Graduate Student Liaison Spotlight: Meet Allison Freed

·         Hometown: White Cloud, MI

·         Current university: Michigan State University

·         Program: Educational Psychology and Educational Technology

·         Advisor: Dr. David Wong

·         Graduation year: Spring 2014

·         Hobbies: Running, yoga, traveling, gardening, SCUBA diving, outdoor activities like camping and hiking

How did you decide to go to graduate school?

One of my professors at Central Michigan University encouraged me to apply for graduate school.  She had attended and received her PhD. at Michigan State University and told me about the program.  I was excited to learn more about student learning and science education, so I applied.

What did you do before going to graduate school?

I was a high school science teacher, special education teacher, and volleyball and track and field coach in Grand Ledge, MI.

What do you like best about your program/school?

I am most impressed by the flexibility within the College of Education at Michigan State.  I can take courses from a variety of programs and feel as though I can work with any professor within the college.  It is nice to know I can be accepted into many different research groups and have a variety of teaching opportunities.

What are you current research interests?

I am currently interested in how significant life experiences in nature lead to environmental attitudes and behaviors in women. 

I'm also interested in how students' scientific application and inquiry practices are connected in regard to carbon transforming processes such as photosynthesis, biosynthesis, and cell respiration.

What is your favorite article and why?

Paisley, K., Furman, N., Sibthorp, J., & Gookin, J. (2008). Student Learning in Outdoor Education : A Case Study. Journal of Experiential Education, 30(3), 201-222.

I used this article as a basis for organizing and completing my practicum research on students' experiences and perceived learning during an outdoor service adventure program.

What was your proudest moment or greatest accomplishment?

My proudest moment was when I was chosen for a fellowship for global understanding at MSU.  The fellowship allowed me to go to Botswana, Africa for two weeks and study their education system.

Thanks for Participating Allison!

Division C Graduate Student Research Award

Hi All,

Please see the following information about the Division C Graduate Student Research Award.

Call for Nominations: Division C
2014 Graduate Student Research Excellence Award

Nominations are now open for the 2014
Division C Graduate Student Research Excellence Award
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, January 20, 2014
(See below for details)

Division C of AERA invites current and recent graduate students to submit papers (a journal length empirical study) for the 2014 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 2013 or 2014 AERA annual meeting in San Francisco or Philadelphia;

2) research must have been conducted while nominees were graduate students in 2012 or 2013, 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 2012 or 2013. (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 2014 annual meeting in Philadelphia.

5) Please send all electronic materials by email to Li Cao (lcao@westga.edu) with the header “Grad Student Award.” Deadline for paper submissions is Monday, January 20, 2014.

Please forward any questions about the award or the nomination process to this year’s chair, Dr. Li Cao (lcao@westga.edu).

We at Division C strongly encourage all eligible contributors to participate!