April 25, 2022
ELKINS- The Kump Education Center will hold its 12th Annual Education Research Seminar Wednesday, April 27, at 4 p.m. in the Learning Lab of the Gov. Kump House. The event is free and open to the public.
“At the Kump Education Center (KEC), we focus on what works to promote student learning and enhance teacher excellence,” said KEC Director Heather Biola. “The Annual Research Seminar highlights real life teaching experiences and findings.”
“For example, Ava Willis from Davis & Elkins College has been student teaching second graders and her research analyzes how they learn to tell time. This simple daily task requires understanding numbers and fractions that most second graders need to develop to function in their daily life.”
Another D&E student-teacher, Katie Dixon, has studied various learning modalities, she explained. “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.”
Students from a teaching methods class will describe how they 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,” Heather Biola said.
Two D&E faculty members will also be seminar presenters. “They will help us understand some of the important issues in teacher education for the 21st century,” she said. Dr. Danielle Riggins will discuss the problems teacher candidates experienced while the teacher education program transitioned 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 entrance to the Learning Lab is at the rear of the Kump House. Parking is available behind the building, and attendees are asked to wear masks. For more information, contact Heather Biola, 304-637-7820.
