in brief

Faculty

Christine Diehl has received two grants. Funding from the Professional Development Funds helped her attend the annual conference of the Cognitive Science Society. She drew on her experiences at the conference to redesign the Introduction to Cognitive Science course she taught this spring. Diehl was also awarded funding from the Instructional Minigrant Program to purchase software for the class she teaches for students in the MUSE English Credential Program. The software, she explains, “supports students in reasoning visually, using concept maps. It strengthens critical thinking and comprehension and writing across the curriculum.”

Christine Diehl

 

Andrea diSessa was named to the Evelyn Lois Corey Chair in Instructional Science. His five-year term began this academic year. The Evelyn Lois Corey in Instructional Science was established in 1987. The conditions of the Chair specify that it should be held by a faculty member of great distinction in instructional science, with emphases including but not limited to cognitive science and the use of technology in education. In addition, the specificatioons emphasize that the work of the Chair holder should have influence and impact in actual classroom practice.

Andy diSessa

 

	Glynda Hull’s project, Digital Underground Storytelling for Youth (DUSTY) recently received a 21st Century grant to continue its work at Castlemont High School in East Oakland. DUSTY uses multimedia to teach students both writing and computer skills in labs that are staffed by UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students.
Glynda Hull

 

Marcia Linn has been named Chair-Elect for Section Q, Education, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She will serve as chair in the following year. AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.

Marcia Linn

 

Geoffrey Saxe was recently elected to the National Academy of Education, a prestigious group of the top educators in the U.S. Other Berkeley faculty who are members of this organization include Andrea diSessa, Judith Warren Little, P. David Pearson, and Alan Schoenfeld. The National Academy of Education was founded in 1965 to “promote scholarly inquiry and discussion concerning the ends and means of education…in the United States and abroad.”

Geoffrey Saxe

 

Students

Nathaniel James Swanton Brown, a doctoral student in SESAME, the Graduate Group in Science and Mathematics Education, was awarded a 2004-05 Spencer Dissertation Fellowship for research related to education. His dissertation is on “Characterizing and Measuring Student Conceptions of Chemical Equilibrium.” Brown was one of only thirty fellows chosen nationally from a pool of 572 applicants. The $20,000 Dissertation Fellowship is part of the Spencer Foundation’s effort to encourage outstanding new scholars from many disciplines to bring their insights to bear on issues related to education.

Nathaniel James Swanton Brown

 

		Bradford Hill and Zachary Powers, students in the Master’s and Credential in Science and Mathematics Education (MACSME) Program, were both awarded Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) fellowships. The fellowship provides tuition support for course work and opportunities to teach and develop curriculum materials. The fellows also participate in national and KSTF-sponsored professional development activities. KSTF supports individuals and programs designed to encourage and sustain young scientists and mathematicians as they dedicate their lives to teaching other young people and to becoming leaders in the field of education.
Bradford Hill	Zachary Powers

 

	Mark Evan Nelson, a doctoral student in the Language and Literacy, Society and Culture area of study, has been named the Graduate Student Council Representative for Division G of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). According to AERA President Marilyn Cochran-Smith, “the election is an important honor for the student and brings recognition to your institution as well.”
Mark Evan Nelson

LLSC doctoral student Jorge Solis was awarded a University of California Dissertation-Year Fellowship. The program provides support for outstanding Ph.D. candidates during their dissertation year. Each year only fifty-two students systemwide at the University of California are selected to receive the awards. His dissertation is on “Changing Classroom Contexts: Transitions of ELL Students in Secondary School.”

 

Staff

Regina LeRoy, who has been a staff member in the Graduate School of Education for twenty-four years, is also active in the Native American Staff Council (NASC) on the UCB campus. She recently served as the Council’s secretary and wrote their outreach brochure. Working with native students on campus, NASC supports the recruitment and retention of Indian students and helps native organizations in the community. LeRoy is involved in collecting donations for various community organizations including the American Indian Child Resource Center and the Intertribal Friendship House, both in Oakland. LeRoy, of the Omaha nation, participates with her daughter in powwows and other native events in the Bay Area. In the Graduate School of Education, student Phenocia Bauerle of the Crow nation is also active in the native community.

Regina LeRoy

LeRoy being assisted by her daughter at a powwow in Vallejo

 

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