Great Opportunity!

 

Great Opportunity!

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FROM EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS FOR THE 2013 EARLI ADVANCED STUDY COLLOQUIUM ON THE ROLES OF THEORY IN RESEARCH ON LEARNING AND INSTRUCTION

Professor Gert Biesta (University of Luxembourg) and Professor Rupert Wegerif (University of Exeter) have been awarded funding from EARLI for an Advanced Study Colloquium (ASC) on the roles of theory in research in learning and instruction. The ASC will be a three-day gathering of about 8 experienced research and 8 early career researchers and will focus on the roles of theory in research on learning and instruction, with particular attention to different traditions of theory and theorising within Europe.

The ASC provides a unique opportunity for Early Career Researchers to engage in scholarly discussions about an important topic that until now has received relatively little attention but that nonetheless is crucial for the conduct of meaningful research on learning and instruction. The ASC will consist of presentations from all participants and themed discussions. It will use the Metafora project (see http:/www.metafora-project.org) as a 'case' to explore issues around the roles of theory and the different traditions of theory and theorising. The ACS will be held in London from Wednesday afternoon 8 May 2013 until Saturday morning 11 May 2013. Expenses of participants will be covered.

The ASC will facilitate focused interaction between experienced and early career researchers (PhD students/junior researchers within about two years of obtaining their PhD). While we anticipate that senior/experienced participants will be able to provide contributions that contain a broad and deep engagement with particular issues, we will also request that all junior researchers prepare original contributions to the event, albeit on the expectation that they will do so from their particular intellectual 'location' and in relation to their expertise and experience. Doing so not only will make sure that junior researchers will contribute fully to the discussions, but will also allow playing to the strengths of each of the participants. In addition we envisage that the contributions themselves will make visible how experienced and junior researchers perceive and experience the field in which they are working differently, and how this impacts on their perception of the roles of theory and theorising and on their views about the issues that need attention and further development. We anticipate that this way of working will provide a stimulating and intellectually challenging opportunity for junior researchers.

This call is an invitation to early career researchers within EARLI to apply for a place at the ACS. In order to apply we ask you to submit a brief document with your contact details, a description of your research interests (about 200 words), when and where you obtained your PhD plus a brief description of the topic (about 200 words), and an abstract for a possible contribution to the ACS (about 300-500 words). Such a contribution can either look at the use of particular theories in research on learning and instruction, or at particular traditions of theorising.

This event is being organised by the University of Exeter so please submit your application by Monday 14th January 2013 to Karen Ogden (K.E.Ogden@exeter.ac.uk). You will be notified of the outcome by Friday 1 February 2013. If you have particular questions about the ACS, please feel free to contact us directly (until the end of December:
gert.biesta@stir.ac.uk from January 2013 onwards: gert.biesta@uni.lu; r.b.wegerif@ex.ac.uk). A fuller description of the context and content of the event can be found on http://www.dialogiceducation.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EARLI-ASC-2013-Theory-Call.docx.docx.docx

AERA 2013 Division C Graduate Student Seminar CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Plans are underway for the 2013 Division C Graduate Student Seminar, which will be held Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 prior to the AERA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. This year Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia (Duke University) is serving as chair and Erica Halverson (University of Wisconsin) is serving as vice-chair.   The objective of the seminar is to provide graduate students who are members of AERA Division C with an opportunity to receive mentoring and advice from current faculty members and to begin developing professional relationships with current and future leaders within the field. The seminar is intended for fulltime, advanced level doctoral students who are approaching the dissertation phase of their programs. Students who will have finished their dissertation by the end of April 2013 should consider applying for the Division C New Faculty seminar instead.  In addition to presentations on topics such as job search, and grants and funding opportunities, the seminar will consist of panel discussions on teaching, research, and publishing. Students will also participate in a manuscript review with mentors, as well as discussions on how to revise your CV.   Students interested in participating in the Graduate Student Seminar should submit an application by 5:00pm on January 15, 2013. The application can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/AERADivC-GSS-2013 (detailed instructions for the application can be found on-line). Applicants should be prepared to provide the following information:

• A general statement of interest in the Division C Graduate Student Seminar. Include in the statement: 1) Why you are interested in attending the Division C Graduate Student Seminar and what you hope to gain from this experience. 2) Where you are in your timeline for completing your degree requirements  3) Your research interests 4) Your career goals and job search timeline 
• A list of potential faculty mentors with whom you would like to be matched • 
• A 2-page summary of your dissertation research   • 
• A CV that includes name, address, institution, telephone, fax, e-mail, educational background, awards, professional publications and presentations, teaching experience, and service activities
• A letter of recommendation from your advisor, major professor, or dissertation chair sent directly to the Seminar chair at llinnen@duke.edu (this must be sent to us by the due date in order for your application to be considered). Please send the letter of recommendation as an attachment (in word or as a pdf).

 Upon acceptance, participants will also be required to submit a writing sample (e.g., a manuscript to be submitted for publication) to their assigned mentor(s) for review as part of the seminar by March 15, 2013. A limited number of participants will be selected for the 2013 Graduate Student Seminar based on graduate status, clarity of research interests, and match with participating mentors. Notifications will be sent out by January 31, 2013. Students who attend the seminar will receive a small stipend to support travel costs. To be eligible, students must be members of Division C and must register for the annual meeting.

We look forward to seeing you with our Division C colleagues in San Francisco in April!

- Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia & Erica Halverson, Division C Graduate Student Seminar Co-Chairs

Graduate Student Excellence Award

Call for Nominations: Division C
2013 Graduate Student Research Excellence Award

Nominations are now open for the 2013
Division C Graduate Student Research Excellence Award
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, January 16, 2013
(See below for details)

Division C of AERA invites current and recent graduate students to submit papers (a journal length empirical study) for the 2013 Division C Graduate Student Research Excellence Award. This award represents Division C’s continuing efforts to promote and support the professional development of its graduate students and to recognize excellence in graduate student research. The award winner will be recognized at the division’s annual business meeting at the AERA conference in San Francisco and will receive a stipend of $500 and a commemorative plaque.

To be eligible for the award:
1) papers must already be officially accepted by Division C for presentation at the 2012 or 2013 AERA annual meeting in Vancouver or San Francisco;
2) research must have been conducted while nominees were graduate students in 2011 or 2012, and;
3) the candidate must have been the primary researcher and, if a paper is co-authored, the candidate must be the first author.

