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K-State College of Education

Category: August 2014

College earns national award from MCEC

 

Sandy Risberg, left, and Jane Fishback, far right, accept the award on behalf of the college.

The College of Education was presented with a LTG (Ret) H.G. “Pete” Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award™ for higher education by the Military Child Education Coalition, or MCEC, at its 16th National Training Seminar in Washington, D.C., on July 30. Only three universities were recognized.

This award will be presented annually and encourages and applauds the outstanding partnerships formed between military installations and school districts that serve military children. Award winners are selected from schools and military installations around the world by MCEC, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the transition and educational issues affecting the highly mobile military child.

The college was recognized for its collaboration with Fort Riley, Geary County Schools USD 475, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, Riley County USD 378, and Chapman Unified School District 473.

Harvard learning technologies researcher coming to campus

Chris Dede

On Sept. 10, Chris Dede, a world-renowned Harvard researcher and leader in the field of learning technologies, will give three presentations as part of the College of Education’s Distinguished Educational Research Lecture Series. Participants can attend in person or join in via Zoom videoconferencing. Due to interest, registration is required for those planning to come to campus. To sign up, visit registration.

At 9:30 a.m., Dede will present “From Research to Results – Envisioning the Future of Technology in Teaching and Learning” in Leadership Studies Building’s Town Hall.

Presentations in Room 119 Bluemont Hall:

  • At 1 p.m., Dede will present an interactive session, “P-12 Interactive Discussion – Digital Teaching Platforms Using Social Media, BYOD, 1:1, and Other Emerging Trends;”
  • At 2:30 p.m., Dede will present a second interactive session, “Higher Education/Training Interactive Discussion – Online Teaching and Training with Emerging Technologies/MOOCs/Immersive Environments, etc.”

Live videoconference for the lecture and both interactive sessions can be attended on Zoom with a maximum of 100 participants. The Zoom web link will be provided on Sept. 2, along with tutorials for using Zoom on PC or Mac at coe.ksu.edu/research/ed-research-lecture.html. Those wishing to use Zoom and needing additional help may contact the IT Helpdesk about using Zoom at http://www.k-state.edu/its/helpdesk/

For questions, please email Rosemary Talab, professor of curriculum and instruction, at talab@k-state.edu.

University celebrates ‘Day of Ecuador’

The Day of Ecuador was a special event on campus.

On Aug. 6, the university celebrated “Day of Ecuador,” and the College of Education played a key role in the reason for the event.

In 2012, K-State became the lead institution to train 3,000 Ecuadorian English as a second language teachers. The “Day of Ecuador” served as an amazing forum to learn more about Ecuador and why the nation is making heavy human capital and monetary investments in education.

Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, extended her sincere thanks to Nathalie Cely, Ecuadorian ambassador, and María del Pilar Troya, vice minister of Secretaría Nacional de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología, or SENESCYT, for traveling to Manhattan for the celebration and for their presentations.

The event was sponsored by the Embassy of Ecuador, the K-State Office of the Provost, the K-State College of Education, the K-State Office of International Programs, and the K-State Global Campus.

‘Before the Bell’ offers support for new teachers

Recent graduates have new resource.

The College of Education’s most recent graduates have a brand new resource at their fingertips thanks to a new e-Newsletter produced by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Before the Bell: Supporting New Educators” was launched Aug. 10 and offers practical tips to help new professionals successfully navigate their first year in the classroom.

Lori Goodson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, serves as the publication’s editor.

“Our goal is to support our newest graduates by offering practical ideas for making the most of their first year in the front of a classroom,” Goodson said. “I’m looking forward to getting their feedback and making this a valuable tool as they begin their teaching careers.”

If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email Goodson as lagoodson@k-state.edu.

First generation students subject of latest film

Join us for the documentary’s premiere on Nov. 4.

The College of Education will premiere its next documentary this fall, and the subject matter touches more than one-third of the college’s student body.

“A Walk in My Shoes: First Generation College Students” will premiere on Nov. 4, and the film covers five students and three alumni living in communities from Garden City to Kansas City. Rusty Earl, the college’s videographer, traveled to each participant’s hometown to capture their life, their journey to K-State, and their lives after graduation.

To learn more about this project, please follow the College of Education on Twitter. Stay tuned for details about when the film will be available on the college’s YouTube channel.

College produces special edition of KJR

Kansas Journal of Reading

The College of Education produced its first-ever summer edition of the “Kansas Journal of Reading,” which is solely devoted to the common core standards.

