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UW-Madison School of Education Online News - April 2006
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Welcome to the UW-Madison School of Education Online News, a monthly update on School and campus news and resources.

IN THIS ISSUE: April 2006

• U.S. News Gives School’s Graduate Programs Top Marks
• Art Gift Arrives at the CIMC
• Research: Beating the Odds Against Academic Success
• Research: Math & Science Research Reports Posted
• “Education in the Physical” Website Debuts
• Interarts Festival and Spring Concert Highlight April Dance Events
• Kinesiology Club Plans 10th Annual Poker Run/Walk - April 20
• Art Faculty Featured at Opening of a Madison Museum - April 23
• CCBC Presents Charlotte Zolotow Award - April 25
• School Honors Outstanding Faculty and Staff - April 26
• Virtual Symposium for K-12 Science Teachers - May 1
• School Celebrates Alumni Weekend - May 6
• Webgem: Academy of American Poets

U.S. NEWS GIVES SCHOOL’S GRADUATE PROGRAMS TOP MARKS
Once again, the UW-Madison School of Education has received high marks in the Best Graduate Schools guidebook issued by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the School as seventh in the nation (tied with the University of Pennsylvania) among peer institutions. In addition, nine of the School's individual programs were judged among the top ten, with three of those ranked No. 1 in the nation: Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and Educational Psychology. That’s impressive, and all the more remarkable when you realize that we’re compared with many private schools that offer only graduate programs (such as Harvard), whereas we provide both undergraduate and graduate studies.
Read more

ART GIFT ARRIVES AT THE CIMC
The School’s Center for Instructional Materials and Computing (CIMC) has received seven pieces of art from the estate of ellsworth snyder, a renowned abstract artist (who eschewed capital letters in his name). Five of the pieces reside in the CIMC’s conference room. Its 1993 renovation was funded by synder in honor of his friend, Nathan S. Blount, a longtime faculty member in the School of Education. Some of the pieces can be viewed online via the CIMC website.
Check it out

RESEARCH: BEATING THE ODDS AGAINST ACADEMIC SUCCESS
School-based initiatives that shield disadvantaged children from the risks and adversities within their homes, schools, and communities are more likely to foster successful academic outcomes than several other school-based efforts. That’s according to research conducted by Geoffrey Borman, associate professor of educational policy, and his colleague, Laura Overman, at Johns Hopkins University. Borman and Overman also found that there may be as much to learn by studying the characteristics of “effective students” as by studying the features of “effective schools.”
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RESEARCH: MATH & SCIENCE RESEARCH REPORTS POSTED
The Systemwide Change for All Learners and Educators (SCALE) project has posted 13 research reports on its site. SCALE is a national partnership of mathematicians, scientists, engineers and education practitioners working to build a new approach to reforming K-12 math and science nationwide. The project is housed in the School’s Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Sample report topics include “Motivating Students to Ask Scientifically Productive Questions,” and “Making the Grounds of Scientific Inquiry Visible in the Classroom.”
View the reports

“EDUCATION IN THE PHYSICAL” WEBSITE DEBUTS
Based on the principle that physical education can help students develop as whole individuals, this site offers a place where teachers, parents, and students can come together to make physical education a valuable experience and a more natural part of our everyday lives. Cindy Kuhrasch, an associate faculty associate in the Department of Kinesiology, developed the site, which features loads of activities at different skill levels and resources specially designed for teachers, parents, and students.
Check it out

INTERARTS FESTIVAL AND SPRING CONCERT HIGHLIGHT APRIL DANCE EVENTS
The Dance Program’s April calendar includes a Festival of Interarts & Technology on April 7 and a Spring Dance Concert on April 20-22. The Interarts Festival features a range of student work, including performance and video pieces along with multi-media, interactive computer and visual art exhibits. This year’s Spring Dance Concert features work by guest artist Larry Keigwin, a repertory piece choreographed by Li Chiao-Ping, and other creative works by staff, students, and faculty. The concert will be held in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall. Tickets are available at the door. The Dance Program’s calendar provides details on both events.
View the calendar

KINESIOLOGY CLUB PLANS 10TH ANNUAL POKER RUN/WALK - APRIL 20
Continuing its tradition of making exercise fun and accessible for everyone, the Kinesiology Club has organized the 10th Annual 5k Poker Run/Walk, co-sponsored by University Health Services. The event, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, is open to the public. Registration starts at 4:30 at the Natatorium, 2000 Observatory Drive. The entry fee is $10, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics and the Kinesiology Club.
Get the details

ART FACULTY FEATURED AT OPENING OF A MADISON MUSEUM - APRIL 23
New works by art professors Truman Lowe and Nancy Mladenoff will be among those featured at the opening on April 23 of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in the Overture Center for the Arts. Seven artists were commissioned to create works that focused on the city of Madison for the inaugural exhibition, “Between the Lakes: Artists Respond to Madison,” which will run from April 23 to July 16. Lowe is a sculptor whose works reflect the natural environment and his Ho-Chunk heritage. Mladenoff, a painter, also looks to nature for inspiration, often creating paintings filled with biological and abstract forms.
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SCHOOL HONORS OUTSTANDING FACULTY AND STAFF - APRIL 26
The School of Education will honor seven faculty and staff members with 2006 Distinguished Achievement Awards at a reception on April 26. These awards recognize outstanding achievement and service, and represent the highest honor bestowed by the School upon current faculty and staff. Winners were nominated by colleagues and chosen by a selection committee in the School. Faculty recipients are Michael W. Apple (curriculum & instruction and educational policy studies) and Mary Haywood Metz (educational policy studies). Academic staff recipients are James J. Shaw (educational leadership & policy analysis) and Andrew P. Winterstein (kinesiology). Classified staff recipients are Gary L. Koch (art), Kathleen Schuster - receiving the Claire Shaffer Award (education outreach), and Phyllis M. Sierra (kinesiology).
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VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM FOR K-12 SCIENCE TEACHERS - MAY 1
On Monday, May 1, educators from around Wisconsin will join with educators in Indiana and Minnesota to explore the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology with a panel of experts drawn from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the National Science Foundation, and Wisconsin’s biotechnology community. The New Technologies Symposium will originate from the Pyle Center at UW-Madison and be broadcast live via Internet2 beginning at 8 a.m. The symposium is sponsored by the School’s Office of Education Outreach and Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Information and registration details are on the Outreach Office’s website.
Check it out

SCHOOL CELEBRATES ALUMNI WEEKEND - MAY 6
A free, public presentation by art professor Truman Lowe and the recognition of eight outstanding alumni are the highlights of the School of Education’s Alumni Weekend celebration on Saturday, May 6. Lowe will provide a virtual tour of the contemporary art exhibit in the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Lowe developed the exhibit and currently serves as its curator. Following Lowe’s presentation, eight alumni will be honored with Alumni Achievement Awards. The day’s events also include a luncheon in the Virginia F. Harrison Parlor in Lathrop Hall. Visit the website for a full schedule of events, including details on Lowe’s presentation, the award recipients, and luncheon registration.
Read more

WEBGEM: ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS
April is national poetry month, and what better way to celebrate than to join a listserv that will send you a poem a day during April? The website of the Academy of American Poets offers that and much more.
Check it out

HAVE YOU MOVED OR CHANGED YOUR NAME?
You can easily update that information via the School’s website. And we’ll make sure that your University records are updated as well as ours. See “Staying in Touch” on the School’s alumni page. Update your record

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