The following criteria guide paper award selection:
* importance of the problem,
* relation of the study to previous work in the field,
* clearly stated research questions or hypotheses,
* appropriateness of the methodology (e.g., sampling procedure, study procedures employed),
* appropriateness of the analysis(es) conducted,
* clear interpretations of the study results,
* acknowledgment of study limitations,
* clear description of the importance of the study findings
* and formatting adheres to APA style, 6th Edition,

To submit a paper for consideration, please assemble and submit the following materials electronically (only electronic submissions will be accepted):

1) SEPARATE COVER SHEET: A cover sheet as a separate document that includes: 1) paper title, 2) author’s/authors’ name(s), and 3) first author’s address, phone, and email.,
2) PAPER: Include the presentation paper prepared for blind review (as a pdf file), following APA 6th Edition style guidelines. Papers must not be more than 30 pages, including text, references, tables, figures, and appendices. Papers exceeding the maximum page length will be disqualified.
3) RESEARCH ADVISOR/MENTOR LETTER: A brief letter as a separate document from the research advisor/mentor acknowledging that the author was the primary researcher, and that the student’s research was conducted in 2011 or 2012. (The academic advisor/mentor may send this letter separately by email or as a PDF attachment.)
4) AERA, DIVISION C ACCEPTANCE LETTER: An electronic copy of the AERA, Division C acceptance letter for the April 2013 annual meeting in San Francisco.
5) Please send all electronic materials by email to Daniel Dinsmore (daniel.dinsmore@unf.edu) with the header “Grad Student Award.” Deadline for paper submissions is Wednesday, January 16, 2013.

Please forward any questions about the award or the nomination process to this year’s chair, Dr. Daniel Dinsmore (daniel.dinsmore@unf.edu).

We at Division C strongly encourage all eligible contributors to participate!
An American Educational Research Association List

Publication Opportunity

Call for Papers: Contemporary Educational Psychology

Special Issue: Examining Innovations—Navigating the Dynamic Complexities

of School-Based Intervention Research



As has been averred by educational stakeholders across the globe, schools need innovations—innovations created in the service of solving problems faced by billions of teachers and children (e.g., Duncan, 2009). Educators worldwide need access to research that will enable the development of model learning communities marked by effective pedagogical practices, deeper student learning, active engagement, and positive motivation and affect for all members of that learning community.

We seek to disseminate important, classroom-based intervention research being conducted by contemporary educational researchers around the globe. Contemporary Educational Psychology seeks paper submissions for a special issue on Examining Innovations—Navigating the Dynamic Complexities of School-Based Intervention Research. Submitted studies must meet all of the following criteria (in addition to the general CEP guidelines regarding theory-driven research, high-quality methods, writing style, and formatting found at http://ees.elsevier.com/cedpsych/):

(a) take place in K-12 or primary-secondary formal educational settings in any country;

(b) employ random assignment of classes, groups, or individuals to treatment(s) and comparison/control condition(s);

(c) occur in intact classroom settings (i.e., either whole class or small group);

(d) include researcher- or teacher-delivered instructional treatment;

(e) have a duration longer than one class day; and,

(f) involve assessment of fidelity to treatment.

For example, a month-long experiment comparing middle school writing instruction in science classes with and without motivational supports could meet these criteria. Likewise, an experiment in a private school comparing small-group social studies learning from original source documents versus traditional textbook passages could meet these criteria. On the other hand, an individual tutoring study at an after-school program would not, even if all of the other criteria were met. Similarly, a computer-based algebra tutoring experiment would not meet the criteria, even if all of the other criteria were met. The editors will return, without review, any manuscript that does not meet all of the criteria.

Submissions should describe school-based conditions and constraints in slightly more detail than is typical for CEP, so that the papers in the special issue can be as informative as possible regarding navigating the dynamic complexities of spending extended research time in classrooms, situating relevant interventions within existing curricula, dealing with varying student abilities, school cultures, classroom enclaves, pedagogical nuances, and a general malaise toward research. In addition to describing these unique features of classroom research that differentiate it from laboratory research, submissions should describe how the researchers responded to these conditions and constraints.

Deadline for submissions is June 4, 2013.

Please direct questions to either co-editor of the Special Issue: P. Karen Murphy, Ph.D. pkm15@psu.edu OR Jennifer G. Cromley, Ph.D., jcromley@temple.edu

Call for Proposals

Call for proposals for upcoming special issue of Educational Psychology Review

Special Issue Topic - Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical Evidence Relevant to Classroom Instruction with Instructional Manipulatives.

Guest Editors: Scott C. Marley and Kira J. Carbonneau. University of New Mexico. Educational Psychology Program.

You are invited to contribute a proposal for the upcoming special issue entitled “Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical Evidence Relevant to Classroom Instruction with Manipulatives.” Activity-based instructional strategies that utilize concrete representations (i.e., manipulatives) are often suggested as efficacious techniques for teaching content and concepts in science, math and language arts. The purpose of this special issue will be to provide modern commentaries relevant to instructional manipulatives with a focus on application in classroom contexts.

Potential topics of interest to the special issue are:

Contemporary theoretical explanations
Developmental considerations
STEM instruction with manipulatives
Language arts instruction with manipulatives
Transfer of learning
Instructional considerations
Virtual manipulatives
Methodological issues associated with research on manipulatives
Physical characteristics of manipulatives
Assessment issues
Working memory issues related to manipulatives
Student engagement with manipulatives
Motivational and affective considerations
Problem solving with manipulatives
Future directions

Proposals should be double-spaced, no more than 500 words and should be emailed directly to Dr. Scott C. Marley at marley@unm.edu. All proposals should contain the following:

1. Proposed manuscript title
2. A brief description of the topic of your proposed manuscript and rationale for publication
3. A proposed outline for the manuscript.
4. Author information including name, institutional affiliation, email, phone and mailing address.

Please submit your proposal by January 15th 2013. Proposals will be reviewed by the guest editors and invitations will be extended to selected authors by February 15th, 2013. Each submitted full manuscript will be reviewed by two peer reviewers. Anticipated time of publication is fall of 2013. All questions should be addressed to Dr. Scott C. Marley at marley@unm.edu.

Publication Opportunity

Frontiers in Educational Psychology Call for Manuscripts

Theme: School Leadership and the Learning Sciences: What Each Needs to Learn from the Other

Host Editors: Steve Myran and Jason Osborne

Both educational psychologists and school leaders seem to work toward the same goal: success for students, job satisfaction for teachers, happy parents and communities. Yet it is not clear that the two communities of practitioners and scholars are effectively communicating with each other.

