Sigma Bulletin, January 21 - January 27, 2008

A. DEAN'S UPDATES
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. CALENDAR
D. LOOKING AHEAD

A. DEAN'S UPDATES

Read today's Dean's Updates (Topics include MLK Symposium, Request systems for Communications) by clicking on this link:

<http://sitemaker.umich.edu/soe.dean/updates&mode=single>

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

See today's Announcements (SOE staff PD opportunity) by clicking on this link:

<http://sitemaker.soe.umich.edu/education.announcements>

C. CALENDAR

- January 21: MLK Children & Youth Program: A Mixture of Creativity, Dialogue, and Entertainment for the K-12 Community (Sponsored by the School of Education), 8:30 am, Modern Language Building. Youths throughout Washtenaw County are invited to explore the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parents may drop off their children and pick them up at the end of the program. The program begins at 8:30-9:10 am with registration. The program includes lunch and continues until 3:00 pm, when children should be picked up. Register at www.umich.edu/~tauep/mlkkids.html.

- January 21: James Forman, Jr., Co-Founder of the See Forever Private School and the Maya Angelou Public Charter School (both in Washington, D.C.) and Professor, Georgetown University Law School on “Race, Crime and Schools: A Civil Rights Agenda for this Generation,” 2:30 pm, 250 Hutchins Hall.

- January 21: Teacher Education Seminar Series: Joint presentation by Sharon Feiman-Nemser (Brandeis University) and Pam Grossman (Stanford University) on "A Short History of Practice-Based Teacher Education and an Overview of Professional Education in Other Fields,” 4:00 pm, Tribute (Room 1322). Professors Feiman-Nemser and Grossman will provide a short history of how teacher education in the United States has attempted to prepare novices for the work of teaching and an overview of how other fields conceive of and carry out professional education. We will consider what the challenges of this work are, examine several historical attempts to design more practice-based teacher education, and study the notion of "approximations" of practice. To help prepare for the symposium, a set of readings will be available on the TEI website (www.soe.umich.edu/tei).

- January 21: Susan Dynarski, Harvard University on “The Lengthening of Childhood,” 1210 Weill Hall. Lunch provided.

- January 22: Community Dialogue on Access to Higher Education with President Mary Sue Coleman. The event is hosted by The University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Senior Pastor of Greater Grace Temple and will be held at Greater Grace Temple, 23500 West 7 Mile Road, Detroit, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm.

- January 22: Each Tuesday, community members from SoE can join colleagues at Yost Arena's noontime public skating
http://www.umich.edu/~yostice/public_skate.htm. All are welcome regardless of skill, grace, or the lack thereof. The cost is $2.00 for admission and $1.00 for skate rentals.

- January 22: Education Policy Initiative (EPI) Seminar Series (Co-Sponsored with the National Poverty Center), Cecilia Rouse, Princeton University, "Can Educational Outcomes be Improved in Community Colleges? Recent Evidence from Two Randomized Studies." 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. Location: TBD. EPI is a program of coordinated activities at the Ford School's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to issues of education policy.

- January 22: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Toni Abbey, Wayne State University, on “Sexual Assault on College Campuses: What is Alcohol's Role?” 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- January 22: Blood drive hosted by Teacher Education Office/Kappa Delta Pi, 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm, Whitney (Room 1309). To register: 1. Go to www.givelife.org <http://www.givelife.org> . 2. In the Sponsor Code box in the middle of the page, type "goblue," then click search. (If you didn't know the code, you could search by zip code, but that generates a significantly bigger list of blood drives to scroll through.) 3. A list of upcoming UofM blood drives will appear on the left of the page. 4. Click on the SOE drive on January 22nd and fill in your appropriate information to register. It will ask you to create a login name if you've never registered online before, then redirect you to the appointments page. For further information e-mail Tess Manion (tmanion at umich.edu).

- January 22: Proposal deadline for Investigating Student Learning Grant (ISL). Open to faculty who wish to investigate aspects of postsecondary student learning in their U-M courses or programs. Grant awards of $3,000 are available to individual faculty members. Grant awards of $4,000 are available to faculty member-graduate student teams. The competition is open, on the Ann Arbor campus of the University, to members of the following groups: all tenured and tenure-track faculty; clinical instructional faculty; and lecturers who have continuing appointments and course development responsibilities (i.e., an assignment from the dean, chair, or designee to develop a new course or significantly revise an existing course). Proposal deadline: 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. For questions, please contact Mary Wright (mcwright at umich.edu) or Mary Piontek
(mpiontek at umich.edu).

