Jud Copeland, associate professor in the Department of Leadership Studies, had a research article titled “Copyright What Should You Know?” published in spring 2011 edition of Arkansas Association of Instructional Media (AAIM) Journal. The article is a focused guideline on copyright and intellectual property issues for teachers and students. It is based on recent presentations for the UCA Professional Development Series and AETN seminars.
2011 Collegiate Middle Level Association Conference Held on the UCA Campus
The 2011 Collegiate Middle Level Association (CMLA) annual conference was held March 2 on the University of Central Arkansas campus. The association is a university student organization comprised of middle level teacher candidates. The annual conference was sponsored by the UCA College of Education CMLA.
Participants included statewide middle level teacher candidates, middle level classroom teachers, middle level school administrators, and middle level university instructors. A record 100 educators attended this year’s conference, according to Dr. Terri Hebert, faculty advisor of UCA’s CMLA organization. The one-day conference theme featured “The Active and Engaged Learner” with two dynamic keynote speakers and an assortment of breakout presentations. The day began with Dr. Greg Murry, Conway School Superintendent, delivering his thought-provoking talk titled, “What Makes Teachers Inspire Us?” His timely words set the stage for a day of networking and quality professional development. Two breakout sessions, with three choices for each session, offered valuable information provided by UCA College of Education faculty including Mrs. Mara Cawein, Mrs. Marilyn Friga, Dr. Nancy P. Gallavan, and Dr. Donna Wake, along with University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, College of Education faculty, Dr. Donna Scoggins and Dr. Lois Yocum.
The day closed with keynote speaker, Dr. Debbie Silver, an internationally known presenter, providing a humorous insight supporting middle level education. During the luncheon, Dr. Silver shared numerous tips for teachers to remain an effective force in today’s classrooms while maintaining a reassuring well-balanced sense of self.
For more information about UCA’s Collegiate Middle Level Association, contact Dr. Terri Hebert at terrih@uca.edu.
Dr. Donna Wake Advancing Digital Storytelling with Southern Rural Students
Dr. Donna Wake, assistant professor in the College of Education, recently completed extensive research involving digital storytelling with adolescents. The study explores the use of digital storytelling with middle school students in two rural southern communities.
Operating in shared writing groups, students created digital stories representing their views on teen life in small, rural towns. The stories were designed using a writing process approach with the digital story shown in the publication stage of process. Students’ stories were coded to identify themes about teenagers in general; their views on technology usage; and their opinions on their peers, schools, and communities.
Stories were analyzed both for theme shared by the communities and themes unique to each community. Identified themes included development of role identity, friends, technology, school pride and sports, and rural forms of recreation. Digital writing is posited as an engaging and powerful means for allowing adolescents to explore identity and define their voice as authors and adolescents.
Dr. Donna Wake has presented this study at one local conference, one regional conference, and one international conference. The study has also been submitted to the Journal of Research in Rural Education for publication consideration. Her current research involves the impact of early practicum experiences as well as the research into reasons why teachers enter the field.
College of Education, Pi Beta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi Inducts 46 New Members
The UCA College of Education, Pi Beta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the education honor society, inducted 46 new members at its March meeting held on the 100th anniversary of the founding of KDP.
The society inducts only those individuals who have exhibited the ideals of scholarship, integrity in service, and commitment to excellence in teaching and its allied professions. Selection as a member of Kappa Delta Pi is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures steady growth in the profession, according to KDP website.
Founded in 1911 at the University of Illinois, Kappa Delta Pi is the largest honor society in education representing 572 undergraduate and professional chapters and more than 45,000 active members. Some of its most distinguished members over the last century have included Margaret Mead, Albert Einstein, George Washing Carver, and current leaders in education Howard Gardner, Maxine Greene, and Carol Gilligan.
Led by the officers of the Pi Beta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi at UCA, the 46 College of Education teacher candidates pledged to uphold the four cherished ideals including the Ideal of Fidelity to Humanity, the Ideal of Science, the Ideal of Service, and the Ideal of Toil. The officers include Chapter President Kathryn Smith, Chapter Vice-President Meryl Vaughn, Chapter Secretary April Ledbetter, and Chapter Member Lynzie Lamb. The Pi Beta Chapter at UCA is led by Counselor Mara Cawein and Dr. Nancy P. Gallavan, co-counsel, both of whom are faculty in the Department of Teaching and Learning.
Pi Beta Chapter 2011 Spring Semester initiates include: Carrie Altom, Catherine Bausom, Christy Boyd, Shelia Bradford, Ana Brito-Semedo, Brooke Burgin, Rae Casavan, Barbara Cockrell, Ralph Cosio, Madison David, Tristen Dixon, Alissa Duggan, Margaret Elenbarger, Sarah Emfinger, Elizabeth Gifford, Whitteni Hale, Jessica Hartman, Pamela Hopkins, Savannah Hurley, Jerry Johnson, Anna Krueger, Haley Laffoon, Rebekah Lovell, April Martin, Shelly Medlock, Lauren Messer, Jessica Miller, Carrie Monroe, Rebel Moore, Danielle Newton, Jessica Pitts, Sandra Rice, Ashley Richardson, Starla Ritter, Maggie Sanders, Katherine Sokolik, Karley Stoll, Elizabeth Summerville, Elizabeth Todd, Cheryl Turpin, Elizabeth Vaughn, Heather Ward, Katelynn Whisnant, Kayde Williams, Cheryl Winningham, and AshleyWooten.
Donna Whiting, Conway School District, received the Award of Excellence. Tanya Leggett, Greenbrier School District was honored with the Parent Community Award. Julie Hayes, Conway School District, was presented an Educator Award. Penny Laymon, Atkins School District, was awarded the Curriculum Award in the Elementary Division with an ADM less than 1000 students. In the Act 56 Awards for Outstanding Programs, Atkins School District was recognized for merit in districts of less than 1000 students.
Vickie Bailey, Conway School District, and Julianna Yeatman, East End School District, were AGATE MAP recipients. Julianna Yeatman also received a $700 scholarship from AGATE. Heather Story of South Side Elementary, Bee Branch, also received a scholarship.
Kathy Whittington and Betsy Hays of the Atkins School District won a 2010 Curriculum Award for “Landmark Links: From Research to Restoration.” Kolby Snellenberger, Russellville School District, won a 2010 Curriculum Award for “Team Based Learning.” Presenters at the conference included Charlotte Norberg, South Conway County School District; Starla Gresham, Anna Parks, Melissa Lovelady, Kelli Gordon, Julie Haynes, Conway School District; Jeana Williams and Sherry Williams, Greenbrier School District. In the Act 56 Awards for Outstanding Programs, Atkins School District was recognized for merit in districts of less than 1000 students.
Robin Clark of Greenbrier is the president of AGATE and presided over the conference. Patti Thompson of Conway School District was the AGATE Awards chair. Six of the twelve AGATE Affiliate groups for parents and supporters of gifted and talented education for 2010-11 school year are from the Arch Ford Education Cooperative Area. Laura Binz, Russellville School District, is the affiliate director. The AGATE Board of directors includes Jane Conley, South Conway County School District, who is the secondary teacher representative, and Polly Bakker is the AGATE Emeritus chair.
UCA’s College of Education periodically offers endorsement courses for Gifted and Talented if there are sufficient enrollees to offset instructor expenses. If you are interested in seeking a GT endorsement, please contact Dr. Kathleen Atkins, Chair of the Early Childhood/Special Education Department at (501)450-4551 or ecse@uca.edu.