The goal of this research topic is to bring important communities of scholars and practitioners together in one place to begin a conversation about what each group needs to know about the other. Specifically, what do educational leaders (and scholars of educational leadership) need to know about the science of learning, and what do scientists studying learning need to know about the realities and contexts in which that learning occurs?

In the learning sciences we have a century of science that tells us many things about how students of all ages learn, and new findings are constantly casting light on what is truly useful and important. In educational leadership we have deep knowledge of the contextual and procedural realities of schooling and education. It seems important that the two groups learn from the other to make the scholarship and practice of education more effective.

In particular, we welcome articles that attempt to reach across the silos, that attempt to speak to what scholars in the learning sciences should know about educational leadership, and what educational leaders should know from the learning sciences.

http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/SpecialTopicDetail.aspx?name=educational_psychology&st=1182&sname=School_Leadership_and_the_Lear

Upcoming AERA Fellowship and Grant Deadlines

October 10, 2012

Dear AERA Member:

In our efforts to strengthen the pipeline to education research, AERA announces its 2013–2014 fellowship programs and funding opportunities for graduate students and early career scholars. These programs provide mentoring and funding support to develop research skills and conduct studies in education related fields and topics. We are seeking your assistance in sharing this information and identifying potential candidates. Information about the programs and the upcoming application deadlines are available at http://www.aera.net/AERAfundingopportunities. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Below are brief descriptions of the AERA research funding opportunities.

Minority Fellowship Program in Education Research
AERA offers dissertation support through the Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program in Education Research. This program offers doctoral fellowships to enhance the competitiveness of outstanding minority scholars for academic appointments at major research universities by supporting their research and by providing mentoring and guidance toward completion of their doctoral studies. Application deadline: November 30, 2012.

AERA-AIR Fellows Program
In collaboration with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), the AERA-AIR Fellows Program aims to build the talent pool of high skilled education researchers experienced in large-scale studies in a major research organization. Fellows will receive mentoring from a diverse group of highly recognized researchers and practitioners in a variety of substantive areas in education. Fellows will hone their skills in all aspects of the research process from proposal development through writing and presentations. Up to three fellows are selected annually for a two-year, rotational position at AIR in Washington, DC. Application deadline: November 30, 2012.

AERA-ETS Fellowship Program in Measurement and Education Research
In collaboration with Educational Testing Service (ETS), AERA offers the AERA-ETS Fellowship Program in Measurement and Education Research. This fellowship is designed to provide learning opportunities and practical experience to recent doctoral degree recipients and to early career research scientists in areas such as educational measurement, assessment design, psychometrics, statistical analyses, large-scale evaluations, and other studies directed toward explaining student progress and achievement. Up to two fellows will be selected for this rotational research position at ETS's facilities in Princeton, NJ. Application deadline: November 30, 2012.

AERA Grants Program
The AERA Grants Program provides dissertation support and small grants for researchers who conduct studies of education policy and practice using quantitative methods and data from the large-scale data sets sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics and the National Science Foundation. Application deadline: January 23, 2013.

Visit http://www.aera.net/AERAfundingopportunities for complete program descriptions and application information.

Please feel free to contact me at 202-238-3200 or via e-mail at fellowships@aera.net with any questions. Thank you in advance for sharing this information.

Sincerely,

George L. Wimberly, Ph.D.
Director of Social Justice and Professional Development

Hi all!

Division 15 (APA) is currently offering one year of free membership to all first-time enrollees. We encourage you to pass along word to students and colleagues so that they can enjoy the growing benefits of Division 15 membership!

 

Benefits of this free, first year include:

1. Eligibility to share in over $50,000 in annual grants and awards
2. Free digital subscription to Educational Psychologist, the Division 15 newsletter, and a weekly digest of top education headlines
3. Opportunities for publication through Psychology Today and other outlets
4. Social events to network with both peers and luminaries
5. Awards for early career contributions to the field
6. Access to Division 15’s ed psych job board (edpsychjobs.info)
7. Opportunities to present at annual conventions

Interested individuals may register with Division 15 by visiting http://www.apadiv15.org/join . Please send any questions or comments to Wade George (wade.george@apadiv15.org).

 

Ben

AERA GSC Call for Nominations

Final Call for Nominations for AERA Graduate Student Council Elected Offices!

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is still looking for self-nominations for the following GSC positions: (1) Chair-Elect, (2) Newsletter Editor, (3) Secretary Historian, and (4) Web Secretary. The terms of service and responsibilities for these positions are detailed below.

If you are interested in running, please send your CV, a statement of interest, and the information listed below to nicholashartlep@gmail.com. Your statement of interest should be between 250 and 500 words and should address the reasons you would like to run and why you believe you would be a good candidate for the position. In addition to your CV and statement of interest, please include the following information:

- your name
- the university where you are pursuing your graduate degree
- the name of the degree you are pursing
- your anticipated date of graduation
- the position for which you would like to run.

Applications will be accepted until midnight, September 15.


GSC Elected Positions:

1. Chair-Elect
The chair-elect position has a three-year term, taking office in April 2013 and serving through April 2016. In the first year, the chair-elect is primarily responsible for the Graduate Student Resource Center. In the second chair, the Chair-Elect becomes Chair, and oversees the activities of The Graduate Student Council. Also during this year, the Chair serves as a member of AERA’s Association Council. In the third year, the Chair becomes The Past Chair, who chairs the nominating committee and serves in an advisory capacity to the incoming Chair and to the GSC.