- January 22: Pedagogical talk by Susan Dynarksi, Harvard University, 12:00 noon, Tribute (Room 1322).

January 23: The American Chemical Society Science & the Congress Project and the Nano Business Alliance luncheon briefing on “Educating to Advance Nanotechnology,” 12:00 noon -1:30 pm, B340 Rayburn House Office Building. Introductory remarks by Representative Darlene Hooley (D-OR). Panelists are Greta Zenner, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Nanostructured Interfaces, University of Wisconsin-Madison, moderating; Robert Gregg, Executive Vice President, FEI Company; Deb Newberry, Nanoscience Technology Program, Dakota County Technical College; Joe Krajcik, Professor of Science Education, University of Michigan. Limited space is available. Please RSVP by January 18th to science_congress at acs.org or 202/872-8725. Please provide name, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail address.

- January 25: MLK Symposium Closing Lecture: Theresa Perry, Professor at Simmons College and Co-Author of “To Be Gifted and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students,” 1:00 pm, Pendleton Room, Michigan Union.

- January 25: National Center for Institutional Diversity Critical Issues Forum titled "Bridging Pipeline, Dialogue, and Urban Revitalization: A Comprehensive Community Development Agenda,” 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm, Tribute (Room 1322). The forum will begin with remarks from three panelists: Professor Barry Checkoway, School of Social Work and NCID Senior Faculty Associate (dialogue); Professor June Thomas, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (urban revitalization); Professor Percy Bates, Director of Programs for Educational Opportunity, School of Education (pipeline). A full-group discussion will follow. Although many University of Michigan faculty and staff engage in innovative work in these three respective areas, there is often little connection among them. As the University of Michigan responds to the challenges of Proposal 2 and prepares to launch its proposed Center for Outreach and Engagement, we believe that the time is right to gather leaders in diversity pipeline, dialogue, and urban revitalization to identify ways that these efforts might be united to engage in meaningful, sustained outreach. Please see the attached document, which describes a forum intended to help promote such connections.

- January 25: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Martin Ruef, Department of Sociology, Princeton University, on “Credit and Classification: Defining Industry Boundaries in 19th Century America,” 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- January 25: Theresa Perry, co-author of "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students" 1:00 pm, Michigan Union, Pendleton Room, 2nd floor. For details, see http://www.mlksymposium.umich.edu/08events/events_january.php

D. LOOKING AHEAD

- January 28: Introduction to the IRB: Regulation of Research with Human Subjects, 11:00 am - noon, 245 Dennison Building. Join IRB staff to learn: what human subject research requires IRB review; what the role of IRB is; how can subject risks be minimized and more. RSVP to IRB Health & Behavioral Sciences irbhsbs at umich.edu or call 936.0933 with questions.

- January 28: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. CRLT Players, Relationships and Boundaries in the Academy: Exploring Sexual Harassment Through Theatrical Dilemmas, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Rackham Amphitheatre. CRLT Players perform vignettes regarding sexual harassment in the academy and the workplace, along with a facilitated audience discussion. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- January 29: Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics Brown Bag Colloquia: Shuk-kwan S. Leung, Institute of Education, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on "Challenges and Difficulties in the Development and Implementation of an In-Service Training Course for Mathematics Teachers in Taiwan: A Journey for Six Years,” 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- January 29: Bafá Bafá workshop for SoE staff members, 9:30 am - 11:30 am, Whitney Auditorium (Room 1309) and Tribute Room (Room 1322). This workshop is sponsored by the Staff Development Committee and facilitated by Programs for Educational Opportunity. Bafá Bafá is a cross-cultural simulation produced by Simulation Training Systems. To register, please contact Lisa Clark, 615-3835 or ljclark at umich.edu.

- January 30: Beyond the Basics Library Workshop, 10:00 - noon. The workshop will be for those who already know how to do some simple keyword searches in databases such as ERIC and are looking for some information on how to do more sophisticated searches. To register for the workshop, e-mail Marija Freeland (mfreelan at umich.edu).

- January 30: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Paula Ross-Durow, IRWG Researcher, “Adolescent Sexual Harassment of Peers: A Predictor of Sexual Assault” 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- February 1: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor John Hollenbeck, Broad College of Business, Michigan State University, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- February 4: Rackham Interdisplinary Workshop for Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences: lecture by John Creswell, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, University of Michigan on “Mixed Methods Research: The State of Art,” 9:00 am - 11:00, Rackham Amphitheatre (4th floor). To learn more, visit: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/creswell.workshop.

