UW-Madison School of Education Online News - March 2009

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

Hot Off the Press – CCBC Choices 2009

One of the best values around is this annual publication, which this year features annotated entries for 247 books published in 2008 for children and young adults.  All have been reviewed and recommended by the staff of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC).  A limited number of copies are free to alumni upon request.  To receive yours, simply reply to this e-mail message with your name and (snail) mail address.  (A list of the books reviewed in the 2009 edition can be found on the Choices website.)  Check out the website.

UW Develops Career-Information Systems for Singapore

A Wisconsin idea goes global!  The Singapore Ministry of Education has awarded a four-year $3.5 million contract to the Center on Education and Work (CEW) at the UW School of Education to customize CEW’s online career-information systems for use in Singapore schools.  The Singapore Ministry became interested in the center’s WISCareers and CareerLocker systems after conducting a review of related systems around the world.   Read the story.

Art Ed Students Create Interactive Lessons for Chazen Museum

Students in the Art Education program are collaborating with staff at the Chazen Museum to produce hands-on educational materials for many of the museum’s exhibits.  Art students work as a design team to produce the materials, which are used by docents and teachers to provide tactile learning experiences for elementary school students touring the museum’s galleries.  Read the story.

Researchers Examine Effectiveness of Interim Assessments

Interim assessments are standardized tests administered to students on a scale larger than the classroom, usually district-wide.  They provide a measure of students’ achievement and gaps in students’ knowledge prior to a final year-end assessment.  A recent study by senior scientist William Clune and colleague Paula White at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research examines the effectiveness and limitations of quarterly assessments from 2004-07 in the Providence Public School District.  Learn more.

Alumni Story: Educator Uses Travels to Engage Students in Environmental Issues

Science teacher Stephanie Waite (B.S. ’06 in biology and broadfield science) is using her experiences in China and the Galapagos Islands to engage students in environmental issues, both at home and far beyond.  Stephanie credits the School’s International Education Conference, which she attended as an undergraduate, with fueling her love for educational travel – a passion that’s opening new vistas for students in her high school science classes.  This year’s conference will be held March 16-17 in Madison.  Read the story.

Popular Youth Summer Enrichment Classes Begin Registration

Registration opened March 1 for two of the School’s most popular summer enrichment programs:  “Technology and Arts” and “Movin’ Minds,” which features Olympian runner Suzy Favor Hamilton as one of its instructors.  Organized by the Office of Education Outreach and Partnerships, both programs are designed for students entering grades 6-9 and take place on the UW campus.  Registration can be completed online. Get the details.

Campus Slide Show: Lady Liberty Rises on Lake Mendota Again 

In a repeat performance of one of the most popular college pranks ever, Lady Liberty once again appeared to rise from Lake Mendota with torch aloft, thanks to the Wisconsin Hoofers, UW-Madison’s outdoor recreation club.  Visit the website for photos and a history of the Lady’s travails. View the slide show.

Art Department Plans Grand Opening of Art Lofts in May

The Art Department invites alumni and friends to a week of events (May 4-9) celebrating the grand opening of the Art Lofts Building, 111 N. Frances Street (across from the Kohl Center).  Featured during the week will be public demonstrations and talks by Art alumni Marvin Lipofsky and David Dahlquist and by Emeritus Professor Don Reitz.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, with refreshments to follow – the event is free and open to the public. Get the details.

Upcoming Events

Check out the School’s web calendar for information on the Art Department’s Tuesday public lectures; a colloquium series on equity issues in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines; WISCAPE forums on issues in higher education; and much more.   Check out the calendar

Kudos to Education Faculty & Staff

• Geoffrey Borman (professor, educational leadership & policy analysis) contributed to a recently released U.S. Department of Education publication: Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices: A Practice Guide.

• Erik Carter (assistant professor, rehabilitation psychology & special education) is the recipient of two awards: the 2009 Distinguished Early Career Research Award, Division of Research, Council for Exceptional Children, and the 2009 Early Career Award, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

• Alan Lockwood (professor, curriculum and instruction) has written The Case for Character Education: A Developmental Approach, published by Teachers College Press.

Update Your Records

Have you moved or changed your name? You can easily update that information via the alumni page on the School’s website.  And we’ll make sure that your University records are changed as well as ours. Update your records.

We Welcome Your Feedback

Thank you for reading the online news.  If you would like to comment on this service, please send a message to: soeonline@education.wisc.edu.