Eligibility
- Must be a graduate student and AERA member for Fall and Spring semesters of first two years (through spring, 2015)
- Should have prior experience being a member of the GSC; if there is no nominee for Chair-Elect with prior GSC experience, nominations will be opened to the full graduate student membership of AERA

Responsibilities, Year 1 (as Chair-Elect)
- Plan and coordinate the Graduate Student Resource Center at the Annual Meeting.
- Plan and chair the Chair-Elect’s Fireside Chat session at the Annual Meeting
- Attend the October Coordinated Committee meeting in Washington, DC. Chair GSC if it is necessary for Chair to be absent for some portion of the GSC meeting.
- Attend the GSC orientation, open, and closed business meetings at the Annual Meeting.
- Attend Association Council meeting at the Annual Meeting in year rising to Chair position
- Prepare article for each issue of the Graduate Student Newsletter.
- Prepare Chair-elect annual report.
- Assist GSC Chair in creation of a budget for GSC.
- Serve on GSC executive committee.
- Assume responsibilities of Chair if Chair is unable to complete his/her term of office

Responsibilities, Year 2 (as Chair of the GSC)
- Set agenda for GSC activities for the year.
- Create GSC budget for the upcoming year and submit to Central Office.
- Attend Association Council Meetings at Annual Meeting for year as Chair; attend Council meetings in meetings in June and February.
- Attend Coordinated Committee meeting in Washington, DC in October; chair GSC during this meeting, including agenda setting.
- Attend GSC orientation, open and closed business meeting at Annual Meeting; chair GSC business meetings, including agenda setting.
- Present summary of GSC activities at GSC Open Business Meeting.
- Report the pertinent actions and events occurring at all AssociationCouncil, and GSC Executive Committee meetings to the GSC.
- Publicize GSC functions.
- Prepare article for each issue of the Graduate Student Council Newsletter.
- Prepare GSC Annual Report for year served as Chair.
- Prepare pass -down materials for incoming Chair.
- Send email letter to Division VPs encouraging the appointment of new Division representatives by date of Annual Meeting.

Responsibilities, Year 3 (as Past Chair):
- Chair the nominating committee, to assemble slate for election of new GSC officers.
- Attend the Coordinated Committee Meeting in Washington, DC, in October.
- Attend GSC orientation and open and closed business meetings at the annual meeting.
- Serve in advisory capacity to incoming GSC Chair.

2. Jr. Newsletter Editor
Newsletter editors serve two year terms (April 2013-April 2014). Each year, a junior newsletter editor is elected to collaborate with the senior newsletter editor (who was elected as junior editor the year before). The
newsletter editors are responsible for producing three issues of the GSC newsletter, Connections.

Eligibility:
- must be a graduate student and AERA member for Fall and Spring semesters of both years of service (2013-2015).

Responsibilities:
- Manage and edit the GSC newsletters. This is a collaborative position between the senior and junior editors.
- Produce fall and spring issues of the GSC newsletter, with the option to produce a summer issue.
- Select a theme for each issue.
- Disseminate call for submissions for each issue.
- Outline due dates for newsletter submissions.
- Design, layout, and edit articles.
- Submit completed issue to GSC Web Secretary for publication on GSC website.
- Submit annual report on newsletter activities.
- Attend GSC orientation and open and closed business meetings at the annual meeting.
- As senior editor (year 2), attend Coordinated Committee Meeting in Washington, DC in October.


3. Secretary/Historian
The Secretary/Historian serves a *one year term* (April 2013-April 2014) and is responsible for record keeping for the GSC.

Eligibility:
- Must be a graduate student and AERA member for Fall and Spring semesters (2013-2014).

Responsibilities:
- Attend the Coordinated Committee Meeting in Washington, DC in October.
- Attend the GSC orientation and open and closed business meetings at the Annual meeting.
- Record minutes for all GSC meetings and business.
- Disseminate minutes to GSC within thirty days of the meeting date.
- Submit approved minutes to Web Secretary for posting on the GSC Web site.
- Act as GSC historian. Collect photographs of GSC events, make these available to Web Secreatry and Newsletter Editors. Maintain updated versionof GSC history.
- Maintain contact information for all GSC Members.
- Assist in coordinating the Graduate Student Orientation at the annual meeting.
- Submit annual report on activities for the year.
- Serve on GSC executive committee.


4. Web Secretary
The GSC Web Secretary serves a one year term (April 2013-2014) and works with the AERA Central Office to maintain the GSC website.

Eligibility:
- Must be a graduate student and AERA member for Fall and Spring semesters (2013-20124.

Responsibilities:
- Update and maintain GSC website
- Maintain contact with Division Representatives to ensure that the website contains current information.
- Get trained on latest AERA CMS software.
- Keep in contact with AERA web personnel about changes and other issues related to the GSC website.
- Communicate with AERA web personnel about GSC web priorities
- Keep GSC updated about AERA web issues, concerns, priorities, feedback, etc.
- Assist GSC officers in planning new GSC initiatives and programs for graduate students across AERA. Support and become involved in these new AERA GSC initiatives.
- Moderate GSC discussion list serv.


If you have any questions regarding the positions or nomination/election process feel free to contact current Chair: Cathy Rosenberg (cathy.rosenberg@gmail.com) or Past-Chair/Elections Chairperson Nicholas Hartlep (nicholashartlep@gmail.com)


Cathy A. Rosenberg
Doctoral Candidate-The Ohio State University-Columbus
AERA GSC Chair

Dissertation Grant Opportunity!

AERA GRANTS PROGRAM DEADLINES
The AERA Grants Program is accepting proposals for its two research
initiatives, with a deadline of September 19, 2012. These programs provide
small grants and training for researchers who conduct studies of education
policy and practice using quantitative methods, including the analysis of
data from the large-scale data sets sponsored by National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). We
are seeking your assistance in sharing this information and identifying
potential candidates.

AERA Dissertation Grants

AERA provides dissertation support for advanced doctoral students to
undertake doctoral dissertations using data from the large-scale national or
international data sets supported by the NCES, NSF, and other federal
agencies. Applications are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, such as
but not limited to, education, sociology, economics, psychology, demography,
statistics, and psychometrics. The selection process is competitive. The
next application deadline is September 19, 2012.

AERA Research Grants

AERA provides small grants for faculty members, postdoctoral researchers,
and other doctoral-level scholars to undertake quantitative research using
data from the large-scale national or international data sets supported by
the NCES, NSF, and other federal agencies. Applications are encouraged from
a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to, education, sociology,
economics, psychology, demography, statistics, and psychometrics. The
selection process is competitive. The next application deadline is September
19, 2012.

Visit the AERA website at www.aera.net/grantsprogram for further information
about the AERA Grants Program. You may also contact George Wimberly
atgrantsprogram@aera.net or (202) 238-3200.

AERA Grants Program

Attn: Grad Students, great opportunity!

The AERA Grants Program is accepting proposals for its two research initiatives, with a deadline of September 19, 2012. These programs provide small grants and training for researchers who conduct studies of education policy and practice using quantitative methods, including the analysis of data from the large-scale data sets sponsored by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). We are seeking your assistance in sharing this information and identifying potential candidates.

