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Education in West Virginia is full of political controversy these days. Governor Justice has signed a bill allowing tax money to be used for "micro-schools" with very little regulation. The public is calling for book banning and prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in sports. Many parents doubt that schools can keep students safe if local COVID case numbers increase and no health precautions can be required. Students have no way to maneuver the world of cyber learning at home if their families have no internet. How can we find common ground and honest answers? It is time to look at the data and see what works.
The public is welcome to attend the 12th Annual Kump Education Research Seminar on Wednesday, April 27 at Kump Center. This event is an opportunity to put the politics of education out of our minds and look at the evidence that demonstrates what good teaching and learning behaviors are necessary for successful schools. If you wish to join us at 4 p.m. in the Kump Education Center learning lab, you may park behind our building or in the Kroger parking lot across the street. Please plan to wear masks.
At Kump Education Center we focus on what works "to promote student learning and enhance teacher excellence." Ava Willis from Davis & Elkins College has been student teaching second graders, and her Teacher Work Sample analyzes how they learn to tell time. This simple daily task requires understanding numbers and fractions that most second graders need to develop in order to function in their daily life.
Davis & Elkins College student teacher, Katie Dixon has been studying various learning modalities. She worked with 5th grade science students on a project called "Learning through Doing." She will explain how active engagement can improve student learning during a study unit about outer space.
A group of college students from a teaching methods class will describe how they will plan to deal with controversial topics like Critical Race Theory in social studies. Future teachers must learn to help students develop critical thinking skills without pushing their own personal biases.
Two of the seminar presenters are serving on the faculty at D&E. They will help us understand some of the important issues in teacher education for the Twenty-first Century. Dr. Danielle Riggins will discuss the problems teacher candidates had while the teacher education program was transitioning from a traditional student teaching model to one using a new West Virginia teacher education co-teaching model. Part-time instructor Scott Biola will share his findings on the progress of implementing digital instruction within lesson planning for student teachers at D&E.
The emotional impact of two years of COVID-19 anxiety and isolation is causing an epidemic of depression and an alarming increase in suicide among students in the U.S. Just being back in school does not necessarily reset the habits and behaviors of children and teens. We are seeking information from local school counselors and psychologists on the effects of the pandemic on student behavioral in local schools.