Symposium

Department of Teacher Education

Gayle Akins

Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor

You and Your Ecosystem: The Impact of Everyday Life ... A Ninth Grade Earth Science Unit of Study

This ninth grade earth science unit helps students understand the integrated Web binding the community of life and how humans impact earth's limited resources, especially in terms of water and land usage. Students are encouraged to examine their daily decisions in light of environmental impact, analyze community decisions and develop responses to complex issues.

Session A - Reception Room - 8:30 a.m.~8:45 a.m.

Gretchen Balmer, Kelley Harrison, Katrina Padley and Stacy Preimer

Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor

Hate Crimes

Much progress has been made in human and Civil Rights advocacy and legislation in the United States, but hate crimes continue to be committed routinely. The research team investigated current statistics of recorded hate crimes, the victims and the types committed. Team members also examined the motives behind hate crimes, the physical and psychological effects on the victims and how legislative change can work to prevent such violence.

Session A - Alumni Room - 9:30 a.m.~9:45 a.m.

Stephanie Boling

Professor Martha Baiyee, Sponsor

Performance-Based Assessment in Early Childhood Education

This presentation focuses on research that was conducted using two children's performances on a standardized test and an adapted performance-based version developed by the principal investigator. The two sets of scores were compared. Results from the study indicate that the children scored better on the performance-based assessment. Implications of the results are considered within the context of providing teacher training and within the context of a paradigm-shift in the view of instruction and assessment.

Session B - Tower Room - 10:15 a.m.~10:30 a.m.

Elizabeth Brink, Shannon Hardesty, Cara Rogers, Megyn Smith and Caitlyn Thom

Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor

The Psychological Effects of Parental Incarceration on School-Age Children

In 1999 an estimated 721,500 parents of 1.5 million children were incarcerated in state and federal prisons. The student research team explored the emotional, social, cognitive and physical well-being of school-age children who have been displaced when the custodial parent is incarcerated. The lasting effects of separation and frequent shifts in caregiving are explored as well as governmental measures to help reduce this burden on children.

Session C - Alumni Room - 12:15 p.m.~12:30 p.m.

Karry Carter

Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor

The American Revolution Through Multiple Lenses

This project is a social studies unit developed on the theme of the American Revolution and written for the eighth-grade classroom. The unit introduces students to the American colonists, examines the precipitating factors, the major confrontations and t10 of the Revolution's principal players including African-Americans, Native Americans and women.

Session C - Reception Room - 12:00 p.m.~12:15 p.m.

Linda Edberg, Tracy Inosencio, Amy Mangan, Lisa Mauch, Erin Moug and Katie Wickering

Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor

Aspects of Female Self-Image Through the Lifespan

This research examined female identity and specific ways self-image develops across the lifespan. Included are aspects of expression the role in some diseases and life circumstances. Female self-image was explored within the context of the media, adolescence, peer relationships, substance abuse, sexual and domestic violence and aging.

Session C - Alumni Room - 12:30 p.m.~12:45 p.m.

Lisa Kontowsky

Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor

Financial Awareness

This 10-day unit plan, written for a sixth grade special education resource room, concentrates on broadening the students' financial awareness and knowledge in addition to assisting them in becoming financially independent. The unit provides a hands-on, creative and challenging approach to fuse the elements of education and enjoyment while teaching basic concepts and improving proficiency in fundamental skill areas.

Session A - Reception Room - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m.

Kimberly Krohn, Dan LaCroix, Jessica Porter, Melissa Shihadeh and Robert Schicker

Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor

Domestic Violence and Its Relationship to Substance Abuse

This research team examined the relationship between domestic violence in intimate relationships and substance abuse. Through a review of the research data, interviews with domestic violence shelter staff and our own personal stories, the team examined types of abuse, characteristics of abusers, warning signs and issues complicating treatment.

Session A - Alumni Room - 9:15 a.m.~9:30 a.m.

Jeannie Kunz, Casey Ronk, Joel Slaven and Stacy Syrstad

Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor

Depression in the Elderly

While the rate of depression among the elderly is not more statistically than the rate of depression in young people, it tends to have more serious effects on health and rehabilitation. This research examined the biological, social and environmental influences of depression on the elderly and the subsequent need for multi-faceted treatment approaches.

Session B - Alumni Room - 11:00 a.m.~11:15 a.m.

Julie Kuznicki

Professor Maureen McCormack, Sponsor

Business Education and Democracy

This poster presents the author's exploration of the vision of democracy being taught through business education. Economic textbooks were reviewed and analyzed for their explicit and implicit message about the connections between American business and values of democracy. These democratic values were then assessed in relation to the global business world and their possible effects with less individualistic cultures such as Japan.