AERA Dissertation Grants

AERA provides dissertation support for advanced doctoral students to undertake doctoral dissertations using data from the large-scale national or international data sets supported by the NCES, NSF, and other federal agencies. Applications are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to, education, sociology, economics, psychology, demography, statistics, and psychometrics. The selection process is competitive. The next application deadline is September 19, 2012.

AERA Research Grants

AERA provides small grants for faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral-level scholars to undertake quantitative research using data from the large-scale national or international data sets supported by the NCES, NSF, and other federal agencies. Applications are encouraged from a variety of disciplines, such as but not limited to, education, sociology, economics, psychology, demography, statistics, and psychometrics. The selection process is competitive. The next application deadline is September 19, 2012.

Visit the AERA website at www.aera.net/grantsprogram for further information about the AERA Grants Program. You may also contact George Wimberly at grantsprogram@aera.net or (202) 238-3200.

Dear AERA Members and Recent Attendees,

It is Sunday afternoon east coast time, and I am writing to encourage you to finalize your paper or session submission for the 2013 AERA Annual Meeting as soon as you can polish your work.

The staff and I have been monitoring the AERA online submission system over the weekend, and it is operating swiftly and efficiently. We can see, from tracking the number of completed submissions, that thousands are done, but many thousands of submitters also are waiting for the final day and hours—July 23^rd, 11:59pm Pacific time.

This is a good time to get ahead of the crowd! Login now to submit a paper or session submission. Also, be sure that you address all of the elements as set forth in the open Call for Submissions whether you are submitting to an AERA division, SIG, or committee. 

There is no more timely a theme—Education and Poverty: Theory, Research, Policy, and Praxis—or better location for open and innovative exchange of new research and scholarly ideas than San Francisco (April 27-May 1, 2013). We look forward to your attending and, assuming a successful submission, your having the opportunity to present your best work.

Regards,
Felice

AERA Proposal Deadline

Greetings AERA members and Annual Meeting Attendees,

We are writing to remind you that the deadline for submitting proposals for the 2013 AERA Annual Meeting is Monday, July 23 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time). The meeting will be held Saturday, April 27 to Wednesday, May 1 in San Francisco. We are planning sessions that feature the theme, Education and Poverty: Theory, Research, Policy, and Praxis, and also those that capitalize on the wealth of history and culture in the Bay Area and hope that you will join us.

We want to encourage paper and symposium submissions and to emphasize that the deadline is just a few days away and fixed. Login now to submit a paper or session submission. Please see the open Call for Submissions for AERA divisions, SIGs, and committees and finalize your submission as soon as possible.
We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!


William G. Tierney
AERA President  
                        
Kristen Renn
2013 AERA Annual Meeting Chair

Welcome New Division C GSC Officers!

We would like to announce and welcome our three new officers:

Communication Officer - Cheston Saunders, West Virginia University

Activities Officer - Carlton Fong, The University of Texas at Austin

Secretary - Jessica Kestler, The University of Cincinnati

Division C Graduate Student Committee Positions Open!

There are three GSC positions open; secretary, communications officer, and activities officer.

• The secretaries main responsibility will be to reconfigure the graduate student handbook and post meeting minutes to the blog. 
• The communication officer will run the social media outlets (twitter, facebook, etc.). 
• The activities officer will put together an activity at the annual conference as well as plan the graduate student social.

Please fill in the following form to apply. Applications will be accepted until July 5th.

AERA Submissions!

Dear AERA Members,

I am writing to encourage you to participate in the 2013 AERA Annual Meeting to be held Saturday, April 27 – Wednesday, May 1 in San Francisco, California. William G. Tierney, AERA President and Kristen Renn, Chair, 2013 Program Committee are pleased to announce this year’s Annual Meeting Theme: “Education and Poverty: Theory, Research, Policy and Praxis”. Now is the time to advance a paper or session submission for consideration by a division, special interest group, or committee and to volunteer as a chair or discussant.

Deadline for Paper and Session Submissions is July 22, 2012
Please review the Call for Submissions as it contains important information about this year’s Annual Meeting theme and submission requirements. Please login to advance a paper or session submission. Please pay special attention to the six elements that must be addressed in the narrative paper submissions even if the results, conclusions, or findings are not complete or final at the time of the submission.

Also, please indicate your preferred type of session and willingness to present in alternative formats at the time of submission. The roundtable format introduced at the 2010 Annual Meeting was very well received. I encourage you to consider presenting in this format, as well as the poster session format, both of which allow for greater interaction than a paper session.

Volunteer to Serve as a Chair or Discussant by August 31, 2012
Please review the Call for Volunteer Session Chairs and Discussants and consider volunteering. Please login to volunteer as a chair or discussant. The quality of the AERA Annual Meeting depends on education researchers with appropriate expertise who serve as chairs and discussants for paper sessions and roundtables.

Please contact the Meetings Team at annualmtg@aera.net or (202) 238-3200 with any questions and I look forward to your participation in an enriching 2013 Annual Meeting.

Kind regards,

Laurie Cipriano, CMP
Director of Meetings

Division C Graduate Student Seminar

Before the 2012 AERA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, twenty-one graduate students participated in a two-day seminar, which included mentoring and a variety of panel presentations. Co-chaired by Dr. Susan Yoon (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia (Duke University), the seminar was a huge success, and we thank them for all their work and dedication!

One of the many highlights was getting paired with a faculty mentor with similar research interests. The mentors graciously offered us advice regarding our academic careers. In addition they provided concrete feedback on our CVs, research statements, and a manuscript in preparation. Their help was invaluable, and we will treasure their mentoring for many years to come as we finish our graduate careers.

Second, the seminar consisted of a wide range of panel presentations ranging from how to interview for faculty jobs, how to establish a research program and applying for funding, the work-life balance, and a presentation from journal editors. The panelists’ expertise and personal experiences were very insightful, and we are eager to put them into practice!

There were also many opportunities for networking with the other faculty mentors and other graduate students as we were grouped by common research interests. I’m personally excited to have established a variety of collaborative relationships with like-minded peers and faculty members.

On behalf of the other graduate students, I want to thank all the mentors and all those that made this seminar such a memorable experience! I highly recommend that other graduate students apply for this next year – you won’t regret it!

Below is a picture of some of the graduate student participants at the Division C Business Meeting and Reception with Vice-President Gale Sinatra, and a picture of me and my mentor, Ellen Usher (University of Kentucky).

