Kay Middleton

Dr. Kay Middleton to Provide Key Speech at Annual Conference of Mathematics Educators

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Dr. Middleton will be a featured speaker at the Annual Conference of the Kentucky Center for Mathematics.  Dr. Middleton’s research focuses on factors that influence instructional practice and students’ opportunity to learn, including teachers’ use of formative assessment, literacy practices in mathematics and science, and students’ development of written computation.  For the complete announcement and a list of all featured speakers, see http://www.kentuckymathematics.org/KCMConference2016/featured_speakers.html

 

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ECU Graduate Program in Mathematics Education Launches 2015-2017 High School Cohort

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With a vision of achieving 21st Century skills and productive, meaningful mathematics learning for all students of eastern North Carolina, ECU Mathematics Education launched its first ever graduate school cohort of high school mathematics teachers. The ECU Mathematics Education vision is that great mathematics learning can be accomplished when ECU faculty, teacher candidates, and eastern North Carolina teachers of mathematics work together in rich mathematics teaching communities. This fall, teachers and ECU faculty Dr. Maureen Grady and Dr. Charity Cayton are engaged in the study of the research literature, policies, and best practices for high school mathematics instruction. During the past summer the teachers completed two graduate courses in mathematics with Dr. Chris Jantzen and Dr. Zach Robinson. To commit to the study of mathematics and mathematics education while engaged in the current challenges of teaching high school mathematics is demanding. ECU Mathematics Education is very proud of the 30 teachers who are building their careers and expanding their options with ECU’s MAED in Mathematics Education.

Rob Moore

IT Alumnus Rob Moore Named the 2015 McJulien Graduate Student Scholar

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The Board of the Culture, Learning, and Technology Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology has named Rob Moore the 2015 recipient of the prestigious McJulien Graduate Student Scholar Award.

The award recognizes Rob Moore’s contributions to the intersection of culture, learning
and technology.  Last year, Rob worked in collaboration with Dr. Bill Sugar on a design-based research project, which they presented at the 2014 AECT conference and their paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Instructional Design.  Rob has also written a book chapter, which will be published in Handbook of Research on Strategic Management of Interaction, Presence, and Participation in Online Courses (going to print in December 2015).

Congratulations, Rob!

Dr. Preston

Ron Preston serves as President of the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Dr. Ron Preston, ECU Mathematics Education, began his tenure as President of the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) in April 2015.  He will convene the 45th Annual NCCTM State Conference on November 5, 2015 as well as the NCCTM Leadership Seminar on November 4.  Both events are held at the Koury Conference Center in Greensboro.

NCCTM was founded approximately 50 years ago to unite all teachers, supervisors, curriculum developers, and teacher educators of mathematics in a shared goal of exceptional mathematics teaching for optimal mathematical learning for all NC students.  In addition to conferences and seminars, NCCTM provides Mathematics Fairs for K-12 students, supports mathematics competitions for high school students, awards mini-grants to classroom teachers of mathematics, provides scholarships to support graduate studies for teachers, presents awards for outstanding performance and innovation in mathematics education, and publishes a journal.

Ron Preston is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Mathematics and the College of Education.  He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics education at ECU and serves as Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Education’s Director of Students.  He is the 2014-2015 ECU Faculty Advisor of the Year.  He is active in funded projects and research in mathematics education.  He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Indiana University.

MatheMagic Recap

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On September 10, 2015, Gamma Chapter had an exciting meeting on Mathemagic. We had Mathematics Education faculty from elementary to high school concentrations demonstrate their best Mathemagic tricks. The students who attended were able to participate in the mathemagic and vote on which one was the best. These tricks amazed a lot of students and nobody could figure out the math behind the magic! The students voted Dr. Maureen Grady as the Grand Mathemagician with her trick that showed students how to turn two linked paper rings into a square with just two cuts!

Also, a few lucky students received some ECU goodies from a random draw. The next Gamma Chapter meeting is on October 8, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. You do not want to miss the next one – we will have recent graduates sharing their reflections from the internship experience, completing the edTPA, and transitioning to being the classroom teacher!

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Dail Berry Receives Teacher of the Week Award from WITN

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The MSITE department congratulates Ms. Dail Berry on this award and wishes to recognize her accomplishments. Last May, Ms. Berry graduated from East Carolina University, receiving the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Science. In the summer of 2014, she was an innovative camp counselor for the East Carolina Summer Science Camp. In her role as camp counselor, she created and implemented the popular camp session, Under the Sea. Ms. Berry also has experience working as a counselor for the 4H program in her hometown. After graduation, Ms. Berry decided to return home to Hyde County to start her teaching career. She is now teaching 7th and 8th grade science at Mattamuskeet Early College High School. When asked about her interest in science, Ms. Dail stated, “I fell in love with science while taking courses at ECU and now I want science to be my focus.”