Poster - Guild Hall - 9:00 a.m.~12:30 p.m.

Mara Rochon

Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor

Essay Writing

The unit entitled "Essay Writing" breaks down the writing process for 10th grade students grouped in a heterogeneous classroom. With special attention to a variety of abilities and disabilities, ethnicities and backgrounds, this 10-day unit creatively and engagingly examines the writing process in terms of six concepts: idea/thesis, genre, expression, supporting arguments, structure and grammar. The goal of the unit is for students to be able to write well-organized, clear and concise essays.

Session A - Reception Room - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m.

Susan Robertson

Professor Linda Lewis-White, Sponsor

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones: Language of Exclusion and the Schools

The language of exclusion is powerful. Words such as "minority" and "handicap" are powerful words that seem harmless until you begin to think about what they mean. All of these words have long history and deep meaning. Where did they come from and what did they originally refer to or mean? How can we teach children about the language of exclusion and diminish its use in our classrooms and schools? This presentation explores some possibilities.

Session C - Main Lounge - 12:30 p.m.~12:45 p.m.

Nicole A. Vitale

Professor Margaret Moore-Hart, Sponsor

The Integration of Reading and Writing Into Science Education

This presentation will review recent literature that supports inquiry-based science education and a review of methods used to integrate reading and writing activities into science curricula. Also included are lesson plans that employ methods suggested in the research and Michigan Department of Education standards and an annotated bibliography of trade books appropriate for grades kindergarten to eight.

Poster - Guild Hall - 9:00 a.m.~12:30 p.m.

Mary Kathleen Walsh

Professor Elizabeth Johnson, Sponsor

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians: Pedagogical Pathways to Unlock the Native American Dusty Past and Paradoxical Present

Those brave enough to journey into the culture of our first Americans, must shed traditional cultural myths. Traditional unit plans designed to educate children about the true plight of America's first citizens have been chronicled in false assumptions, biased discourse and blatant untruths. This presentation presents a total immersion instructional model that embraces children's learning styles as a vehicle to correct the historical record and thereby illuminate their true cultural and spiritual essence.

Session A - Alumni Room - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m.