Carlton Fong

The University of Texas at Austin

Division C Campus Liaison

New Representatives Introduction

Dear Division C Graduate Students,

We hope your semester is wrapping up nicely!  As we complete yet another year of graduate work we have much to reflect back on and much to look forward to.  The 2012 AERA conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia was a wonderful experience.  There were many great sessions and events hosted by Division C including: Dr. Richard Clark’s Fireside Chat, the New Beginnings session, Musician Mark Gabriel Hasselbach’s Jazz band at the business meeting, and  the graduate student social; it’s difficult to put into words how great of an experience we had.  It was great to see many familiar faces at the business meeting and to meet new graduate students and faculty.  Thank you to our colleagues who organized the events, including Yin Wah Kreher, Angela Shelton, Jennifer McGee, and Brittney Hott.  They were integral in creating these engaging events that took place during AERA.  We want to take the time to thank you four for your service on Division C GSC and wish you luck in your future endeavors.

There have been changes in the structure of the Graduate Student Council (GSC).  The executive board made the decision to streamline the GSC and have two positions instead of the previous four.  During the Division C Business Meeting at AERA this was proposed and voted upon by Division C members.  Starting this year there are now two co-representatives.  The new co-representatives are Ariana Crowther and Benjamin Heddy.  We are honored to be able to serve Division C, AERA, and the GSC in this capacity.

As your new Division C graduate student leaders, we have several goals this year.  Our first goal is to increase overall graduate student participation in Division C.  Our second goal is to have a campus liaison at every university or college where we have a Division C faculty member.  Our third goal is to improve communication between graduate students across the country.  We will be increasing our presence on the Facebook page, the graduate student blog, and Twitter.  To help us reach our goals we are looking for graduate students with the desire to become involved with AERA.  Division C is the second largest division in the American Educational Research Association.  We are committed to improving graduate student access and service opportunities for our members.  Please feel free to contact us at any time!

We seriously hope that you communicate with us and assist us in building a new and improved Division C for future graduate students to enjoy.  Hope you have a restful and productive summer.

Best,
Benjamin Heddy
heddy@usc.edu
Ariana Crowther
acrowther@utexas.edu

Bye for Now & AERA 2012 Fireside Chat Slides

From left: Yin Wah Kreher, Dr. Richard E. Clark, Angela Shelton.

I write with much gratitude as I deliver this, my swansong, as the 2011-12 Division C Senior Representative, a position I officially handed over on April 17, 2012 to the new co-reps. I have had a wonderful journey. I learned so many things and made so many friends. I met so many people - new, emerging, and senior scholars through my position and AERA itself. I thank you all for reading this blog and following us. At Vancouver, I even met somehow who I had seen first on this blog through the digital image she sent me!

On my first trip to AERA in 2010, I was stepping into the Junior Rep position. I was tasked with getting this blog going and to use social media to connect with more of our members. We began slowly, but over time I'm pleased that it has served its primary purpose: to connect students and people from many parts of the world to Division C's mission. I leave with no regrets. I feel that our team has accomplished what we had set out to do. I thank my mentors, my team-mates, Dr. Gale Sinatra and Dr. Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia. Suffice to say, I happily pass the baton on to the next team. I wish them much success.

A Captive Audience.

Of course, not forgetting my primary purpose for this post: to deliver Dr. Richard E. Clark's Fireside Chat slides to you. At the wonderful Chat session, those who were present requested for the slides. Here is the link to Dr. Clark's slides:

Dr. Richard E. Clark's Slides: Turning Research into Results - Handling the Complexity of Learning

With this, I bid you all the best in your studies and look forward to meeting you at future conferences!

Note: All photos are provided by Angela Shelton. Parts of this post are also cross-posted on my own blog.

New AERA Website

Its finally here! AERA has updated the website. This is a recent change so some links may not be working when you access it, but will be working very soon. It looks much easier to navigate.

I would encourage you to also log into the Annual Meeting Portal and create your own schedule. You can search the online schedule and add activities to your personal calendar. Doing this ahead of time - trust me - will make AERA much less intimidating.

Also check out the Program Mobile Application to use when you get to Vancouver. It is suggested that you download it in advance of arriving.

2012 AERA Division C Graduate Student Social

The date for the Division C Graduate Student Social is Sunday, April 15th.

Major Divisional Events and Poster Sessions at Vancouver

Click on the link below for more details:

http://aera-divc-gsc.blogspot.com/p/conference.html

OR, click on the tab on this blog: Div C@Conference

2012-2013 Graduate Student Committee

The 2012-2013 Graduate Student Committee consists of the following students. They will assume office after the 2012 Annual Meeting.

AERA Graduate Student Council (GSC) Co-Representative
Benjamin C Heddy
University of Southern California | Rossier School of Education
3470 Trousdale Parkway, WPH 800 | Los Angeles, CA 90089
Heddy@usc.edu | 702-466-6255

AERA Graduate Student Council (GSC) Co-Representative
Ariana Vasquez Crowther
University of Texas at Austin
College of Education
George I. Sanchez Building, Suite 504
1 University Station | Austin, Texas 78712
acrowther@utexas.edu

Graduate Student Committee Faculty Advisor is:
Marcus Johnson, Ph.D.
University of Cincinnati

2012-2013 New Student Leaders

It's time! We are happy to announce our new student leaders who will assume office after the Vancouver Annual Meeting. Congratulations, colleagues!

Benjamin C Heddy
Incoming Graduate Student Council Co-Representative (2012-2013)
University of Southern California | Rossier School of Education
3470 Trousdale Parkway, WPH 800 | Los Angeles, CA 90089
Heddy@usc.edu | 702-466-6255

Benjamin is a third year graduate student in Urban Education Policy at the University of Southern California.  With a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Educational Psychology, Benjamin has a passion for understanding the mind and behavior.  In fact, he has taught as an instructor at the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and continually seeks new ways to apply psychological constructs to his teaching strategies.  His research interests include: transformative experience, conceptual change, STEM education, and academic emotions.  He has presented these topics at SCIPIE, NCIC, ICLS, and AERA.  As a member of the Division C graduate student committee, his goals are to improve communication between graduate students and current scholars that will lead to productive and influential collaborations.  

