TLES
2007 News
Dr. Marcia Fetters, associate professor, is a principal investigator for the $215,287 grant “Alignment of Secondary Science Teacher Practice and Materials in the Battle Creek Region Michigan” through the Department of Education Title II program for Improving Teacher Quality. This program will focus on science teacher professional development for Battle Creek regional schools (four public schools plus two private schools). An interdisciplinary team of WMU faculty will research the promotion of best practices for test writing, homework construction, formative assessments, and supporting students in developing metacognitive skills. The project will also work to re-align Battle Creek regional curriculum with Michigan’s new High School Content Expectations.
James Bosco, emeritus in educational studies and WMU coordinator for the Kalamazoo Promise, was an invited member of a U.S. delegation that visited Scandinavia Nov. 9-17, 2007. The delegation of senior U.S. educators and policymakers is focusing on the role of technology and learning in Scandinavian education systems. The trip's organizer, the Consortium for School Networking, selected Scandinavia because it ranks high on international education comparisons and use of technology in educational institutions. Delegation members are participating in a series of high-level talks with key members of the Finnish, Danish and Swedish ministries of education.
Dr. Paul Vellom, assistant professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies presented a paper titled "Inviting Elementary Teacher Candidates into my Neighborhood of Science" at the 3rd annual Science at the Crossroads
Conference in Amherst, MA Sept. 23-25, 2007. Vellom’s paper addressed elementary teacher candidates' perceptions of science and the challenge of changing those perceptions so that they can see themselves as capable science teachers. Vellom also completed a textbook specifically designed for the elementary science methods class, “Teaching Elementary Science: Designs for Inquiry and Interaction”. The textbook will be released in December by Hayden-McNeil Publishing of Plymouth, MI. Vellom also will serve as external evaluator for an Illinois Science and Math Partnership grant through Illinois State University. The grant activities include designing a new STEM Master's degree program, as well as studying the implementation of integrated coursework in Technology Education, Science Education, and Mathematics Education at Illinois State.
Dr. Tetyana Koshmanova, associate professor, authored a chapter “Post-Soviet Reconstruction in Ukraine: Education for Social Cohesion” for the edited book, "Addressing Ethnic Conflict Through Peace Education”, published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
Dr. Regena Fails-Nelson, professor, was elected president for 2007-09 of the Southwestern Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children. She also recently published an article, "A model for developing a parent resource center on campus" in the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, (2007), 28(3), 243-249.
Dr. DeWayne Anderson and Dr. Marcia Fetters participate in WMU's second annual "Major Excitement" academic fair on Thursday, Sept. 20. The event helped undecided undergraduate students and incoming freshman comprehend the extensive variety of majors available.
Three faculty in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies wrote chapters for the edited book, "A Collection of Research Papers in Pedagogical Sciences” which was subsidized by UNESCO. Dr. Tetyana Koshmanova, associate professor, wrote “Global Impact of American Teacher Education Reforms” and was also on the main editorial 
board. Dr Josephine Barry-Davis, associate professor, wrote “Continuous Education in the Development of Prospective Teachers” and Dr. Allison Downey, assistant professor, wrote "Whole School Reform & the A+ Schools Program.” The book was published by Kremenets Taras Shevehenke Regional 
Humanitarian Pedagogical Institute (2007). In addition, Dr. Barry-Davis’ paper “Global Literacy and Early Childhood Education for Life-Long Learning” and Dr. Koshmanova’s paper “Philosophy of Lifelong Education of Prospective Teachers in Post-Conflict Societies” were published in the book "Lifelong Education: Continuous Education for Sustainable Development: Proceedings of International Cooperation in the Realm of Continuous Education for Sustainable Development" (Alter Ego, Saint Petersburg, 2007). Also, Dr. Koshmanova’s article “Vygotskain Scholars: Visions and Implementation of Cultural-Historical Theory” was published in the Journal of Russian & East European Psychology (Vol. 45, No. 2, March-April 2007, pp. 61-95). Dorothy Robbins, guest editor, gave a glowing review in her introduction, “Koshmanova’s contribution fits perfectly with this issue. Her article defines various positions of Russian scholars we know, but few we have actually read in depth in English. Clearly, Koshmanova makes a vital contribution. The article by Koshmanova is important for many reasons, in particular because it is the voice of a person familiar with the Russian/Ukranian and North American context, and also because of her own work in teacher training, which applies deductive generalizations to an inductive approach. I believe she will become a strong voice that will serve as a bridge between the international community, Russia/Ukraine, and other Newly Independent States.”
