Student News

Spring 2012

• First year Ph.D. student Youngmin Park is presenting at the Sixth Annual University of California Language Consortium Biennial Conference on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Theoretical and Pedagogical Perspectives on April 22. The UC Consortium for Language Learning and Teaching was founded in 2000 to foster communication and collaboration across the UC campuses, across and among language groups, and across the various disciplines that inform the learning and teaching of foreign, classical, second, and heritage languages within the UC system. Member support includes curricular planning and institutional programming, research, professional development, and outreach. Ms. Park's presentation is titled "Reading Aloud to Adolescent English Learners: A Study in a Korean High School." Abstract


• Third year Ph.D. student Dan Flynn is presenting at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Pacific Southwest Section (ASEE PSW) 2012 Conference in San Luis Obispo on April 19-21. Founded in 1893, the American Society for Engineering Education is a nonprofit organization of individuals and institutions committed to furthering education in engineering and engineering technology. The 2012 ASEE PSW Conference theme is “Engagement, Collaboration and Innovation in Engineering Education.” Mr. Flynn's presentation is titled "Baccalaureate Attainment as a Function of Student Engagement: Comparing the Impact of Engagement on Engineering/ICS Degree Attainment to Other Majors at 4-Year Institutions."  His accompanying paper has been selected for peer review and publication in the conference proceedings. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Paul Rama has authored a chapter in the recently released book Second Language Acquisition Abroad: The LSD Missionary Experience (Studies in Bilingalism), published by John Benjamins Publishing Company. The volume, a collection of studies devoted to missionary language learning and retention, provides historical perspectives on language teaching philosophy and practice in the LDS tradition, mission language acquisition by English-speaking missionaries abroad, and post-mission language attrition. The title of Mr. Rama's chapter is "In the Beginning was the Word: Vocabulary Learning in Six Mission Languages." Mr. Rama is a fourth year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. His research interests include computer-mediated communication in language learning and video games and learning contexts.


• Second year Ph.D. student Cathery Yeh is presenting two posters with Associate Professor Rossella Santagata at the upcoming National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Annual Conference in Philadelphia on April 24. The first poster is titled "Preservice Teacher Development in Learning to Learn from Mathematics Teaching." The second poster is titled "From their Eyes: Examining Field Experience and Teachers' Learning." Founded in 1920, NCTM is the world’s largest mathematics education organization, with more than 90,000 members and 230 affiliates throughout the United States and Canada. The organization provides vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. Abstract 1   Abstract 2


• Chancellors Club Fellow, Nayssan Safavian, shared her research on student motivation during the Annual Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. Lecture and Fellowship Dinner at the University Club on March 15. Ms. Safavian is a fifth year Ph.D. in Education student specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development.


• Ph.D. students present research at 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in Vancouver, British Columbia April 13 through April 17. UC Irvine Presenters, Titles, and Abstracts
• Allison Mok, Cal Teach Mathematics major, has been accepted into the Breakthrough Collaborative and will be teaching middle school students in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this summer. Ms. Mok is a member of the 2013 Cal Teach cohort. She is blending a Math major and the Single Subject Teaching Certification in Mathematics and will complete her student teaching during the 2012-2013 academic year.


• Multiple Subject Candidates Cohort B Spring Newsletter

Winter 2012

• Ph.D. student Tran Dang Keys is lead author of the paper "Child Care Quality and School Readiness: Quality Effects and Variation by Demographic and Child Characteristics," presented at the 2012 Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE). Collaborative authors with Ms. Keys are George Farkas, Margaret R. Burchinal, Greg J. Duncan, Deborah L. Vandell, Weilin Li, Erik A. Ruzek, and Carollee Howes. Ms.Key's paper was delivered during the Education Policy Symposium titled A Unified Conceptual and Empirical Approach to Understanding Treatment Heterogeneity. The 2012 SREE Conference theme was Understanding Variation in Treatment Effects. Ms. Tran is a fifth year doctoral student blending two specializations, Educational Policy and Social Contexts and Learning, Cognition, and Development. Presentation Abstract


• Ph.D. student Paul Rama's review of the new publication by James Paul Gee and Elisabeth R. Hayes Language and Learning in the Digital Age has been published in the February 2012 issue of Language Learning and Technology. Mr. Rama is a fourth year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. His research examines video games and simulations, and the potential of these to provide second language (L2) learning opportunities. Current projects examine the types of learning that occur though video game play, and the potential of commercial MMOGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Games) like World of Warcraft in creating affordances for L2 acquisition. Mr. Rama's dissertation advisor is Professor Mark Warschauer. Review


