The Department of Curriculum and Instruction celebrated Student Research Day with over 30 students providing poster presentations to faculty and students in Peik Hall on March 25. The culmination of the event was the presentation of awards to four outstanding students.

Outstanding Graduate Student Research Paper Award winners were Candance Doerr-Stevens and James Nyachwaya. Candace Doerr-Stevens is a doctoral student in the literacy education program specializing in critical literacy and English education (CLEE). Her research explores student engagement and identity construction through digital media composition. James Nyachwaya is a doctoral student in science education. His current research is tracking how changes in the instructor’s approach to teaching the particulate nature of matter are producing improvements in student learning.
Graduate Student Instructor Award winners were Barbara Billington (science education) and Zachary Casey (culture and teaching). Highlights from the award nomination letter by Barb’s advisor said, “Barb is unreservedly the best science teacher educator that I have met during my career and an excellent ambassador for our department.” Zac’s advisor wrote, “student comments point to how both the course content and Mr. Casey’s instructional approaches promoted intense engagement with learning even as they focused attention on difficult and complex issues of diversity and difference.” Both individuals were recognized for the quality of their contributions to students in the department.
View a listing of Research Day 2011 Poster Presentations.