Dr. Allison Downey, assistant professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies, presented a paper, "Exploring the Spectrum of Theatre-in-Education (TIE): Perspectives from Several British TIE Companies" at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) Conference in Vancouver, Canada in August. This paper is based on preliminary findings from her FRACASF-funded research of the genre in England in 2005 (40 years after its birth), and supplemented by follow-up interviews this May, 2007. She also served as the Co-Chair for the Theatre-in-Education Network of AATE.
Because of WMU’s Urban Program Education majors, Edison Elementary had a basketball team…and a cheerleading squad! Interns Ryan Cramer and Lance Brinkman, with WMU Urban Program graduate, Tawnya Olen coached the 4th and 5th grade boys’ basketball team this past season. Another Urban Program graduate, Eric Grabow, ran the scoreboards. Principal Chuck Tansey said, “It was the best season ever for the team.” To heighten the school’s spirit, pre-intern Amy Cvitkovic began a cheerleading squad. This was a first at Edison! Urban Program Coordinator at Edison, Pat Stringham, said she was very proud of her students’ initiative and hard work to make this an awesome experience for the Edison students. “Yea, Edison…Yea, Urban Program!”
This past year, membership in the WMU chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor/service education society, has grown astronomically. The spring initiation ceremony welcomed 44 new members. “KDP monthly meetings are well attended by members who hear guest speakers give outstanding presentations,” said Pat Stringham, faculty counselor for the chapter. “The group made fleece blankets for children entering homeless shelters, worked at the Kalamazoo Soup Kitchen, took part in ‘Challenge Day,’ and raised money for the Big Brothers’ and Big Sisters’ Foundation. In addition, the group helped children at the Interfaith Community Center by participating in their tutoring program, donating winter hats and gloves, and sponsoring a ‘Reading is Fun’ day. Children who have never owned a book walked away with at least four!” said Stringham. She concluded, “I am very proud of what our chapter of Kappa Delta Pi accomplished this past school year. It is an amazing group of dedicated students. I am very excited about next year to see what we can accomplish with even more members!”
Congratulations to Dr. Allison Downey who captured the People's Choice award at this year's Wildflower Arts and Music Festival in Richardson, Texas.
The following faculty presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting April 9-13 in Chicago:
- "Improving an Urban School District Through a Graduate Degree Program for Inservice Teachers: A Study of Teacher Change” presented by Dr. James A. Muchmore, associate professor, Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies; Dr. Sue Poppink, assistant professor, Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology; and Dr. Ronald A. Crowell, professor emeritus, Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies.
- Dr. James A. Muchmore also presented "The Lives of Teachers Who Survive and Thrive. "
Dr. Andrea Smith, professor in Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies and Dr. Linda Dannison, chair of Department of Family and Consumer Sciences recently completed a Fulbright Senior Specialist program in northern Norway. They collaborated with Dr. Amy Holtan, faculty of medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Tromsoe. During their two-week stay, they presented a two-day workshop and two classes related to their research on kinship care and visited several pre-schools, elementary schools and orphanages. Further collaboration will include adapting the kinship care materials for use in Norway, that Dannison and Smith have written. Jointly authored articles on kinship care will be forthcoming.
Dr. Allison Downey, authored a chapter in the newly published anthology, Interactive and Improvisational Drama: Varieties of Applied Theatre and Performance. Downey’s chapter, “Theatre-in-Education,” describes a form of interactive theatre (TIE) that uses theatrical techniques and elements to emotionally engage the audience in exploring a particular social or curricular issue. The chapter includes examples of the work produced by Theatre Action Project, the company Downey co-founded in Austin, TX, that toured to schools and juvenile detention facilities.
Dr. Tetyana Koshmanova, recently had the following articles published: "Teacher candidate narratives about extreme social events: Implications for teacher education" published in the Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education Vol. 23, 2007, 215-225 and "Exploratory study of changing ethnic stereotypes of the Ukrainian teacher candidates towards peaceful attitudes" in the Journal of Peace, Vol 4., No. 1, March 2007, pp. 75-93.
Congratulations to Lisa E. Zmudzinski for being selected as a WMU Presidential Scholar. The Presidential Scholar is the highest academic award the WMU can bestow to an undergraduate. Selection is based on the students' general academic excellence, academic and/or artistic excellence in their major, and intellectual and/or artistic promise.
