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UW-Madison School of Education Online News - April 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE - APRIL 2004

• U.S. News Gives School's Graduate Programs Top Marks
• Just Released - CCBC Choices 2004
• Just Released - Powerful Practices in Math & Science
• Research: Statewide Efforts Can Improve Student Achievement
• Outreach Offers Professional Development Workshops
• Sign Up Now for Summer Youth Programs
• AP Distance-Learning Courses Expand Statewide
• Ladson-Billings to Lead Research Association
• Art Department Presents Light Festival - April 16-17
• Dance Program Presents Spring Performances
• School Honors Outstanding Faculty and Staff - April 28
• School Celebrates Alumni Weekend - May 8
• Campus: Online Auction of "Terrace Chairs on the Town"

Welcome to the UW-Madison School of Education Online News, an e-mail newsletter about School/campus news and resources that's sent once a month to subscribers. If you would like join this listserv, directions for subscribing are given at the end of the following news items.

U.S. NEWS GIVES SCHOOL'S GRADUATE PROGRAMS TOP MARKS
Once again we've received top rankings in the Best Graduate Schools Guidebook issued by U.S. News & World Report. The guidebook for 2005 ranks the UW-Madison School of Education's graduate program No. 6 in the nation (tied with UC-Berkeley). That's impressive, and all the more remarkable when you realize that we're compared with many private schools that offer only graduate education programs (such as Harvard), whereas we provide both undergraduate and graduate studies. Also impressive is the ranking of individual departments and programs, with many rated among the top three in their fields nationwide: curriculum & instruction - #1, educational psychology - #1, printmaking - #1, educational administration - #2, elementary education - #2, secondary education - #2, rehabilitation psychology - #2, and educational policy - #3. For more information and a link to the U.S. News website, see:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/news/newspages/usnews-04.asp

JUST RELEASED - CCBC CHOICES 2004
The 2004 edition of CCBC Choices includes annotated entries for 216 books for children and young adults published in 2003. All are recommended by the staff of the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), a library housed in the School of Education. If you want a copy now, check the CCBC Web site for ordering information. Or you can watch for the May issue of Campus Connections, the School's alumni magazine, which will announce a special "Choices" offer for alumni. Visit the CCBC website at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/public2.htm#part2

JUST RELEASED – POWERFUL PRACTICES IN MATH & SCIENCE
This free multi-media resource is designed for anyone interested in improving student learning of mathematics and science in the primary and secondary grades. Comprised of two CDs and a 40-page monograph, Powerful Practices illustrates how students can engage in inquiry and come to understand key ideas through practices similar to those used by professional mathematicians and scientists. This research-based resource was developed under the leadership of education professors Thomas Carpenter and Thomas Romberg through the National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathematics and Science, which Carpenter directs. Powerful Practices is distributed by Learning Point Associates, and may be ordered at no charge by contacting: mscproducts@contact.learningpt.org

For information on the National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathematics and Science, which is housed in the School's Wisconsin Center for Education Research, see:
http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/ncisla/

RESEARCH: STATEWIDE EFFORTS CAN IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Statewide student achievement gains in math and science are more likely when reform efforts target state policy as much as, or more than, teachers' classroom practice. This is one finding from a recent study led by researcher Norman Webb at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) and his colleague Iris Weiss at Horizon Research, Inc. Their study is the feature story on this month's WCER website at:
http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/

OUTREACH OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
The School's Office of Education Outreach will offer a variety of workshops on assessment during April and May, as well as a special workshop that will focus on Critical Issues in the Work of Paraeducators to Support Students with Disabilities. For details and online brochures, visit the office's website at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/outreach/adults.html

SIGN UP NOW FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
As always, the School will offer many enrichment activities for middle- and high-school students this summer, and now is the time to register for them. Summer programs include Technology and Arts (June 14 - 18), the Dance Millennium Summer Dance Camp (June 20 - 26), and College for Kids (June 21 - July 9). For details on these and other youth programs sponsored by the School, see:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/pre-college/text.asp

AP DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSES EXPAND STATEWIDE
A pilot program that last year brought Advanced Placement (AP) courses to selected high schools in Wisconsin is expanding statewide for the 2004-05 academic year. Developed by the School's Center on Education and Work, the Advanced Placement Distance-Learning Consortium offers AP courses that are conducted live via videoconferencing during regular school hours. The courses are open to any Wisconsin public high school student who has access to a distance learning lab. If you are a certified teacher interested in teaching an AP course or know of a student who would like to enroll in one, you can check the consortium's website for course listings, enrollment forms, and other information. If you'd prefer to speak to someone about the program, contact Renee Nies at: (608) 263-0799. Visit the website at:
http://www.apconsortium.wisc.edu/main.asp