- February 4: Rackham Interdisplinary Workshop for Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences: Workshop by John Creswell, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, University of Michigan on “Mixed Methods Research: The State of Art,” 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, 411 West Hall, Ehrlicher Room. Attendance at this workshop is limited and possible by pre-registration only, with priority given to advanced graduate students and faculty. Boxed lunches are available for $5.00/person. To pre-register, please forward the following information to Pilar Horner (anadon at umich.edu): 1) Name 2) Email 3) Departmental/school affiliation(s) 4) Are you faculty? 5) Are you a Ph.D. student? 6) Are you a Ph.D. Candidate? 7) In just a few sentences, why do you feel this workshop on mixed-methods; research design would be useful to you? 8) What are the central research questions you are investigating (or seek to investigate)? 9) Are you currently using qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approaches in your research? 10) Would you like to purchase a $5 boxed lunch? If "yes," would you prefer turkey, ham or veggie? Decisions will be made by January 28, 2008 and participants will be notified of the status of their registration request via email on that date.

- February 4: Dissertation defense by Matthew Nelson on “What Would You Advise Us to Do? Status, Knowledge and Asymmetry in Cross-Level Interactions Among Teachers of Writing,” 11:00 am, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- February 6: CPEP Colloquium: Lori Skibbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Developmental Psychology on “Early Literacy Development and Intervention Programs for Children with Language Impairment,” 12:10 pm - 1:00 pm, Tribute (Room 1322).

-February 7: Introduction to the IRB: Regulation of Research with Human Subjects 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, 337 Dennison Bldg. Join IRB staff to learn: what human subject research requires IRB review; what the role of IRB is; how can subject risks be minimized and more. RSVP to IRB Health & Behavioral Sciences irbhsbs at umich.edu or call 936.0933 with questions.

- February 8: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Rebecca Henderson, Behavior and Policy Sciences, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology on “Making Waves: Innovation and Diseconomies of Scope in the History of the Computing Industry,” 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. Background reading: "Making Waves: Innovation and Diseconomies of Scope in the History of the Computing Industry." For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- February 12: Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics Brown Bag Colloquia: Jennifer Lewis, Research Associate, School of Education, University of Michigan on “Systemic School Improvement through Teacher Learning: The Case of Japan, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

-February 13: Introduction to the IRB: Regulation of Research with Human Subjects, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm, 1427 Mason Hall. Join IRB staff to learn: what human subject research requires IRB review; what the role of IRB is; how can subject risks be minimized and more. RSVP to IRB Health & Behavioral Sciences irbhsbs at umich.edu or call 936.0933 with questions.

- February 14: IRB on the Road, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Room 1350 SoE. Additional information forthcoming (appointment hours vs. open hours).

- February 14: Educational Studies Colloquia Brown Bag Series: Carol Barnes, Assistant Research Scientist and Associate Director of the Study of Instructional Improvement, School of Education on “The Interplay of District Management, Designs and Environments in Taking Instructional Improvement to Scale in High Poverty Schools,” 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- February 14: CSHPE presents David Weerts' pedagogical talk, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- February 14: Phi Delta Kappa University of Michigan Chapter February dinner (catered by Panera Bread), 5:30 pm (meet and greet); 6:00 pm (dinner), Tribute (Room 1322). Dr. Dennis Sparks, author, columnist, and Emeritus Director of the National Staff Development Center, will be in attendance. Dr. Sparks is a major force in improving teaching and learning in classrooms, author of several books, columnist for the NSDS newsletter, and author of many articles published in Educational Leadership and The Kappan. Cost: $20.00, students $15.00. For reservations, contact Olga Moir (omoir at michiganascd.org). Additionally, the PDK service project for the year is “Love for Veterans” and PDK will be collecting toiletries and personal items to be distributed to veterans currently hospitalized in the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor. Please consider bringing a donation to this meeting. For further information, contact Sally DeRoo (sderoo3360 at aol.com.

- February 15: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Kim Elsback, University of California-Davis on “When Creativity and Collaboration Collide: A Study of Idea-Sharing and Identity Among Toy Designers" 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. Background reading: When Creativity and Collaboration Collide: A Study of Idea-Sharing and Identity Among Toy Designers." For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- February 15: CSHPE presents David Weerts' colloquium: "Restoring the Social Compact: A National Study of State Support for Higher Education," 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Tribute (Room 1322).

