http://newscenter.iupui.edu/ News about Books, Awards and Lectures from Newscenter en-us Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:48:46 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5956/Bradbury-center-director-headlines-Ray-Bradbury-Weekend-events-March-22-and-23 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5956/Bradbury-center-director-headlines-Ray-Bradbury-Weekend-events-March-22-and-23 INDIANAPOLIS -- Jon Eller, professor of English, director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies and senior textual editor of the Institute for American Thought in the IU School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, will be the featured speaker during a weekend-long celebration of Ray Bradbury. All events are free and open to the public. Ray Bradbury Weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Indy Reads Books, 911 Massachusetts Ave., in downtown Indianapolis, where Eller will discuss Bradbury’s 1950 breakthrough book, "The Martian Chronicles." The weekend celebration of Ray Bradbury continues with three events on Saturday, March 23, at the Indianapolis Public Library-Irvington Branch, 5625 E. Washington St. At 10:30 a.m., Eller will speak on the subject “A Miracle of Rare Device: The Center for Ray Bradbury Studies.” Eller will also lead a discussion of "Fahrenheit 451" at 2 p.m. The Irvington Branch will screen the film "Fahrenheit 451" at 5:30 p.m. with a short introduction from Eller. The library will also feature a display of Bradbury memorabilia courtesy of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies. "Since 'Fahrenheit 451' is one of my favorite books of all time, I was thrilled to learn about Jon's work at the center and to have the opportunity to help share the love of Bradbury through the events of the Ray Bradbury weekend,” says Kathleen Angelone, a co-organizer of the weekend series and owner of the Indianapolis bookstore Bookmamas. Eller co-founded the Bradbury Center within the Institute for American Thought in 2007 and became the center’s director in August 2011. He first met Ray Bradbury in 1989, eventually developing a working relationship that lasted until Bradbury’s death in June 2012. Since 2000, Eller has edited or co-edited several limited-press editions of Bradbury’s works, including "The Halloween Tree" (2005), "Dandelion Wine" (2007), and two collections of stories and precursors related to Bradbury’s 1953 publication of "Fahrenheit 451": "Match to Flame" (2006) and "A Pleasure to Burn" (2010). Eller’s most recent book, "Becoming Ray Bradbury" (2011, University of Illinois Press), centers on Bradbury’s early life and development as a writer through the 1953 publication of "Fahrenheit 451." He recently completed "Bradbury Unbound," a companion volume focusing on the middle decades of Bradbury’s career and his rise to cultural prominence. Eller is also working on Simon & Schuster’s 60th anniversary edition of "Fahrenheit 451," scheduled for publication in 2013. “The Bradbury Center has an ongoing archival and publishing function, including 'The Collected Stories of Ray Bradbury' book series and 'The New Ray Bradbury Review,' both published by Kent State University Press,” said Eller, “but the Bradbury Weekend events will provide one of the first opportunities for the center to connect with the local Indianapolis community. Much of Bradbury’s work reflects his Midwest roots, and this event provides the perfect opportunity to bring his legacy back to the Heartland.” The weekend is a collaboration of Indy Reads Books, the Indianapolis Public Library-Irvington Branch, Bookmamas and the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies. For additional information on Ray Bradbury Weekend, contact Bookmamas by email or by calling 317-375-3715. To contact Indy Reads Books, call 317-384-1496. To contact the Irvington Branch, call 317-275-4450.   Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_john eller at barlow (4 of 324).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_john eller at barlow (4 of 324).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5950/IUPUI-announces-winners-of-Ideas-Solving-Social-and-Economic-Challenges-student-pitch-competition http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5950/IUPUI-announces-winners-of-Ideas-Solving-Social-and-Economic-Challenges-student-pitch-competition INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research recently announced the winners of the second annual Ideas Solving Social and Economic Challenges student “pitch” competition. The competition encourages IUPUI students to come up with innovative ideas to solve real-world problems through new approaches, products, services or ventures. The 2013 ISSEC winners and their schools, degree programs, and innovative solutions are: First place, $2,500: Brittney Parker, School of Informatics, Media Arts & Science Penny Saver: Shopping Budget App: A smartphone application that allows people to track their total at the grocery store while scanning items in to their carts. Second place, $1, 000: Rishi Chandra, School of Business, Business Recycle to Earn: Idea for development of a machine and a system that would award students points for recycling on campus. 