Education students display their research talents

Fort Worth, TX

5/3/2010

By: Dean Kinkel, Schieffer School of Journalism

Education majors put their hard work on display at the College of Education Research and Pedagogy Festival in April with projects that dealt with everything from math and science education to playtime in the classroom and influence of TAKS on teaching strategies.

Students, professors, business professionals, friends, and family all filed into the lobby of the Palko building at TCU for the annual festival. Graduate and undergraduate students filled the lobby and proudly presented their 30-inch by 40-inch poster boards displaying graphs, results and conclusions.

The research festival featured projects by 32 students, who participated in the festival through a class assignment or on a volunteer basis. All projects had to be approved by a College of Education faculty member before being submitted.

”It is a very motivating and rewarding experience for the students,” said Dr. Bi Hu, education professor and one of the professors organizing the symposium. Dr. Hu has participated in several symposiums similar to this at her alma mater, the University of Central Florida.

“The symposium gives the students an opportunity to research a topic that interests them in the field of education,” said Dr. Francyne Huckaby, education professor and event organizer. This is her fifth Research and Pedagogy Festival at TCU.

Amanda LaGrone and Theresa Kohler are graduates students who participated in the festival with their project titled, Evaluation of the AVID Program in Crowley ISD. LaGrone, is a sixth grade math teacher in the Crowley school district and Kohler is the chief instructions officer for the district.

LaGrone and Kohler researched and tracked the progress of the new program, Advancement via Individual Determination [AVID], in the Crowley district. AVID is a college preparatory elective for students in fifth through 12th grade. AVID helps sharpen students’ study and note-taking skills, which can help them apply to college in the future.

“This festival is mutually beneficial,” Kohler said, “We were able to track the progress of a course we implemented. We can use this project in the future and present it to the teachers and school board.”

Dr. Huckaby said, many students will use their projects as a foundation for continuing research or practical application.

The Research and Pedagogy Festival gives students the chance to examine areas of education that truly interest them. The festival is a showcase to highlight the exceptional effort that these students put into their research projects, Dr. Hu said.