Ms. Dail has already distinguished herself as a leader in her school by assisting with the Jr. Beta club, a Co-advisor of the Envirothon team, and the Assistant Varsity Coach for the high school volleyball team. For the next three years, she will also be a part of a new research grant entitled PIRATES, Preparing and Inspiring Readiness for Achieving Teaching Excellence in Science. Dr. Tammy Lee, Assistant Professor in Science Education at ECU, noted: “The goal of this grant is to support beginning teachers that specialized in elementary science within their undergraduate education program at ECU.” The person nominating Ms. Berry for this award said, “She is an amazing teacher and the sweetest person. It’s her first year teaching and I’d love for her to get recognition for all her hard work and determination.”

Here is the link to the WITN interview with Ms. Berry. http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/WITNs-Teacher-of-the-Week-Dail-Berry-of-Hyde-County-327835781.html

Way to go Dail!

Discussing the Future of Instructional Technology

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Dr. Abbie Brown, Professor of Instructional Technology at ECU, and Tim Green, the Ed Tech Doctor, discuss innovative technologies for learning in a conversation with Connie Malamed, the eLearning Coach.  They begin by considering augmented reality, virtual reality, Google Glass, and Microsoft HoloLens.  Then they continue with insights into wearable technologies, mobile devices, and applications of 3D printing for creativity and learning.  With respect to Learning Management Systems, the discussion centers around analytics.  The conversation continues with their thoughts on games for learning, especially how learners are motivated through reward systems such as digital badging and advancement through levels.  The conversation concludes with consideration of brain research.

To play the podcast of this discussion, go to this web page and click either the Play in New Window link or the Download link.

Belize Anyone? Blair Driver Selected to Study Tropical Ecologies

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Blair Driver is an extremely talented middle school science teacher at Pactolus School in Pitt County, Assistant Director of the East Carolina University Summer Science Camp, and graduate from the General Science Concentration provided by the Science Education program area in the MSITE Department. Recently, Ms. Driver received notification that she was selected as an Educator of Excellence in Science by the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh N.C.

This is an extremely prestigious honor for Ms. Driver, her students, and all of us here in the MSITE department. Ms. Driver will be one of twelve teachers from North Carolina that will travel to Belize, Central America with naturalists from the museum. On this trip she will experience several tropical habitats, including coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and rain forests. The daily program will engage participants in field experiences as they explore these various ecologies of Belize. The program includes learning about the culture of Central America by touring a Mayan ruin as well as having two Belizean teachers join the group throughout the entire trip providing teachers of N.C. with a local resource from the area. The culminating project involves spending time with students at a Belizean school where N.C. and Belizean teachers will work together to teach science. The MSITE department wishes Ms. Driver safe travels and wants to extend our congratulations to her. Thank you for all your hard work, Ms. Driver, and your continuing efforts to strengthen science education for the students of Eastern N.C.

MAEd-MIDG Student, Jennifer Stalls, Selected for Kenan Fellows Program

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Jennifer Stalls, sixth-grade science teacher at C. M. Eppes Middle School in Pitt County, is among 40 educators from across the state who have been selected as 2015-16 Kenan Fellows. Earlier this year, she was presented the NC Science Teachers Association’s District One Outstanding Science Teacher Award. A graduate of East Carolina University, Stalls is currently earning her Masters of Education-Middle Grades Education degree in ECU’s College of Education with a concentration in science.

Beginning in June, the new Kenan Fellows will spend five weeks of their summer learning and gaining experience from local experts in nanotechnology, financial education, renewable energy, genetics research, energy, and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.

A core goal of the program is to develop outstanding teacher leaders who serve as advocates for excellence in education. The year-long fellowship begins with the summer internship and culminates with the development and implementation of cutting-edge educational curricula and programs designed by Kenan Fellows. These resources and programs are shared with other educators and used in classrooms, school systems, and communities across the state and beyond.

Educators selected for fellowships demonstrate proven leadership or leadership potential and are awarded a $6,000 stipend that includes travel expenses. Kenan Fellows also receive 80 hours of professional development divided into three professional advancement institutes that focus on leadership skills, community engagement, proven instructional strategies, and education policy. The Biogen Foundation is the premier sponsor of the institutes.

-Source: Pitt County Schools Website http://www.pitt.k12.nc.us

MSITE Faculty Extends Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Class of 2015

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This post goes out to all of our 2015 graduates in Mathematics Education, Instructional Technology, and Science Education, as well as the many students in the College of Education whose lives we have touched through our numerous service courses.  We are so proud of your accomplishments.  Congratulations and best wishes in all of your future endeavors.

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