Editors Lotta Larson, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, and Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, explained the goal is to support teachers. In their letter from the editors, they write:

“As editors of the ‘Kansas Journal of Reading,’ it is our hope that this unprecedented, common core-themed issue of the journal will provide support, inspiration, and encouragement to Kansas teachers as they advance instruction in the classroom using the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards. By sharing strategies, lesson ideas, and suggestions for both children’s literature and professional books, we can all gain insights to the new standards while promoting KRA’s mission to “promote learning through quality literacy experiences for all.”

Kansas Reading Association members can login to view this special edition. To join the association, please visit kansasread.org.

Ambassadors make history

The 2014-15 ambassadors

The College of Education has its largest group of ambassadors in history – 54 – for the 2014-15 school year.

This record-setting group was selected from a highly competitive field to represent the college at a variety of functions. These ambassadors are taking on higher profile roles than ever before in the areas of recruiting, promoting teaching as a career, communicating a positive image and assisting newly admitted students.

Officers are:

President: Becky Brady, EE – math, Wichita
Vice president: David Zeiger, SE – math, Overland Park
Secretary: Vanessa Burdiek, EE – special education, Centralia
Treasurer: Kelly Kristiansen, SE – math, Lawrence
Historian: Jessica Leichter, EE – special ed/Spanish, Shawnee
Membership chair: Allie Love, EE – ESL, Shawnee
Public Relations: Brandon Eastman, SE – Spanish, Haysville; and Tabitha McPheron, SE – math, Ottawa
Education council representative: Kathleen Hail, SE – math, Olathe

The ambassadors are:

Paxton Akin, EE, Olathe; Bonnie Bailey, EE – math, Washington; Alyssa Bisagno, EE –  social science, Augusta; Kasey Criser, EE – English, Wichita; Sara Curran, EE – ESL – Overland Park; Kortney Edelman, EE – special ed, Sabetha; Shawn Finch, SE – human ecology/life skills, Seattle, Washington; Bailey Fischer, EE – special ed, Wichita; Mitch Fulner, EE – social science, Killingworth, Connecticut; Tori Gilmore, EE – social science, Augusta; Madison Grier, SE – math, Stilwell; Justin Haun, EE – math, Fall River; Nathan Herrman, SE – Spanish, Lawrence; Alyssa Hilderman, EE – ESL, Topeka; Sydney Ho, SE – math, Topeka; Leah Kellerman, EE – special ed, Leawood; Cody Kennedy, SE – math, Phillipsburg; Lauren Laudan, EE – Spanish, Mission Hills; Rachel Londeen, EE – social science, Shawnee; Hannah Martin, SE – English & social studies, McPherson; Nicole Mason, EE-English, Mulvane; Molly Maxwell, EE – English, Iola; Rachelle McGehee, SE – math, Hesston; Emma Miller, EE – special ed, Manhattan; Taylor Murray, EE-ESL, Andover; Kilee Nolen, EE – ESL, Shawnee; Katie Noll, math, Nortonville; Shannon Oakley, SE – math, St. George; Cassidy Pascal, ESL, Wichita; Daniel Patterson, SE – social studies, Merriam; Jessi Pennybacker, SE – Spanish, Geneva, Illinois; Charlee Pierson, EE – special ed, Rolla; Sarah Potter, EE – special ed, Winfield; Chelsey Regester, EE – Spanish, Maize; Becca Renteria, SE – social studies, Olathe; Emily Schadler, EE – ESL, Olathe; Brendan Schmitz, SE – physics/math, Olathe; Kara Schnake, SE – chemistry, Augusta; Elizabeth Stover, EE – English, Prairie Village; Emilie Taylor, EE – ESL, Hays; Kaley Taylor, EE – ESL, Auburn; Elizabeth Vater, SE – English, Overland Park; Sarah Watkins, EE – math, Derby; Katherine Wernes, EE – math, Overland Park; and Kate Whitsitt, EE – ESL, Lenexa.

EE = elementary education SE = secondary education

College raises $2.3 million

Marty Kramer

The College of Education’s alumni and friends set a record this year by giving $2.3 million. In its 49-year history, the college has never broken the $2 million mark.

The vast majority of funds supported scholarships, which Dean Debbie Mercer has identified as the greatest need. Future plans include support for technology upgrades, programs supporting new graduates, and programs positioning K-State as a leader in education issues.

If you would like to meet with Marty Kramer, development director, about giving options designed to help you take care of your family and your alma mater, please contact him at martyk@found.ksu.edu or 785.532.7578.