K. Yonge earning an A grade for the seventh straight year. Grades are based on how well students do on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT.
- For five years running (literally), Blue Wave sports teams constitute Florida’s most successful athletic program among class 3A schools, based on the Florida High School Athletic Association’s points system.
- The Florida Music Association has recognized P.K. Yonge School for its high percentage of students taking music classes.
- Blue Wave students also have big hearts, as evidenced by the school receiving the Golden School Award for student volunteer hours for six straight years.
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In the News
Newsweek blog – How to Close the Education Gender Gap—Mary Ann Clark
An opinion column—“How to Close the Education Gender Gap”—written for the Gainesville Sun in June by B.O. Smith Research Professor Mary Ann Clark (counselor education), was later posted on the blog of Newsweek journalist Peg Tyre, author of the new book, “The Trouble With Boys”. You can catch Clark and Tyre together at a free symposium Oct. 28 at Norman Hall. See story elsewhere in this e-newsletter.
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CALENDAR
Thurs., Oct 23
Faculty Research & Engaged Scholarship Showcase
4:30-7pm, Paramount Plaza
education.ufl.edu/ResearchShowcase Contact: jmount@coe.ufl.edu
Fri., Oct 24
Unveiling the COE DONOR WALL
10:30-11am, Norman Hall,
Dean’s Office Area Hallway
Contact: jmount@coe.ufl.edu
Open to all COE Alumni & Donors
Fri., Oct 24
COE Alumni Gathering to watch the Homecoming Parade
11:30 a.m., Mellow Mushroom Restaurant
Contact: jmount@coe.ufl.edu
Tues., Oct 28
Peg Tyre Symposium at Norman Hall
The Trouble With Boys: How Our Families, Our Schools and Our Culture is Making It Hard for Boys to Succeed.
4:30-6pm, Norman Hall Terrace Room
Limited to the first 60 people to RSVP to rwarner@coe.ufl.edu or (352) 392-0728 ext: 234.
Fri., Nov 21
Grand Guard, class of 1957
11:30am, Terrace Room
Open to All COE & PKY Faculty & Staff
Fri., Dec 5
COE Holiday Reception
3-4pm, Terrace Room
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QUICK LINKS
University of Florida
College of Education
P.K. Yonge Developmental
Research School
Faculty Practice Council
COE News & Publications
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coE-News is produced by:
coE-News is produced by:
College of Education
University of Florida
Dean Catherine Emihovich cemihovich@coe.ufl.edu
News & Communications
Director and Editor:
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llansford@coe.ufl.edu
Information & Instructional Technology
Webmaster:
Prentiss Lee Ladkani
pladkani@coe.ufl.edu
Correspondent:
Marta Pollitt, P.K. Yonge
mpollitt@pky.ufl.edu