- February 18: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Louise Fitzgerald, University of Illinois--Urbana Champaign on “Sexual Harassment in Higher Education and the Workplace,” 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/

- February 19: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Perry Silverchanz, U-M Substance Abuse Research Center, “Sticks and Stones (and Queer Jokes): What are the Consequences of Heterosexist Harassment?” 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/

- February 22: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Brian Uzzi, Management and Organizations, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

-February 25 - 27: 2008 Michigan School Testing Conference, Kensington Court Hotel. For details, go to: http://www.gomiem.org/pdfs/school_testing.pdf To register, go to : http://www.miemeseries.org/source/Meetings/cMeetingFunctionDetail.cfm?section=events&product_major=08MST&functionstartdisplayrow=1

- March 7: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Joe Porac, Management and Organizations, Stern School of Business, New York University, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212, SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- March 10: Teacher Education Seminar Series: Kim Thomas, UM Law School on “Clinical Education for Lawyers,”2:00 pm, Tribute (Room 1322).

- March 11: Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics Brown Bag Colloquia: Raven McCrory, Associate Professor, College of Education, Michigan State University on “Textbooks, Instructors, and Learning in Mathematics Classes for Prospective Elementary Teachers: Results from the Mathematical Education of Elementary Teachers (ME.ET) Project, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- March 12: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Isis Settles, Michigan State University, “Women Working in a Man's World: Sexual Harassment, Workplace Climate, and Work Outcomes for Women in Male-Dominated Fields,” 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- March 13: Educational Studies Colloquia Brown Bag Series: Robin Tepper Jacob, Assistant Research Scientist, Institute for Social Research/School of Education on “The National Evaluation of the Reading First Program: Findings from the Interim Report,” 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- March 14: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Jeff Edwards, Organizational Behavior/Strategy, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- March 14: Retirement program and reception for Marvin Peterson, 1:30 pm -6:00 pm, Michigan Union.

- March 18: MAC Information Night, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Whitney Auditorium (Room 1309).

- March 20: IRB on the Road with Cindy Shindledecker, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Room 1350 SoE. Additional information forthcoming (appointment hours vs. open hours).

- March 21: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Likert Award Winner (TBD), 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- March 27: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Amy Young, IRWG Researcher, “The Silent Epidemic in Women's Health: Adolescent Sexual Assault,” 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- March 28: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Strategic and International Management, London Business School on “Relationship Duration and Returns to Brokerage in the Staffing Sector," 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- March 31: Teacher Education Seminar Series: Marilyn Guenther and Mark Fitzgerald, UM School of Dentistry on “Clinical Education for Dentists,” 4:00 pm, Tribute (Room 1322).

- April 2008: Teacher Education Seminar Series: Kavita Kapadia, University of Chicago on “A Case Study: The University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program,” date and time TBD.

- April 2: Education Policy Initiative (EPI) Seminar Series, Susanna Loeb, Stanford University, "Teacher Labor Supply Decisions and Effectiveness in the Classroom." 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm. Location: TBD. EPI is a program of coordinated activities at the Ford School's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to issues of education policy.

- April 3: IRWG Winter 2008 Speaker Series on Changing Perspectives on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Lilia Cortina, U-M Women's Studies and Psychology, “Workplace Harassment and Incivility: What's Gender Got to do With it? “ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, 2239 Lane Hall. Event is free and open to the public. For more information visit http://www.umich.edu/~irwg/.

- April 4: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Cristina Gibson, Organization and Strategy, Paul Merage School of Business, University of California-Irvine, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- April 10: Educational Studies Colloquia Brown Bag Series: Yvonne Goddard, Assistant Professor of Education, School of Education on “Differentiating Instruction: Research and Practice” 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- April 11: Winter 2008 Interdisciplinary Committee on Organizational Studies Seminar Series. Professor Don Hambrick, Management and Organization, Smeal College of Business, Penn State University, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Room 4212 SoE. For additional information contact Paula Kopka, 936-1525 or pkopka at umich.edu.

- April 15: MAC Information Night, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Whitney Auditorium (Room 1309).

- April 17: IRB on the Road with Cindy Shindledecker, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Room 1350 SoE. Additional information forthcoming (appointment hours vs. open hours).

- April 22: Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics Brown Bag Colloquia: Judith Jacobs, Professor of Mathematics and Director of the Center for Education and Equity in Mathematics, Science and Technology (CEEMaST) at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Visiting Scholar, Center for Proficiency in Teaching Mathematics, School of Education, University of Michigan on “Preparing Teachers to be Professionals, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm, Brownlee (Room 2327).

- April 26: SoE Commencement, Hill Auditorium, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm; reception to follow on Ingalls Mall.