Proposed Improvements to EPD Master's Program
As members of a new department, faculty in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies proposed a revision to the existing master’s program in Education and Professional Development (EPD), an agenda item at the College of Education’s Curriculum Committee meeting on November 15, 2006. As part of the proposed revision, the degree will undergo a name change, and current concentrations in Early Childhood Education, Elementary School Teaching and Learning, and Teaching at the Middle Level will become areas of specialization. The proposed revision incorporates current concentrations while allowing master’s students and their advisors to co-design an area of specialization. Survey and focus group data show overwhelmingly positive response to the proposed program improvements. Master’s students are encouraged to contact
at (269) 387-3893, or their advisors for an update. Advisors include:
, Early Childhood Education
, Elementary School Teaching and
Learning
, Teaching at the Middle Level
Come Back to Where It All Began: Teacher Education at WMU
Since its beginning in 1903, Western Michigan University has been synonymous with quality teacher education. An integral part of our historical mission is the continuing education of Michigan teachers, including our summer graduate programs. During the summer of 2007, the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies is offering a number of courses in a variety of formats to support the educational needs of teachers and teacher leaders in our master’s and continuing teacher certification programs. Inspired by programs in years past, we are excited to bring back summer Teacher Institutes, designed to maximize learning in a compressed 3-week period so teachers can fit “more” (of everything) into their summer lives.
Dr. Andrea Smith, professor in Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies and Dr. Linda Dannison, chair of Department of Family and Consumer Sciences recently completed a Fulbright Senior Specialist program in northern Norway. They collaborated with Dr. Amy Holtan, faculty of medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Tromsoe. During their two-week stay, they presented a two-day workshop and two classes related to their research on kinship care and visited several pre-schools, elementary schools and orphanages. Further collaboration will include adapting the kinship care materials for use in Norway, that Dannison and Smith have written. Jointly authored articles on kinship care will be forthcoming.
Paul Vellom, assistant professor, and Allison Kelaher Young, associate professor, attended the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) conference in San Diego February 18-21. They presented papers discussing their work and research findings on teacher preparation. Also attending were Drs. Katharine Cummings, associate dean for academic services, Sarah Summy, associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Literacy Studies.
Students in ED 4070 Social Studies/Multicultural Education with Dr. Lynn Brice, associate professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies, have a unique opportunity this year. The WMU students are corresponding with a class of 4th/5th grade students and their teacher, Mrs. Leigh Ann Leigh, from San Diego Riverside School, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. The students exchange letters describing themselves, their families, school activities, and communities. A central focus of ED 4070 is social studies curriculum with an emphasis on critical pedagogy. Particular attention is given to the representations of diverse peoples in the content, as well as designing responsible social studies curriculum for diverse learners. The exchange provides WMU students an opportunity to interact with a group of children who are culturally different from them.
In addition to exchanging letters, WMU students prepare instruction kits that are sent to the students in New Mexico. The kits are focused on historical thinking and geographic understanding that parallel the concepts and skills the children study. The kits include primary materials, artifacts, and activities designed by the WMU students. To assist in the preparatoin, the WMU students work with Dr. Sharon Carlson, director of the WMU Archives and Regional History, and Ms. Elspeth Inglis, assistant director of programs at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The students at San Diego Riverside complete the instruction kit activities and offer the WMU teachers-in-preparation their feedback about the kits. The instruction kit project provides WMU students and opportunity to experience the entire process of designing, implementing and assessing social studies instruction for children with diverse abilities and interests.
The Jemez Pueblo students are provided opportunities to practice literacy skills and further their study in social studies. The activities exchanged are integrated into the English language arts and social studies the children study. The exchange also provides WMU students an opportunity to interact with Mrs. Leigh around the curricular and pedagogical choices she makes for her students' learning.
Edison Urban Program Interns
President Diether Haenicke made graduation day very special for the Edison Urban Program Interns. The Urban Program offers education students a special opportunity to pre-intern and intern in the same urban school. The schools involved in the Program are Edison Environmental Science Academy, Washington Writer's Academny and Northeastern Elementary. Pat Stringham, University Coordinator for Edison says, "The program is very challenging, but our students learn a great deal and are definitely ready for a classroom of their own."
Left to right: Pat Stringham, University Coordinator at Edison, Samatha Todd, Tawnya Olen, President Diether Haenicke, Melissa Strung, Jessica Johnston, Jessica Van Treese