• Ph.D. student Adam Sheppard is presenting with Associate Professor Joseph Mahoney at the upcoming 2012 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescents (SRA) in Vancouver, B.C. The title of their presentation is "Revisiting the Over-Scheduling Hypothesis: Adolescent Activity Participation and the Mother-Child Relationship." They will present during the symposium The Dynamic Role of Parents Over the Course of Youths' Activities: Parents as Supporters, Co-Participators, and Recipients. SRA, established in 1982 to focus on the theoretical, empirical, and policy research issues of adolescence, currently has over 1300 members from 30 countries. Mr. Sheppard is a fourh year doctoral student specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. His research interests include out-of-school activities, physical activity, and social development of youth. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Rahila Munshi Simzar is presenting a paper, "Motivational Effects of Eighth Grade Algebra Placement," with Assistant Professors Thurston Domina and AnneMarie Conley at the Student Research Conference (SRC) at Harvard University on April 6. The 2012 conference theme is Changing Progess: The Science of Education Reform. SRC offers graduate students engaged in research that impacts education an opportunity to share their research, hone their presentation skills, receive valuable feedback, and discover the research interests of their peers. Ms. Simzar's research interests include student and teacher motivation, urban school policy and program implementation, and pre-service and secondary mathematics teacher development. Ms. Simzar, a second year doctoral student, is specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. Presentation Abstract


• Ph.D. student Emily Penner is presenting a paper at the Annual Conference of the Sociology of Education Association in Pacific Grove on February 25. The title of her paper is “Parenting and the Reduction of Inequality: How the Impact of Early Parenting on Achievement Varies Across Class Boundaries and Over Time." The 2012 conference theme is "40 Years of Research: Sociology, Education, and Equity." Ms. Penner's presentation initiates Session I on Saturday morning: "The Influences of Family Resources and Context." Ms. Penner is a third year doctoral student specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. Her research interests encompass inequality, achievement gaps, teacher effectiveness, intervention, education reform policy, peer effects, comparative international education policy, and English language learners. Her advisor is Distinguished Professor Greg Duncan. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Sarah Gilliland is presenting her first year research poster at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) in Chicago, February 10. APTA is a professional organization representing more than 80,000 member physical therapists (PTs), physical therapist assistants (PTAs), and students of physical therapy. The title of Ms. Gilliland's presentation is "An Exploratory Study of Clinical Reasoning in Physical Therapy Students." Ms. Gilliland, a second year Ph.D. in Education student, is specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development. Her Ph.D. research interests include physical therapy education, professional development, and science education. Her advisor is Associate Professor Judith Haymore Sandholtz. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Lauren M. Shea has published with Associate Professor Judith Haymore Sandholtz in Journal of Teacher Education. The title of their publication is "Predicting Performance: A Comparison of University Supervisors' Predictions and Teacher Candidates' Scores on a Teaching Performance Assessment." Ms. Shea is a fourth year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. She holds a B.S. in Bilingual Education, Elementary Education, and E.S.L., and a M.A. in Applied Linguistics. Her research interests include professional development in the integration of language and content, language acquisition strategies, and how technology can increase teacher and student outcomes in professional development programs. Dr. Sandholtz is her advisor. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Cathery Yeh is presenting a paper with Assistant Professor Rossella Santagata at the 2012 Conference of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE). The title of their presentation is “Studying the Effects of an Analysis-Based and Video-Enhanced Pre-Service Mathematics Intervention on Beginning Classroom Practices." AMTE is the largest professional organization dedicated to the improvement of mathematics teacher education. The organization's 1000+ members are devoted to the preservice education and professional development of K-12 teachers of mathematics. Ms. Yeh has been awarded the Susan Gay Scholarship by AMTE in support of her conference presentation. Ms. Yeh, a second year doctoral student, is specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development. Abstract


• Ph.D. students Anamarie Auger and Emily Penner have published with Assistant Professor Stephanie Reich and Distinguished Professor of Education Greg Duncan in Child Abuse & Neglect. The title of their publication is "Using Baby Books to Change New Mothers' Attitudes About Corporal Punishment." Ms. Auger is a third year doctoral student with research interests in educational policy, educational inequality, and out-of-school activities. Both she and Ms. Penner (see article above) are specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. Abstract


• Fifth Year Ph.D. Student Nayssan Safavian Featured on UC Irvine's Graduate Division Website as Recipient of Chancellor's Club Fellowship and Public Impact Fellowship


• Fifth Year Doctoral Student James Leak Featured on UC Irvine's Graduate Division Website as One of Ten UC Irvine Recipients of Public Impact Honorable Mention Fellowship


• Multiple Subject Candidates' Cohort B February 2012 Newsletter


• Cal Teach Club Newsletter, January 2012

Fall 2011

• Ph.D. Students Present at California Educational Research Association's (CERA) 90th Annual Conference


• Ph.D. student Nayssan Savarian is one of six University of California, Irvine doctoral students who have been awarded a 2011-2012 scholarship from the Chancellor's Club for Excellence. Students are nominated for a Chancellor's Fellowship by their Dean. Nomination criteria include academic excellence, a history of accomplishments, and demonstrated leadership qualities. Fellowships are awarded to the "brightest and best graduate students at UCI who also show great promise as future leaders." Ms. Safavian, a fifth year Ph.D. in Education student, is specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development. Her research interests include achievement motivation, adolescent development, cross-cultural psychology, and learning through the Arts. Her advisor is Assistant Professor AnneMarie Conley.


