College of Education students Elizabeth Cardozo and Lauren Cardenas present their research on Lost Instructional Time at the Fall 2015 Teacher Research Symposium in Farish Hall.

The College of Education held the Fall Teacher Education Research Symposium (TERS) on Monday December 7, 2015.  Over 400 Teacher Candidates presented the results of their teaching inquiry research studies in poster session format.  The Symposium is an important opportunity for prospective teachers to ask questions about their own teaching practices, then present and discuss their work in a professional setting.

I wonder . . .

Each semester, student teachers are asked to reflect on something they wonder about in their teaching, which becomes the foundation for their research presentations.  There were several interesting topics presented by the teacher candidates.  Some chose to explore brain breaks in the classroom, intrinsic motivation in the classroom and lost instructional time.  Other issues, such as student engagement and the impact of reward systems on student behavior, were also presented at the Symposium.

Lauren Cardenas (Teaching & Learning EC-6 Generalist) and Elizabeth Cardozo (Human Development & Family Studies EC-6 Generalist) examined the effects of Lost Instructional Time.  “It’s great we got to hear feedback from other students and professors,” said Cardozo. "Several students were interested in our research and we are honored that they would like to replicate it.”

Poster Presentations Discussions

Participants also attended Poster session discussions where teacher candidates were able to extend dialogue about their inquiries in small groups. "These poster discussions give preservice teachers a chance to share research findings with their peers," said Amber Thompson, Director of Student Teaching. "It's a great opportunity to celebrate the work of teacher candidates developing their inquiries about their teaching."

The event was well attended by faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students.  This undergraduate research initiative presents a major opportunity for professional development for undergraduate students.

College of Education Student Teacher of the Year, Stephanie Portillo and Director of Student Teaching, Amber Thompson at the Teacher Research Symposium in KIVA Farish Hall.

At the conclusion of the symposium, students gathered in the KIVA auditorium to hear closing comments from Thompson and visiting assistant professor, Jane Cooper.  They also announced the finalist for the COE Student Teacher of the Year which was awarded to Stephanie Portillo who will receive a B.S. in Teaching & Learning: EC-6 Generalist at the Fall 2015 Graduation convocation.  “I’m so honored to have received this award from the UH College of Education.  It represents all my past and future accomplishments,” said Portillo.  "I want to thank God, my family, my supervisor Steve Dozier, my colleagues Michelle and Kim Nguyen, and my cohort, Main 10."

The UH Teacher Education Program has been recognized by the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) as a Distinguished Program in Teacher Education.  Students in the program learn to teach with the latest research-based strategies and modern technologies from world-class faculty. Future teachers participate in early and continued field experiences in urban schools, working alongside experienced teachers in a realistic classroom setting.