Ariana Vasquez Crowther
Incoming Graduate Student Council Co-Representative (2012-2013)
University of Texas at Austin
College of Education
George I. Sanchez Building, Suite 504
1 University Station | Austin, Texas 78712
acrowther@utexas.edu


Ariana received both her Bachelor's in Psychology and Master's of Art in Teaching with a concentration in elementary education from Austin College in Sherman, TX. She began her teaching career in Mesquite, Texas by teaching in a 4th grade self-contained classroom for one year. She then started teaching at KIPP TRUTH Academy in Dallas, Texas. In her first year there, she was a reading specialist working with mainly 5th grade students. During her next three years at KIPP, she taught 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts. Ariana is currently studying Educational Psychology as a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ariana’s research interests include parental and teacher autonomy support and its impact on student’s motivation. She is also broadly interested in motivation and interest development. Her primary research interest involves conducting a meta-analysis exploring the relationship between parental autonomy support and its impact on student achievement, psychosocial functioning, and motivation. Ariana currently works as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Motivation Lab at UT, a Graduate Research Assistant for the Charles A. Dana Center, and as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate course entitled Human Learning, Cognition, and Motivation. Ariana hopes to strengthen the national network of graduate students in Division C.

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions at NOLA Annual Meeting 2011 Reg Booth

While working at the Graduate Student booth at AERA 2011 for Division C, these were the questions our Division reps came across frequently:

 #1: Will I get into trouble if I walk in late?

Definitely! There's an AERA latecomers' patrol squad! :) Just kidding. Let's just say you won't get into trouble because participants have to travel, sometimes a fair bit to get from one venue to another. However, when you are late, please be as minimally disruptive as you can. Of course, you don't want to be too late and miss most of the session.

 #2: What is a "division session"?

"There are 12 divisions within AERA. Each division focuses on broad substantive or professional interests, ranging from administration and curriculum to teacher education and education policy and politics." (More details here: https://www.aera.net/divisions/Default.aspx?menu_id=62&id=179). A "division session" is one that is planned by the division and thus aligned with their substantive and professional interests.  

 #3: Where can I find a dissertation writing session?

This is a difficult question! : ) Correct me if I'm wrong, someone? Please contact me if you know of any, ywkreher@syr.edu. There isn't any formal dissertation writing session planned at the AERA Annual Meeting. However, there are two suggestions:

1. Attend some Graduate Student Council sessions and talk to other students:-

Orientation to the Annual Meeting and Networking for Graduate Students   
Session Submission Type: Fireside Chat
Unit: Graduate Student Council
Scheduled Time: Fri, Apr 13 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm,
Building/Room: Vancouver Convention Center / West Room 211

GSC Chair Fireside Chat: Demystifying the Publishing Process: Insights From Journal Editors on Writing, Editing, and Revising Manuscripts for Submission   
Session Submission Type: Fireside Chat
Unit: Graduate Student Council
Scheduled Time: Mon, Apr 16 - 2:15pm - 3:45pm
Building/Room: Vancouver Convention Center / West Room 211

2. Search the AERA Online Program. Go to the Papers tab > Under Unit Type, do not select any Unit; under Session Title, enter "dissertation". A list of paper and roundtable sessions on dissertation writing and the experience will show up.

 #4: What is a paper presentation?

"In paper sessions, authors present abbreviated versions of their papers, followed by comment/critique by a discussant and audience discussion. In general, program chairs should plan on featuring four to five papers in a Paper Session.  A typical structure for a session with four or five papers offers approximately 5 minutes for the chair to introduce the session, 12 minutes per author presentation, 12 minutes of critique by discussant(s), and 15 minutes of discussion with panel and audience." More details on Description and Format of AERA Session Types may be found here: http://www.aera.net/Default.aspx?id=6554#description

 #5: Can I go to a business meeting?

Sure thing! There are open business meetings run by every Division and SIG (Special Interest Groups).

 #6: Does an "invited" session mean you have to be invited to go?

No, it just means that the speaker was "invited" or, the Division was invited to submit a session.

 #7: Where do I get a certificate of attendance (usually asked by international attendees who need evidence of attendance)?

Please proceed to the AERA Office at the Vancouver HQ. For the 2012 Annual Meeting the primary site of the Annual Meeting is the Vancouver Convention Center. The headquarter hotels where sessions will be held are the Fairmont Waterfront, Marriott Pinnacle, Pan Pacific and Sheraton Wall Centre. Check back later for more details and confirmation.

 #8: Are there "parties" where I can meet other graduate students?

There are GSC networking sessions, Division and SIG business meetings, receptions and/socials.

 #9: Can you tell me how I can meet [insert name of academic idol here]?

Please search the online program now or you can check iPhone/Android/paper manual for "People" who are attending/presenting at the Annual Meeting.

 #10: How do I download a paper from the repository?

The AERA Online Paper Repository houses research papers in development. Currently, its content consists of an archival record of all scientific presentations, from 2010 forward, at AERA Annual Meetings and full-text papers voluntarily contributed to the repository by Annual Meeting presenters. The Repository is an opportunity to distribute research more broadly, and AERA encourages all presenters to make available to the repository their full-text papers.

If you are an AERA member or a registrant for the 2010 or 2011 annual meetings, click on AERA Member Login at the top left to log in to your account and then click on Online Paper Repository under Member Benefits to enter. Members and registrants may access the repository’s metadata and full-text papers.

More details here: http://www.aera.net/repository/

Some 3 months or so after the Annual Meeting, an announcement will be made on the AERA homepage announcing that the online repository for the latest annual meeting is available. You can also follow AERA's Twitter account for the latest update: @AERA_EdResearch


Acknowledgements: I wish to thank our former Div C Senior Rep (2010-2011), Ms. Janice Hansen, for compiling the questions!

News from our members

It's always good to hear from you. In our last call for student news, two members wrote to inform us that they are on track to make their proposal and dissertation defense this academic year. 

Meagan

Meagan Caridad Arrastia-Lloyd is a doctoral student at Florida State University in the Learning and Cognition program. She plans to defend her dissertation proposal in summer 2012. The focus of her dissertation study is preservice teachers’ beliefs and practices concerning teacher self-regulation and responsibility.

Kristina

Kristina V. Mattis, a doctoral student at the University of San Francisco’s Learning and Instruction program anticipates making an oral defense of her Ed.D. dissertation towards the end of April. Her study investigates the comparative effects of instruction using the modality principle on mental effort and accuracy during a series of algebraic math tasks involving decimals, percents, and fractions that increase in levels of task complexity.