3rd Place, $500: Dominic Rigsby (also Audience Award winner, $1,000), School of Informatics, Human-Computer Interaction Map-ivate: A community-driven mobile application that allows a user’s phone to adapt to surroundings and social environments using GPS and Fields with little to no interaction from the user. The competition’s structure allows students three minutes to present to judges their concept or solution, without the benefit of slides or other props. According to Karen White, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research research development and commercialization facilitator and competition moderator, this “elevator pitch” format teaches students to tell their story, in a concise and persuasive manner, at a moment’s notice. “This experience was an amazing opportunity and feeling," Parker said. "I pitched my idea to many family and friends but of course they will be encouraging and say it’s amazing. But to actually be able to tell a bunch of people that had never heard my idea and get the feedback I did was amazing. After I pitched my idea I actually had someone find me on LinkedIn to talk about it. I actually have better goals to get this idea off the ground and running.” A panel of expert judges from the IUPUI campus selected winning pitches to receive the awards. “I was surprised by and delighted with the scope of ideas presented, inspired by the passion of the presenters and impressed with the preparation opportunity of ISSEC," said Ann Wilson, a judge for the competition. "The process of the competition, start to finish, provides every participant with tools they will need to effectively present their ideas to potential funders and investors.” Derrick Braziel, a local entrepreneur who also served as a judge, said, “I expected for many of the ideas to be under-developed, and unrealistic, but many of the ideas were not only shovel ready but had the capacity to change the world. I hope that one day I can say that I had a part in the success in many of these projects.” The pitches from 12 finalists included a wide range of potential products, new ventures or nonprofit projects. “We had a great group of students presenting their interesting ideas, and a lot of good will be resulting from this effort,” said Kody Varahramyan, IUPUI vice chancellor for research. For more information, contact Karen White at kfwhite@iupui.edu or 317-274-1083.   Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_brittney parker.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_brittney parker.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5936/A-conversation-with-Gaye-Todd-Adegbalola-2013-Taylor-Symposium-speaker http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5936/A-conversation-with-Gaye-Todd-Adegbalola-2013-Taylor-Symposium-speaker INDIANAPOLIS -- Educator and activist Gaye Todd Adegbalola is the keynote luncheon speaker for the annual Joseph T. Taylor Symposium at noon Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the IUPUI Campus Center. In a phone interview, Adegbalola discussed a variety of subjects, including her symposium presentation, which will be a combination of lecture and musical performance. On being an activist and a musician: “I have been an activist all my life -- as a black person, as a poor person, as a woman, as a single mom, as a lesbian, and now as an old person. ... And as a blues musician, I have learned to write about those things. ... (At IUPUI) I am going to talk about diversity and working together, and I am going to intersperse some of the songs that I have written that relate to pieces of that puzzle. “ On “two Americas”: “We basically have two Americas. We have two Americas in terms of low-money-makers and extremely rich people, extremely rich people running the whole world. How do you bring those two people together for the common good of a neighborhood? From what I read about Joseph Taylor, Dr. Taylor, his whole thing was working for the common good of the neighborhood, having the university serve the community.” On gay rights and civil rights: "I think those people who are against gay marriage are basically coming from a faith-based perspective, but if we look at civil rights, if I pay the same taxes, I should have the same rights as you. And with marriage, there are 1,100 given rights ... visitation in a hospital and making decisions about surgery for example. If I am not married to this person, that person can’t make medical decisions for me. That’s a civil right. We are not talking about whether your church accepts it or not, but we are talking about what’s right in terms of the government." On her IUPUI presentation: “One of my first songs is going to be about civil rights and how things have changed, but they have changed too slowly, and then I’ll come full circle. ... There will be a song that relates to feminist things, and I’ll do another song that relates to the commonality of all people. As I talk for a bit I will draw from some of my original material. Music holds people’s attention better than dry words, so hopefully I can keep everybody tuned in. “In his inauguration speech, (President Obama) talked about Seneca, Selma and Stonewall. I am going to talk about those three entities: Seneca, where the first women’s rights convention was held; Selma, the big (‘60s civil rights) march in Alabama; and Stonewall, the raid on the gay bar, and that is what directly prompted all the gay rights parades and festivals. “   The 2013 Joseph T. Taylor Symposium takes place from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the IUPUI Campus Center, 420 University Blvd. The theme is “It Takes a City: Toward a Diverse and Humane Community.”  For additional details or to register, visit the School of Liberal Arts website.     Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_gaye todd adegbalola000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_gaye todd adegbalola000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5935/Associate-kinesiology-professor-Brian-Culp-to-receive-social-justice-and-diversity-award http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5935/Associate-kinesiology-professor-Brian-Culp-to-receive-social-justice-and-diversity-award INDIANAPOLIS - The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance has selected Brian Culp, an associate professor in kinesiology at IUPUI, for the Social Justice and Diversity Young Professional Award. The award will be presented April 25 at the alliance’s national convention in Charlotte, N.C. The honor is given to one young professional each year who has demonstrated superior promise in the areas of service, teaching, scholarship and commitment to the goals of the alliance, focusing specifically on underrepresented and underserved populations and promotion of social justice and diversity. A 20,000-member group made up of five national associations, six district associations and a research consortium, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Research and Dance envisions a society in which all individuals enjoy an optimal quality of life through appreciation of and participation in an active and creative, health-promoting lifestyle. Culp also envisions a similar society but has focused his attention on whether everyone is truly afforded the opportunity to be physically active and thus possesses the right to be physically active. On a broad scale, Culp’s scholarship has focused on how to expand opportunities for young people to be physically active, particularly those who are underrepresented minorities, including girls, women and seniors. It has included studies of school programs, physical education teacher preparation, immigrants, and barriers to physical activities in urban areas and international areas. An over-arching question Culp has is whether everyone has the right to be physically active, and if so, is this an issue of social justice. He notes: “Unless individuals are afforded realistic opportunities to be active, then the fundamental promise of America to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' could be compromised.” Other recent accomplishments have included working with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2011 and being awarded the Mabel Lee Award from the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in 2012. Currently, Culp is assisting with policy development for newcomer populations and urban physical education with Physical and Health Education Canada and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_culp0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_culp0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5932/Largest-group-of-engineering-educators-in-world-selects-IUPUI-student-as-intern-of-the-year http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5932/Largest-group-of-engineering-educators-in-world-selects-IUPUI-student-as-intern-of-the-year The largest group of engineering educators in the world has selected Kirk Barber, a School of Engineering and Technology student at IUPUI, as its intern of the year. Barber received a $500 cash award and a recognition plaque, and he attended the American Society for Engineering Education’s Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration in Mesa, Ariz. Barber, who is expected to graduate in May with degrees in mechanical engineering and motorsports engineering, has completed three internships, including two consecutive summer internships at Allison Transmission Inc. in Indianapolis. “Kirk is very capable and can achieve anything he sets out to do,” Bill Klenk, executive director of off highway and hybrid operations at Allison Transmission, wrote in a letter nominating Barber for the American Society for Engineering Education’s Intern of the Year Award. “He has an extremely high level of self-motivation and a strong desire for learning. Kirk is a very impressive student with his technical understanding. Allison Transmission has had good students in the past, but Kirk stands out among other interns.” Barber’s record of accomplishments at IUPUI equals his success at Allison Transmission. As a School of Engineering and Technology student ambassador, Barber has represented the school and engaged prospective students in discussions regarding academics, resources and campus life. He serves as an outstanding role model of how to balance academics with extracurricular involvement, a school official said. Kirk is a leader in motorsports engineering at IUPUI, excelling in coursework and demonstrating his passion for the field through his involvement in both the Motorsports Club and the IUPUI Formula SAE Club. In both capacities, he has held numerous leadership positions including crew chief and team captain for the school’s entry in the Purdue Grand Prix go-kart race. He co-authored a technical paper published in the International Journal of Modern Engineering and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Students at IUPUI in 2011. As he approaches graduation, Barber said he appreciates the impact internships have had on his college career. “First, internships have provided me with a valuable outlet to apply my education and also challenge me to perform in a professional engineering environment. Secondly, internships have brought more meaning to my education and have given me the drive to finish my degrees. My internships have shown me how bright the light at the end of the tunnel is.”   Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_kirk barber0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_kirk barber0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5926/IU-receives-National-Science-Foundation-grant-to-engage-in-multidisciplinary-research http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5926/IU-receives-National-Science-Foundation-grant-to-engage-in-multidisciplinary-research Project at Angel Mounds State Historic Site will offer training in archaeology, geophysics, geoarchaeology and geochemistry  INDIANAPOLIS -- The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year $267,204 Research Experiences for Undergraduates grant to Jeremy Wilson, associate professor of anthropology in the IU School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and G. William Monaghan, Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University Bloomington. The grant will immerse students in a multidisciplinary research project at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in southwestern Indiana. Nationally recruited undergraduates from the arts and humanities, social sciences and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines will be provided with field and laboratory research training in archaeology, geophysics, geoarchaeology and geochemistry. “The goal of this project is to foster a new generation of scholars that can work across disciplinary boundaries to craft cogent, meaningful and empirically sound interpretations about the native peoples who inhabited the site between the 11th and 15th centuries,” Wilson said. Over three years, Research Experiences for Undergraduates grant participants will develop paleoenvironmental reconstructions for the region, investigate earthwork construction episodes, and explore the timing and relationship between fortification construction, settlement development and subsequent site abandonment. Beginning with Eli Lilly and Glenn Black, the research history at Angel Mounds highlights changes and innovations in American archaeology and allied disciplines that have undergone several “revolutions” in theory, methods, tools and technology since the 1930s. “If this past is predictive, the theoretical and methodological landscapes will continue to transform regardless of discipline, and students need to be ready to accept new ideas and perspectives,” Monaghan said. Over eight weeks, the educational programming will promote professionalization of undergraduate students and enhance skills by providing training in multidisciplinary field methods and hands-on use of sophisticated geophysical and mapping instruments. In laboratory settings, students will learn to process, analyze and curate the artifacts, ecofacts and data collected. Analytical techniques taught in the laboratory will include basic identification and quantification of artifacts and other field data, as well as advanced methods of geochemical detection and estimation. Through the diverse and multidisciplinary training provided during the Research Experiences for Undergraduates implementation period, students will gain a solid foundation in field and laboratory research and begin to form peer and professional relationships that will serve them for the rest of their careers. According to Wilson and Monaghan, students from various backgrounds in the social and natural sciences will learn how to navigate, communicate and apply their training within a multidisciplinary framework. This will be accomplished by professional modeling of research approaches in the field and laboratory through direct, side-by-side mentoring of students within a complex, real-world research environment. Through a project-based learning structure and collaborative learning processes, the professors will develop knowledge and expand the specific skills of students. By completing the grant projects individually and in cohort teams, the professors will create a learning environment that focuses on developing skills appropriate for the next generation of researchers. The development of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates project was supported by the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the IUPUI Center for Research and Learning. “The REU program is highly competitive, and it is exciting to have our campus involved in this prestigious research opportunity for undergraduate students,” said Richard Ward, director of the Center for Research and Learning. The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year 2012, its budget was $7 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 50,000 competitive requests for funding and makes about 11,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards nearly $420 million in professional and service contracts yearly.   Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_img_2238.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_img_2238.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5919/IUPUI-University-College-seeks-nominations-for-Student-Employment-Appreciation-Week-awards http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5919/IUPUI-University-College-seeks-nominations-for-Student-Employment-Appreciation-Week-awards INDIANAPOLIS – Student Employment Appreciation Week at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis takes place April 8 to 12, and for the first time, off-campus student employees and off-campus supervisors of student employees can receive nominations for appreciation awards. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 15. Student Employment Appreciation Week at IUPUI, sponsored by University College, is filled with campus events that are both educational and fun. For example, students can learn how to dress appropriately for interviews and how to give a proper handshake. The invitation-only award ceremony for student employees and their supervisors will include a luncheon and takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. April 9 in the IUPUI Campus Center, 420 University Blvd. With this year’s change, appreciation awards are offered in four categories: Student Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Off-Campus Student Employee of the Year and Off-Campus Supervisor of the Year. Expanding the award categories allows off-campus supervisors to get more involved with IUPUI and Student Employment Appreciation Week, and to foster a better connection with their IUPUI student employees. “With this new component we really wanted to reach out to the off-campus supervisors to vote for their IUPUI students,” said Craig Pelka, student employment consultant for the Office of Student Employment, University College. Additionally, Pelka said, “the importance of student employment while in college can be transformational.” Research shows that students who work 20 hours or less per week while in college are better prepared for the work force. Those who work on campus have an even bigger advantage: It has been demonstrated that those students have higher GPAs, can better relate their work to their major and are more involved on the campus. “Students who work on campus get a chance to see the university from a different angle; they see the entire behind-the-scenes work involved in serving students,” Pelka said. For more information, contact Harriett Bennett at 317-274-5036 or email hbennett@iupui.edu.   Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_2012 student employee of the year kassandra hickman (right).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_2012 student employee of the year kassandra hickman (right).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5914/Three-IU-School-of-Nursing-faculty-receive-Midwest-Nursing-Research-Society-awards http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5914/Three-IU-School-of-Nursing-faculty-receive-Midwest-Nursing-Research-Society-awards INDIANAPOLIS - Three Indiana University School of Nursing faculty will be honored for their work at the Midwest Nursing Research Society Conference in Chicago next month. Janet Carpenter will receive the 2013 Midwest Nursing Research Society Distinguished Contribution Award. Carpenter will have the opportunity to present her work at the awards ceremony during the conference March 7 to 10. The Distinguished Contribution Award acknowledges a Midwest Nursing Research Society member who has performed or promoted research that has enriched nursing science and practice in the society's 13-state Midwest region. The recipient is determined through evaluation of applicants’ programs and records of research, career advancement within nursing, and impact of their research in the Midwest and on the profession overall. “As a researcher, I am motivated by a desire to help improve people's health and lives," Carpenter said. "For the past two decades, my goal has been to do research that will guide the clinical care of women with menopausal symptoms. I am profoundly honored and deeply touched to receive this prestigious award. It recognizes the effort that I and members of my research teams have invested and also recognizes the impact that we have had on improving women’s health and their lives. This award further fuels my passion in this area. I hope that I have made and will continue to make a difference in improving women’s lives.” “Dr. Carpenter has always displayed an impressive sense of commitment to nursing science and to developing the next generation of nurse researchers. Her receiving this award shows the impact she makes on our field. This is a very proud moment for us all,” said IU School of Nursing Dean Marion E. Broome. Claire Burke Draucker and Susan Hickman will receive the 2013 Midwest Nursing Research Society Senior Scientist Award, which recognizes the recipients’ service, mentorship and scholarly accomplishments in the field of nursing. Entrants for the award were evaluated on the history of service to their discipline, national and international recognition, and sustained records of funding and research publication. The recipients will maintain their Senior Scientist status, which is the highest class of membership, throughout their Midwest Nursing Research Society association. “Drs. Draucker and Hickman are both a great credit to IU School of Nursing,” Broome said. "This award gives them the recognition they not only earned, but also truly deserve. Our school is very fortunate to have such dedicated faculty members and outstanding nurse scientists whose translational work makes an impact on the health of individuals and families.” “MNRS is dedicated to advancing nursing science to improve health and well-being,” Hickman said. “Its membership includes leading nurse researchers from throughout the Midwest, so it is a tremendous honor to be recognized by MNRS in this way.” “I am very pleased to receive this recognition from MNRS," Draucker said. "It has played a significant role in my research career, so to receive this award is, indeed, an honor. I would like to thank Dr. Janet Carpenter and other colleagues at IUSON for the nomination. I am proud to be part of a faculty that celebrates each other’s achievements and to be a longtime member of MNRS.” The Indiana University School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing schools in the nation. Ranked eighth among public schools and colleges of nursing for National Institutes of Health funding, the school boasts a robust program of research focused on quality of life in chronic illness. A full 40 percent of Indiana’s nurses are IU School of Nursing alumni. Programs include three undergraduate options, eight tracks in the master’s program, post-master’s options, a Ph.D. in nursing science, a DNP and continuing education opportunities. U.S. News & World Report ranked the graduate programs 15th in its 2012 Best Graduate School rankings, with adult clinical nurse specialist ranked third.   Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5913/Grant-continues-successful-IUPUI-program-for-improving-reading-writing-instruction-in-K8-schools http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5913/Grant-continues-successful-IUPUI-program-for-improving-reading-writing-instruction-in-K8-schools The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has granted the Indiana University School of Education at IUPUI $314,000 over two years to continue the successful IUPUI Reading and Writing Project. The project is in its sixth year as a partnership between Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Indianapolis Public Schools to help teachers develop more effective ways of teaching reading and writing. Working through the Indiana Partnership for Young Writers, the program has been a definite success, said grant program officer Beth Berghoff. “We know the teachers who have been involved the longest get the most gain per year out of the students,” said Berghoff, associate professor of literacy, culture and language education at IUPUI. Berghoff and Susan Adamson, project director, developed an evidence-based assessment tool that has shown positive results for schools committed to the program, generally low-performing schools. “The schools that have been with us for at least four years are all now meeting their annual yearly progress,” Berghoff said. Annual yearly progress, or AYP, is the measure by which schools, districts and states are held accountable for student performance under federal law. This is the fourth time the higher education commission has granted the IUPUI program two-year funding provided by the Improving Teacher Quality Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Under grant guidelines, the funded programs must partner universities with low-performing public schools. The IUPUI program works with K-8 schools in IPS, providing professional development in the realm of literacy education. It uses a workshop model devised by the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University, a nationally recognized professional development curriculum. Through the Indiana Partnership for Young Writers, experts in teaching reading and writing come for a summer workshop and provide supplemental workshops year-round, in addition to other resources. Funding for the program also supports recruiting minority teachers and pre-service teachers to participate. “We bring in the highest quality coaches in the nation and arrange for them to teach demonstration lessons in IPS classrooms,” Berghoff said. The program provides for substitute teachers so participating teachers can watch the experts, or “coaches,” teaching over three days. “After the coaches conduct a lesson with a class of students, they go off with the teachers and talk about what they did and why they did it. Each time the coaches come, they focus on something new like a unit of study on memoirs or punctuation, or literature selections for teaching writer’s craft, or new reading and writing strategies.” Sixteen IPS schools have teachers who are part of the program in the latest round. Berghoff said teacher persistence in the program is most valuable for improving classroom learning. “It takes deep, complex knowledge to be an excellent teacher of reading and writing. Many times we'll see teachers come for a workshop or two and they'll do the things that we're asking them to do, but they'll see no gain in their students’ literacy achievement,” Berghoff said. “It isn't until maybe the second or third year that they start to develop continuity in their reading and writing instruction across the school year and fine-tune their abilities to assess what students need to learn next. You just can't get that in one-shot workshops.”   Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_bberghoff-print.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_bberghoff-print.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5910/Alison-Bechdel-to-be-featured-in-IUPUI-Arts-and-Humanities-Lecture-Series-and-Rufus--Louis-Reiberg-Reading-Series http://newscenter.iupui.edu/5910/Alison-Bechdel-to-be-featured-in-IUPUI-Arts-and-Humanities-Lecture-Series-and-Rufus--Louis-Reiberg-Reading-Series INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute Lecture Series and the Rufus & Louis Reiberg Reading Series are co-hosting a lecture featuring nationally acclaimed cartoonist/writer and LGBT advocate Alison Bechdel. Bechdel’s presentation takes place Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., in the Dean and Barbara White Auditorium at the Indiana State Museum. Bechdel is best known for the long running comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” a landmark work published over 20 years. In 2006, she published “Fun Home,” which Time magazine called a “stunning memoir” and named the best book of the year. Bechdel’s “Are you My Mother?” was published last year to positive reviews. Jonathan Safran Foer, author of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” and “Everything is Illuminated” called the book "a work of the most humane kind of genius, bravely going right to the heart of things: why we are who we are. It’s also incredibly funny. And visually stunning. And page-turningly addictive. And heartbreaking.” “We are thrilled to host Alison Bechdel at IUPUI,” said Jason M. Kelly, director of the IUPUI Arts and Humanities Institute. “Her groundbreaking work is funny, personal, political and engaging. She is an artist and writer who speaks to some of life’s most profound questions and is sure to enthrall the audience.” This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required. For tickets and additional information, visit http://www.iupui.edu/~iahi.   Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_alison bechdel.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_alison bechdel.jpg