2008 Mentored Research Conference

The 2008 Mentored Research Conference

Three's a charm is definitely a cliche. However, the term applies to the 3rd annual Mentored Research Conference, presented by the McKay School of Education during April. While the two previous conferences were also pronounced successes-this year's Mentored Research Conference had an aura all its own. Maybe it was the aisles crowded with engaged viewers, or the quality of posters, or the audible evidence that students were prepared. Whatever the reason, participants and guests alike went home smiling. Below are a few examples of the quality research showcased by the conference.

Caitlin Hauser, an elementary education major, was glad to share information about her work with Betty Powers and Stefinee Pinnegar on the TELL (Teaching English Language Learners) Program. TELL provides training to teachers of any grade level about effective instruction of students whose first language is not English. It is delivered through a system referred to as a "professor-plus," meaning videos are used to teach in remote and/or convenient venues, with a facilitator on hand to direct the instruction. Powers says a more apt description is "turnkey." She says, "We train people to go back to their classes and perform better." The course results in the teacher receiving an endorsement and children receiving better education. Caitlin Hauser adds that the program teaches not only pedagogy skills, but empathy for ELL students. "TELL teaches the importance of being involved in the student's life."

Courtney Cook, also an elementary education major, took Children's Literature last semester and it changed the ways she plans to teach. Now Cook is working with Michael Tunnell and James Jacobs on their continuing efforts on the resource titled, Children's Literature Briefly, a database of children's books that can be queried by subject, genre, age, awards, and/or description. "There are 19,000 books on the database," said Cook. She excitedly explained how she used it during her recent assignment as a student teacher. "Being in the school, I see the practical application."

Can kindergarten students be supported in raising their level of math skills? According to research by elementary education major Nikki Bean and teacher education professor Damon Bahr, the answer is yes. Their research included taking video footage of kindergarten classes every week as teachers raised expectations and instructional questions and assignments. The footage was then analyzed and coded. "Students are responding to higher expectations," Bean concluded.

The Utah State Office of Education came to BYU asking professors to help determine why Utah teachers leave their classrooms. Noemi Olsen, a school psychology major, worked with Mary Anne Prater to research and then report on the reasons for leaving. The research delineated from several categories of educators i.e., those in special education, school psychology, early childhood education, secondary education, etc. The reasons for teachers leaving all levels of education were consistently identified as: moving, retiring, or other. Other included death of a loved one, military duty, paid intern leave, pursuit of a higher degree and even leaving the field of education. The group's findings span Utah's previous five years of retention data. Olsen explained the uses of the research. "It helps the districts decide how they might combat attrition," she said. "Each district receives their own data as well as a state-wide report."

Tracking BYU student educator growth is extremely important for administration and faculty to help determine if education graduates are prepared to enter a classroom. Coral Hansen, a graduate of IP&T is working with colleague Gary Kramer and students Susan Pulsipher and Hillary Heap, to "map out a process for analyzing and reporting of core assessments" that education majors must take. The core assessments run parallel to three formal transitions in educator training recognized by the BYU programs. Hansen noted that currently, the data shows that BYU education students show continual growth throughout the program. However, application of the data includes information that can diagnose where faculty might better prepare teacher candidates.

McKay School research teams are also helping science teachers be more effective in the classroom. Tonya Tripp, a graduate student in IP&T, is working with Pam Cantrell, Leigh Smith, and Charles Graham, to research teaching inquiry. A cohort of 25 teachers visited Zion's National Park last summer to learn inquiry. Since that time, their disposition to use inquiry in their classrooms have been tracked and analyzed through video footage. Tripp has both operated the filming equipment and analyzed the teacher data. "The purpose is to help public school teachers find new ways of teaching science," explains Tripp. Results show there is more inquiry in the classrooms of teachers who attended the training at Zion than in classrooms of those who did not. The program will be repeated and expanded this summer, with a cohort returning to Zion and another visiting the Great Basin.

Communication disorders students Valarie Haslam, Laurel Keller, and Kristen Gilbert are working with Dr Richard Harris and Dr. Shawn Nissen to make hearing tests more effective across the world. The three students explained that identifying and digitally recording speech audiometry materials with commonly used words and accurate intonations, allow people who speak different languages to have their hearing evaluated accurately. Currently speech audiometry materials have been developed for 15 languages, including English, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Russian, Korean, and Japanese. Haslam, Keller, and Gilbert are assisting faculty as they work to develop materials for five additional languages.

16 April 2008