			Department of Teacher Education Gayle Akins Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor You and Your Ecosystem: The Impact of Everyday Life ... A Ninth Grade Earth Science Unit of Study This ninth grade earth science unit helps students understand the integrated Web binding the community of life and how humans impact earth's limited resources, especially in terms of water and land usage. Students are encouraged to examine their daily decisions in light of environmental impact, analyze community decisions and develop responses to complex issues. Session A - Reception Room - 8:30 a.m.~8:45 a.m. Gretchen Balmer, Kelley Harrison, Katrina Padley and Stacy Preimer Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor Hate Crimes Much progress has been made in human and Civil Rights advocacy and legislation in the United States, but hate crimes continue to be committed routinely. The research team investigated current statistics of recorded hate crimes, the victims and the types committed. Team members also examined the motives behind hate crimes, the physical and psychological effects on the victims and how legislative change can work to prevent such violence. Session A - Alumni Room - 9:30 a.m.~9:45 a.m. Stephanie Boling Professor Martha Baiyee, Sponsor Performance-Based Assessment in Early Childhood Education This presentation focuses on research that was conducted using two children's performances on a standardized test and an adapted performance-based version developed by the principal investigator. The two sets of scores were compared. Results from the study indicate that the children scored better on the performance-based assessment. Implications of the results are considered within the context of providing teacher training and within the context of a paradigm-shift in the view of instruction and assessment. Session B - Tower Room - 10:15 a.m.~10:30 a.m. Elizabeth Brink, Shannon Hardesty, Cara Rogers, Megyn Smith and Caitlyn Thom Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor The Psychological Effects of Parental Incarceration on School-Age Children In 1999 an estimated 721,500 parents of 1.5 million children were incarcerated in state and federal prisons. The student research team explored the emotional, social, cognitive and physical well-being of school-age children who have been displaced when the custodial parent is incarcerated. The lasting effects of separation and frequent shifts in caregiving are explored as well as governmental measures to help reduce this burden on children. Session C - Alumni Room - 12:15 p.m.~12:30 p.m. Karry Carter Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor The American Revolution Through Multiple Lenses This project is a social studies unit developed on the theme of the American Revolution and written for the eighth-grade classroom. The unit introduces students to the American colonists, examines the precipitating factors, the major confrontations and t10 of the Revolution's principal players including African-Americans, Native Americans and women. Session C - Reception Room - 12:00 p.m.~12:15 p.m. Linda Edberg, Tracy Inosencio, Amy Mangan, Lisa Mauch, Erin Moug and Katie Wickering Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor Aspects of Female Self-Image Through the Lifespan This research examined female identity and specific ways self-image develops across the lifespan. Included are aspects of expression the role in some diseases and life circumstances. Female self-image was explored within the context of the media, adolescence, peer relationships, substance abuse, sexual and domestic violence and aging. Session C - Alumni Room - 12:30 p.m.~12:45 p.m. Lisa Kontowsky Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor Financial Awareness This 10-day unit plan, written for a sixth grade special education resource room, concentrates on broadening the students' financial awareness and knowledge in addition to assisting them in becoming financially independent. The unit provides a hands-on, creative and challenging approach to fuse the elements of education and enjoyment while teaching basic concepts and improving proficiency in fundamental skill areas. Session A - Reception Room - 8:45 a.m.~9:00 a.m. Kimberly Krohn, Dan LaCroix, Jessica Porter, Melissa Shihadeh and Robert Schicker Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor Domestic Violence and Its Relationship to Substance Abuse This research team examined the relationship between domestic violence in intimate relationships and substance abuse. Through a review of the research data, interviews with domestic violence shelter staff and our own personal stories, the team examined types of abuse, characteristics of abusers, warning signs and issues complicating treatment. Session A - Alumni Room - 9:15 a.m.~9:30 a.m. Jeannie Kunz, Casey Ronk, Joel Slaven and Stacy Syrstad Professor Caroline A. Gould, Sponsor Depression in the Elderly While the rate of depression among the elderly is not more statistically than the rate of depression in young people, it tends to have more serious effects on health and rehabilitation. This research examined the biological, social and environmental influences of depression on the elderly and the subsequent need for multi-faceted treatment approaches. Session B - Alumni Room - 11:00 a.m.~11:15 a.m. Julie Kuznicki Professor Maureen McCormack, Sponsor Business Education and Democracy This poster presents the author's exploration of the vision of democracy being taught through business education. Economic textbooks were reviewed and analyzed for their explicit and implicit message about the connections between American business and values of democracy. These democratic values were then assessed in relation to the global business world and their possible effects with less individualistic cultures such as Japan. Poster - Guild Hall - 9:00 a.m.~12:30 p.m. Mara Rochon Professor Pat Williams-Boyd, Sponsor Essay Writing The unit entitled "Essay Writing" breaks down the writing process for 10th grade students grouped in a heterogeneous classroom. With special attention to a variety of abilities and disabilities, ethnicities and backgrounds, this 10-day unit creatively and engagingly examines the writing process in terms of six concepts: idea/thesis, genre, expression, supporting arguments, structure and grammar. The goal of the unit is for students to be able to write well-organized, clear and concise essays. Session A - Reception Room - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m. Susan Robertson Professor Linda Lewis-White, Sponsor Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones: Language of Exclusion and the Schools The language of exclusion is powerful. Words such as "minority" and "handicap" are powerful words that seem harmless until you begin to think about what they mean. All of these words have long history and deep meaning. Where did they come from and what did they originally refer to or mean? How can we teach children about the language of exclusion and diminish its use in our classrooms and schools? This presentation explores some possibilities. Session C - Main Lounge - 12:30 p.m.~12:45 p.m. Nicole A. Vitale Professor Margaret Moore-Hart, Sponsor The Integration of Reading and Writing Into Science Education This presentation will review recent literature that supports inquiry-based science education and a review of methods used to integrate reading and writing activities into science curricula. Also included are lesson plans that employ methods suggested in the research and Michigan Department of Education standards and an annotated bibliography of trade books appropriate for grades kindergarten to eight. Poster - Guild Hall - 9:00 a.m.~12:30 p.m. Mary Kathleen Walsh Professor Elizabeth Johnson, Sponsor One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians: Pedagogical Pathways to Unlock the Native American Dusty Past and Paradoxical Present Those brave enough to journey into the culture of our first Americans, must shed traditional cultural myths. Traditional unit plans designed to educate children about the true plight of America's first citizens have been chronicled in false assumptions, biased discourse and blatant untruths. This presentation presents a total immersion instructional model that embraces children's learning styles as a vehicle to correct the historical record and thereby illuminate their true cultural and spiritual essence. Session A - Alumni Room - 9:00 a.m.~9:15 a.m.