• Ph.D. student Adam Sheppard presented his research at the Department's November 7 Brownbag: "The Webs we Weave: Untangling the Design of After-School Programs." Summary: Researchers have reported links between youth involvement and individual, family, peer, and community factors that promote healthy development, including psychological well-being, social development, academic orientation, and reduced risk behavior involvement. A consistent theme within the literature is the use of clearly defined program goals accompanied by specific activities targeting those goals. In the preliminary analysis of a focus group of after-school program directors describing the development of their programs, the directors explained the links between activities and outcomes to begin to untangle the design of after-school environments.


• Ph.D. student Binbin Zheng has received a competitive NSF Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education (CADRE) Fellowship. CADRE is a resource network that supports researchers and developers who participate in DR K-12 projects on teaching and learning in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Together with a small group of other CADRE Fellows, Ms. Zheng will collaborate throughout the year through Webinars and other events to advance understanding of innovations in STEM education and research, attend the annual PI meeting of the NSF Discovery Research K-12 program, and participate in a culminating activity at the meeting. Ms. Zheng is a third year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. Her research interests focus on utilization of emerging technologies to facilitate teaching and learning.


• Ph.D. student Lauren Shea presented with Dr. Terry Shanahan (UCI Center for Educational Partnerships) at the California Science Teachers' Association (CSTA) meeting held in Pasadena in October. The title of her presentation was “The Perfect Context to Learn Language.“ Ms. Shea also has authored two new articles with colleagues that were published in November: (1) Sandholtz, J. & Shea, L. (2011).  Predicting performance: A comparison of university supervisors' predictions and teacher candidates' scores on a teaching performance assessment. Journal of Teacher Education, 62(5); and (2) Shea, L., & Shanahan, T. (2011). Student talk: Oral language development through science. Science and Children, 49(3). Ms. Shea is a fourth year Ph.D. in Education student specializing in Language, Literature, and Technology. Her research interests include professional development, language strategies, and technology implementation.


• "Integrative versus Instrumental Orientation Among Online Language Learners," by Ph.D. student Chin-Hsi Lin and Professor Mark Warschauer, was published in Liguagens e Diálogos. Abstract: What motivates online language learners is not yet well understood. Drawing on data from an international survey conducted among users of a major online site, this study explored the motivational orientation of learners and its relationship to individual background. The results suggest instrumental and integrative orientation for English, Chinese, and Portuguese groups, and only instrumental orientation for Spanish respondents. In addition, the results suggest that learner orientation varies by age, gender, income, education, linguistic background, and target language. This study confirms that the distinctions between instrumental and integrative orientation are meaningful in online language learning and applicable to other cultural contexts as well.


• Ph.D. student Tran Dang Keys has published in Contemporary Educational Psychology: "The Role of Goal Orientations for Adolescent Mathematics Achievement."  Abstract: This study examines the association between personal goal orientations and mathematics achievement within the trichotomous goal framework. Participants comprised ~2000 7th and 8th grade White, Hispanic, and Vietnamese students in a low-income urban school district in California. Regression analysis with classroom fixed effects minimized biases arising from non-random assignment of teachers and students to schools and classrooms. While all three achievement goal orientations were correlated with mathematics achievement, only a mastery goal orientation consistently predicted achievement when a full set of prior achievement and demographic controls were included. Performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal orientations did not predict achievement in the full model.


• Ph.D. students Nayssan Savarian and Arena Chang, with Stuart Karabenick and Assistant Professor AnneMarie Conley, presented a poster at the 2011 American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. Their poster was titled: "Expectancies and Values in Mathematics Teaching." Ms. Safavian is a fifth year doctoral student specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development. Ms. Chang, a second year doctoral student, also is pursuing the Learning, Cognition, and Development specialization. 
Abstract


• Ph.D. student Binbin Zheng presented her research at the Department's November 7 Brownbag: "Blogging to Learn: Participation and Literacy Among Linguistically Diverse-Fifth Grade Students." Over the previous year Ms. Zheng collected data and analyzed the participation and interaction patterns of 37 fifth-grade students participating in reading-writing online discussion activities in a linguistically-diverse blogging environment. Her findings suggest that pedagogically sound use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in elementary classrooms could both engage students and help upper elementary students become better writers. Ms. Zheng is a third year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. Her research interests focus on utilization of emerging technologies to facilitate teaching and learning. Presentation Abstract