LADSON-BILLINGS TO LEAD RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Kudos to education professor Gloria Ladson-Billings, who has been voted president-elect of the 22,000-member American Educational Research Association (AERA). Her term as president starts at the end of AERA's 2005 Annual Meeting next spring. Ladson-Billings is a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and a project director at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. A widely respected educator and researcher, Ladson-Billings is the author of The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children, and Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms. For a full news release, see:
http://www.aera.net/communications/news/042403.htm

For more information on Professor Ladson-Billings, visit:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ci/faculty/details.asp?id=46

ART DEPARTMENT PRESENTS LIGHT FESTIVAL - APRIL 16-17
If you're on campus the 16th or 17th, you won't want to miss the 2004 Invitational Neon and Light Exhibition, hosted by the Art Department's Glass and Neon Program and by the Friends of Glass. Begun in 1988 with only a dozen exhibitors, this show has grown into a national event featuring more than 100 works of art. The free public exhibition will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the UW Stock Pavilion, 1675 Linden Drive. For information on the department's glass lab, visit:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/glasslab/fr_lab.html

DANCE PROGRAM PRESENTS SPRING PERFORMANCES
Upcoming dance events include a Senior Honors Concert on April 16, and the Dance Program Spring Concert on April 22 - 24. The spring concert will feature work by guest artists Dan Wagoner and Ruth Solomon, and by Dance Program academic staff, faculty, and student choreographers. The Dance Program also sponsors the Dance Millennium Summer Dance Camp, to be held June 20 to 26. Check the Dance Program calendar for details at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/dance/calendar/default.asp

SCHOOL HONORS OUTSTANDING FACULTY AND STAFF - APRIL 28
The School of Education will recognize seven faculty and staff members with 2004 Distinguished Achievement Awards at a reception April 28. These awards recognize outstanding achievement and service, and represent the highest honor bestowed by the School on current faculty and staff. Winners were nominated by colleagues and chosen by a selection committee in the School. Faculty recipients are Mary Schneider (kinesiology-occupational therapy) and Ronald Serlin (educational psychology). Academic staff recipients are Karen McShane-Hellenbrand (dance) and Christopher Thorn (Wisconsin Center for Education Research). Classified staff award recipients are Janet Kuehl (rehabilitation psychology and special education), Mary Jo Gessler (educational policy studies), and Karen O'Connell (educational psychology). For details, see:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/news/newspages/facstaff-awards.asp

SCHOOL CELEBRATES ALUMNI WEEKEND - MAY 8
Mark your calendars for a celebration with School of Education alumni and friends. This year's Alumni Weekend festivities include a free public lecture by alumnus Curtis J. Bonk, professor of educational psychology and instructional systems technology at Indiana University. A national expert on online learning and teaching, Professor Bonk will discuss "The Perfect E-Storm: Emerging Technology, Escalating Demands, and Enhanced Learning." Professor Bonk is one of eight distinguished alumni who will be honored with School of Education alumni awards following the public lecture. The day's events also include a luncheon in the Virginia F. Harrison Parlor in Lathrop Hall. Visit the website for details on award recipients and a full schedule of events:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/alumni/alumweek.asp

CAMPUS: ONLINE AUCTION OF "TERRACE CHAIRS ON THE TOWN"
Don't miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the most unique UW-Madison keepsake available. From May 3 to July 11, 2004, the 12 original pieces from "Terrace Chairs on the Town," Memorial Union's 75th anniversary art event, will be available for auction. Each of the chairs was designed and decorated by a local artist, stands six feet tall, and features the instantly recognizable sunburst design unique to Memorial Union. The chairs can be viewed and bids can be placed beginning May 3 on the Union's website (click on "Terrace Chairs on the Town" in the top-of-page banner):
http://www.union.wisc.edu/75

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION WEB CALENDAR
There's always more going on at the School than we can report in the online news. For a full listing of upcoming performances, workshops, forums, conferences, etc., check out the online calendar at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/calendar/index.asp

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 at:
http://www.education.wisc.edu/alumni/index.asp

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