coE-News: May 19, 2010, Vol. 5, Issue 6
Headlines
College students more likely to report campus threats if ‘connected’ to school—UF study
College students who witness a threat of violence on their campus are more likely to report the incident if they feel connected to their school and trust campus police and administrators, according to a University of Florida study. The dissertation study by Michael Sulkowski (right), a doctoral student in school psychology at UF’s College of Education, queried 820 UF undergraduates. (more)
College educator preparation programs granted full re-accreditation; report cites high quality of faculty, students
The College of Education at the University of Florida has been granted full, continued accreditation of its educator preparation programs by the National Council on American Teacher Education, the nation’s primary accreditor of teacher-education programs. (more)
U.S. education sec’y enlists ed tech professor to advise on NCLB overhaul
Leaders of the bipartisan effort to overhaul the controversial No Child Left Behind law have enlisted the aid of a UF education instructor to help them explore how technology can help advance school reform and improve student learning. Cathy Cavanaugh, associate professor in education technology, was one of several university and K-12 experts in virtual education invited in late April to meet with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Assistant Deputy Secretary Jim Shelton and Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) of the House Education and Labor Committee. (more)
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Visit the college home page for links to these and other reports about College activities, accomplishments and faculty-staff-student-alumni news and achievements.
Awards & Appointments
2010 achievement awards announced for alumni, faculty and students
The year’s top achievement honors for COE faculty, alumni and students were announced earlier this month at the college’s spring undergraduate commencement ceremony. Among the honorees were Linda Behar-Horenstein (pictured, right) as Graduate Teacher of the Year, retired counselor education faculty member W. Max Parker for Lifetime Achievement, and special education alum David Westling (EdD ’76) for Alumnus Achievement. For a complete list and profiles of all the award recipients, click here.
Koro-Ljungberg named to prestigious UFRF Professorship
Mirka Koro-Ljungberg, associate professor in research and evaluation methods and an expert in qualitative research, has been named a University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) Professor for 2010-2013. UF’s research foundation awards the professorships to faculty who have made recent contributions in research and a have a strong research agenda likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields. (more)
Top efforts in ‘engaged scholarship’ recognized
The college has announced the 2010 Scholarship of Engagement Awards honoring some of this year’s most noteworthy efforts in public-minded scholarship by COE faculty and graduate students, UF faculty, and other education professionals and advocates in partnering school districts. Winners in the faculty category are Joseph Gagnon (SESPECS), Tim Jacobbe (STL), David Miller (SHDOSE) and Randy Hollinger (PKY). (more)
Gagnon Jacobbe Miller Hollinger
Business office assistant Mike Carter wins Superior Accomplishment Award
Business office assistant Mike Carter has been a guiding force and stabilizing influence in a sea change that has occurred recently within the college and its historic Norman Hall. His “can-do” attitude and cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor under stress explains why he was chosen recently for a universitywide 2010 Superior Accomplishment Award. (Pictured right, Carter receives his award from UF Associate Provost Bernard Mair.) (more)
P.K. Yonge Update
PKY volunteers are a ‘Work of Heart’
A contingent of PKY teachers, students and parents were among Gainesville’s most selfless volunteers honored at the 38th annual Work of Heart Awards ceremony April 27. Blue Wave art instructors Dianne Skye and Leslie Peebles and students in the middle school art club and the high school portfolio class were honored in the youth group category for their Memory Walk project. PKY parent Carol Doak was recognized in the arts/recreation category for her work in helping to keep arts and performing arts programs alive in school. The Work of Hearts program was started in 1971 by the Volunteer Center of North Central Florida, and Haven Hospice took it over in 2007.
Teacher to explore history of colonial Florida ‘between Columbus and Jamestown’
How will P.K. Yonge middle school social sciences instructor Shannon Hamlett spend her summer? Well, for five days in July, she will immerse herself in Florida’s Spanish Colonial past in a comparative study of America’s Spanish and British colonial experiences. Hamlett has been selected to participate in the Florida Humanities Council’s summer seminar, “Between Columbus and Jamestown,” to be held at Flagler College in St. Augustine, America’s oldest existing city. Preeminent historians, archaeologists and architectural historians will lead participating teachers in an examination of historical archives, artifacts and events that shaped America’s history and heritage. They will be able to adopt the rich learning experience into their history lessons come next school year.
Bluegrass stars ‘pick-n-grin’ with student musicians
The music of “picking, strumming, plucking and singing” filled a PKY classroom April 23, when nationally acclaimed bluegrass musicians Jim Hurst and Scott Anderson dropped in to teach students about the music they love. A WUFT-FM89 radio reporter was on hand to file an audio news report on the musical jam that broke out.
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COE In The News
*Coverage generated by UFCOE News-Comm press release or media coordination
*Spring, 2010–Jamee and Gilbert Miller, COE alumna-donors
UF Today magazine
Jamee (BAE ’01, MEd ’02) and husband Gilbert were featured in the “Pay It Forward” column of UF’s alumni magazine, after creating a $30,000 fellowship in education technology. Jamee was the college’s 2009 Young Alumni Award recipient.
*April 15, 2010 – Harry Daniels, counselor education
WDBD-FM Radio, Orlando
To predict student success, there’s no place like home. UF counselor education researchers, led by Harry Daniels, have documented a profound correlation between home location, family lifestyles and students’ achievement on state standardized tests. The nationwide media splash created in March by their report carried over into April. Their study reportedly was a hot-button topic in Tallahassee during the debate over Senate Bill 6–the teacher-compensation proposal that Gov. Crist subsequently vetoed.
*April 19 & 20, 2010 — Cathy Cavanaugh, education technology
Virtual School Meanderings (Web blog)
Cavanaugh’s appointment as a Fulbright Scholar was reported, as was a recent COE news release about UF’s virtual school internship program. (VSM is a Web blog about K-12 online learning, written by a Wayne State University I.T. professor.)
April 21, 2010 — Catherine Emihovich, dean
Tampa Bay Newspapers (weekly: Beacon, Leader, and Bee)
Emihovich was quoted in a story about the college’s recent awarding of a 2010 Scholarship of Engagement Award to Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Linda Janssen. The dean called Janssen “instrumental in forming a multi-partnership with the UF Lastinger Center.”
April 23, 2010 — Cathy Cavanaugh, education technology
Education Week
E-Curriculum Builders Seek a Personalized Approach. Cavanaugh was quoted in Ed Week’s online special report, “E-Learning 2010: Assessing the Agenda for Change.” She said she doesn’t consider an online offering that is solely computer-based, with no teacher support, a true course. “For K-12 students…the instructor is a key element.”
*May 16, 2010 — Sevan Terzian, social foundations of education
Daytona Beach News Journal
In an article on the various forms of high school education teens can choose from today–charter schools, home-schooling, dual enrollment, etc.–Terzian pointed out that the original civics-instruction mission of high schools is not as prominent anymore due to heightened promotion of academic achievement.