• Fifth year Ph.D. student Nayssan Safavian has been sharpening her academic skills and expanding her credentials serving as a graduate student reviewer for two national level educational organizations. For the 2012 Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) Biennial Meeting Ms. Safavian is serving as a graduate student reviewer under the sponsorship of Assistant Professor AnneMarie Conley. Also under the sponsorship of Dr. Conley, Ms. Safavian served as the graduate student reviewer for the 2011 American Psychological Association (APA) Division 15 Doctoral Student Research Seminar. Ms. Safavian is pursuing her doctoral degree with a specialization in Learning, Cognition, and Development. Her research interests include achievement motivation, adolescent development, cross-cultural psychology, and learning through the arts.


• Ph.D. student Chin-Hsi Lin (first author) and Associate Professor Penelope Collins (second author) have been notified that Reading & Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal will be publishing their paper "The Effects of L1 and Orthographic Regularity and Consistency in Naming Chinese Characters." Mr. Lin is a fifth year doctoral student specializing in Language, Literacy, and Technology. His research interests include computer-mediated communication, Chinese learning, and reading development of Chinese language learners. While a doctoral student, Mr. Lin has published three books and four conference proceedings. Dr. Collins' research interests include cognition and learning, linguistic diversity, learning disabilities, phonology, and reading. Abstract


• Ph.D. student Dan Flynn will be making his third presentation of his poster research, "Freshman Engineering Project Participation and Achievement in Core Engineering Coursework: A Pilot Study," this time to the the National Forum of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) in Madison, Wisconsin, October 9-10. The 2011 forum theme is "Teaching, Learning, and Research: Preparation of the Nation's Future Faculty." CIRTL is a NSF Center for learning and teaching in higher education. Mr. Flynn is a third year doctoral student specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. His research interests include higher education, engineering pedagogy, STEM education, and program evaluation and development.  Abstract of Poster Presentation


• Ph.D. student Huy Chung is presenting at the Conference of the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE) in San Diego October 13-15. The 2011 conference theme is "Reconnecting Student Voice with Teacher Education in a Globalized Society." Mr. Chung's presentation is entitled "A Literacy for Teaching: Theories as Sponsors of Teaching." Abstract: It is important to critically consider what pre-service teachers are reading and writing in their teacher education programs, a literacy for teaching if you will. Using responses from the assessment portfolio of 32 pre-service English language arts teachers, I applied content analysis on the different theories and theorists they cite to analyze their teaching practices. Results indicate that the candidates cite a narrow set of theories and theorists, indicating a need to expand their understanding of teaching.


• Ph.D. students Tara Barnhart and Huy Chung and Assistant Professor Elizabeth van Es are presenting at the Conference of the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE) in San Diego, October 13-15: "Learning to Learn from Teaching Across the Disciplines." Abstract: In this session, we describe our efforts to create and study a video-based course that focuses on helping pre-service teachers develop practices for learning from teaching. We present: (1) a framework to guide pre-service teachers’ analysis of classroom lessons and its research base, (2) an example of video-based activities to develop pre-service teachers' attention to student thinking, and (3) research findings indicating the impact that participation in the course had on secondary math, science, and English Language Arts pre-service teachers’ ability to notice, analyze, and reflect on their own practice.


• Ph.D. students Sonja Lind and Alejandra Albarrán were selected as 2011 Graduate Interconnect Peer Mentors representing the Department of Education. The UC Irvine Graduate InterConnect (GIC) program supports the successful transition of new international graduate students to the UCI campus and Irvine communities. The Peer Mentor program, an integral component of InterConnect, consists of a team of current graduate students who provide information, guidance, and a support network to their incoming peers. Both Ms. Lind and Ms. Albarrán are fourth year Ph.D. in Education students.


• The Teachers of Tomorrow (TOT) Club held their first meeting of Fall Quarter on September 26th. With an attendance of 28 undergraduates interested in education, club officers led the group in a series of ice-breakers and introduced the themes for coming meetings. October 10 will feature Teach for America. October 24 will present field experience/volunteer opportunities with THINK Together and KidWorks. Misty Mountain Education House is the theme for November 7. The annual Thanksgiving potluck will be held on November 21. Club officers for 2011-2012  are President Carol Tsai, Treasurer Natasha Zubair, Secretary James Kim, and Publicity Jason Cao. TOT meetings are open to all undergraduates who would like to know more about education.


• Multiple Subject Cohort B November Newsletter


• Multiple Subject Cohort B October Newsletter


• Single Subject Credential Students Initiate Holiday Food Drive to Support Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County


• Multiple Subject Credential Students Organize "Heart for Hunger" Food Drive to Benefit Orange County Rescue Mission

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