Congratulations, Meagan and Kristina!

Fireside Chat with Dr. Clark

So... the Vancouver, BC, Annual Meeting program is out! Don't forget to come to our Fireside Chat meeting. (More details here: http://aera-divc-gsc.blogspot.com/2011/09/2012-fireside-chat-speaker.html )

Division C Fireside Chat: Turning Research Into Results: Handling the Complexity of Learning   
Scheduled Time: Mon, Apr 16 - 12:25pm - 1:55pm
Building/Room: Sheraton Wall Centre / North Grand Ballroom A

The 2012 Fireside Chat session will be a one-hour-and-thirty-minute presentation of Dr. Clark's work,including a substantive question-and-answer period. He will discuss his current published work, and also how he developed as a scholar, formed his theoretical perspective on learning, and the new directions he is currently pursuing for research. Mark the time on your calendar! If you have any questions, please contact us.

AERA 2012 Division C Grad Student Sessions

Here are a few sessions and events that you should definitely add to your AERA schedule. We will add more as we find them:

1. Division C Business Meeting - 4/15 - 6:15 to 8:15
2. Division C Graduate Student Social - Immediately Following the Business Meeting (location TBD)
3. Fireside Chat - 4/16 - 12:55 to 1:55
   
4. New Directions - 4/17 - 12:25 to 1:55

The online program system for AERA 2012 is now available. From the homepage, click "Annual Meeting Details," then "Online Program." Make sure that you check out all AERA Division C has to offer, especially the New Directions session and Fireside Chat!

We will start posting important dates and times for other events (like the social) as we know them!

Fun + Networking at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC

http://www.moa.ubc.ca/

Date: Sunday, April 15, 2012 from 12:30pm-3:30pm
Cost: $25 (includes museum admission, transportation, and refreshments)

The AERA Graduate Student Council has organized a guided tour to help us discover British Columbia’s indigenous heritage. We will be taking the public transit to get a sense of how it feels to live in beautiful Vancouver to The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia

The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of Vancouver’s cultural highlights, as well as one of Canada’s most significant buildings. Its architecture and collections are world-renowned, and it serves an important role as a research institution in the Lower Mainland.

Founded in 1949 in a library basement, the Museum is now located in a spectacular building overlooking mountains and sea. It houses over 38,000 ethnographic objects and 535,000 archaeological objects, many of which originate from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia.

Want to paint a community mural in Vancouver?

The AERA Graduate Student Council has a fantastic opportunity for you to work with Canadian youths in the Surrey School District. Read on!

Community Service Project: Working Alongside Surrey Youth Through the SAME Community Mural Project

Date/Time: Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 8am-4pm

In response to this year‘s conference theme, Non Satis Scire: To Know Is Not Enough, the AERA GSC is partnering with the SAME (Surrey Appreciates ME) Project to paint a community mural that is designed by Surrey School District 36 students and master muralist Michelle Loughery.

This project will encapsulate the mission of the SAME project "to engage youth as mentor-leaders in community contexts while emphasizing anti-racism, belonging, diversity, and inclusion." It will provide AERA participants a significant opportunity to have informal conversations with high school students from the Vancouver area‘s largest school district. Such conversations may provide AERA participants deeper insight into the Surrey and Vancouver contexts and allow students to contribute and take significant pride in their community while working alongside AERA participants to provide a lasting legacy to the City of Surrey.

Master muralist Michelle Loughery notes,

"Public Art enhances the quality of life of a community by helping to define and formulate responses to social, economic, cultural, and political issues faced by a community."

No prior experience with painting is required. However, AERA members registering for this GSC community service project should be willing to partner with one of the participating high school students and engage in email communication with the student prior to the mural painting community service day. Participants will meet and work alongside their student partners during the CSP day. Confirmation and more detailed information will be provided following registration.

Attendance is limited to 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the cap of 30 participants is reached, the GSC will keep a wait list in case of cancellations. The cost, including public transportation costs, lunch, and all materials and supplies, will be $25 per person.  You can register for this fantastic GSC event when you register for the Annual Meeting!

Master's Degree in Cognitive Visualization

Interested in a new field -- the intersection of psychology and graphic design? Check out the information by clicking on the digital graphic on the left.

Spring 2012 Division C Newsletter Feature

We will be submitting updates on the latest happenings among our Division C members in our coming newsletter/blog. One item we want to highlight is emerging scholars who are planning to defend their doctoral dissertation this spring or summer 2012. You must be a Division C student member.

If you are one of these lucky people, please email Yin at ywkreher@syr.edu. This will be reported on a first-come first-served basis for the first 5 emerging scholars who write to me by January 27. Please email me your Name (in full), University, Program, brief dissertation focus and a photo. I will also feature you here on the blog. :) Looking forward to hearing from you!

Don't Forget to Apply!

The application deadline for Grad. Student Leadership positions is now Feb.7th. If you are interested in serving Division C, please apply here:

2012 Division C GSC Application for Junior Positions

No prior experience is needed. You will receive a stipend to attend AERA the years you serve if you are selected.

Venting those PhD Emotions

You know, those frustrations that only those who are going through a PhD will get you? For students at the advanced stage of doctoral studies, the dissertation writing stage, emotions can run really high. It's no laughing matter to say that some students have suffered nervous breakdowns or depressive disorders because they don't know how to manage these emotions.

Sometimes, advanced PhD students are labeled as "negative", "crazy", "nutcase" people because they happen to talk to people who don't understand what they are going through. Well, here's a great suggestion by a guest blogger, Dr. Shari Walsh, careers counselor at Queensland University of Technology. Writing on the PhD thesis blog, The Thesis Whisperer, run by Dr. Inger Mewburn, from RMIT Melbourne, Dr. Walsh recommends holding "Whingeing Wednesdays" and having "b*^#@h buddies" to keep your sanity! Read more here...



The blog has really great tips to help you survive the lonely journey when you start to feel marginalized and alienated; you know, like you are one against the world writing about some esoteric topic? So check out the other advice too! Thank you, Dr. Mewburn and her other guest bloggers.

We want to do our part to support you too. If you would like to voice your struggles anonymously, please do so every Wednesday here at this blogpost -- just post your comments. If you have positives/successes to share, please feel free to comment here Fridays to Mondays! Or our Facebook page. Oh, by the way, please try to keep your comments reasonably short, PhD students don't want to do more reading than necessary, right?