Research Round-up | Summer 2023

At the Lastinger Center for Learning, we know that enhancing teaching, learning and childcare for every student, teacher and family is going to take more than what any one program, individual or organization can accomplish on its own. We are better together! That’s why we continue to make progress as a result of the work of our associates, affiliate faculty members, doctoral students and research partners.?

Early Learning Principal

The Lastinger Center is seeking applications for a Research Scientist to serve as Early Learning Principal and member of the executive leadership team. In collaboration with the Lastinger Center Director, the Early Learning Principal will direct and execute a vision for the Center’s early learning portfolio, including the development and implementation of early learning-focused, technology-enhanced professional development for early childhood educators and leaders serving children zero to five. This will be a 12-month, non-tenure track faculty appointment. We are hopeful you can share this email with your contacts and networks. Interested parties should review the?Job Posting ?and apply!

Research Publications

Perspectives, Constructs and Connections

Explore this collection of inquiries that takes a deep dive into connections between educational leadership and professional learning. Read more .

Lastinger Center contributor: Phil Poekert, Ph.D.

Critical Components for Leaders of Systems Change

Start the conversation for digital transformation in school systems with informed strategic thinking and reflection. Read more .

Lastinger Center contributor: Cathy Cavanaugh, Ph.D .

SRB Experimental Studies Review

Explore components found across different Shared Book Reading (SRB) interventions for Spanish-speaking emergent bilinguals, along with recommendations for practice and future research. Read more .?

Lastinger Center contributor: Danielle Pico, M.Ed .

Pilot Evaluation of DIsability Anti-BuLlying (DIAL). Teachers reported that DIAL positively impacted teacher self-efficacy and attitudes toward bullying, which could contribute to preventing bullying among youth, especially those with disabilities. Read more .

Lastinger Center contributors: Dorothy Espelage. Ph.D. , America El Sheikh , Angie Gomez, M.Ed. , Christine Salama, M.Ed. , Pam Chalfant, Ph.D. & Phil Poekert, Ph.D .

Faculty Recognition

Walter Leite received the Annual Service Award from the Structural Equation Modeling SIG at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference.

SEM SIG recognizes leaders within the SIG who have provided exceptional service over the years and have made significant contributions to the discipline of structural equation modeling.

Ahmad Rahimi directed the College of Education’s AI in Education Symposium . Top scientists in the field from the National Science Foundation AI Research Institutes, Duolingo, Khan Academy, & ASSISTments, and six faculty from the UF Institute for Advanced Learning Technologies (IALT) shared their perspectives on AI developments to nearly 350 participants from over 40 countries.

Rob Moore has been selected as a University of Florida College of Education B.O Smith Research Professor. Be sure to also check out the EdWeek article where Dr. Moore discussed what ChatGPT could mean for tutoring.?

Cathy Cavanaugh, UF Lastinger Center chief experience officer and technology principal,? provided insight for the Pew Research Center that explored the evolution of the “metaverse”.??

We wish Pengfei Zhao well on her recent appointment at Magill University in Montreal as a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Integrated Students in Education in the Faculty of Education. We look forward to continued collaboration with Dr. Zhao, and we know she enjoyed working with UF’s excellent graduate students!

Research Spotlights

Doctoral Students

Doctoral candidates are instrumental in creating, evaluating and refining our programs in order to meet the real needs of our learners.? They assist with research-related activities including survey creation and dissemination, data extraction and reporting, publications and presentations, content creation, gathering relevant literature and more. A special shoutout to Matthew Faiello for his upcoming fellowship with Harvard’s Strategic Data Project at the Delaware Department of Education! The Lastinger Center is happy to support our doctoral candidates as they pursue the next stepping stone of their careers.

Biola Madandola, Management, Warrington College of Business

Assists with research-related activities for the New Worlds Reading Initiative including the creation and dissemination of surveys to gather feedback from stakeholders like families, educators, and community members.

Matt Faiello, Quantitative Research Methods, School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education?

Assists in developing quantitative research designs; coordinates, cleans and analyzes quantitative data sets and systems; manages internal and external partner data and data sharing; disseminates mixed-methods data in internal and external academic reports, publications, and presentations.

Ziying Li, Research and Evaluation Methodology, School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education

Identifies data needs; extracts, transforms, and reports data; programs and uses query software to assess data quality/integrity; supports data analysis and data visualization; supports survey design and data collection.

Takeshia Pierre, Science Education, School of Teaching and Learning

Gathers, reviews, and summarizes literature; aids in the conceptualization, drafting, and piloting of an instrument to assess the extent to which professional development initiatives align with research, supports the development of Mathematics Professional Development and Curricular Materials.

Sam Vancini, Curriculum & Instruction, focus in mathematics education, School of Teaching and Learning

Assists with research and content creation for projects including the Data Lagoon.

Building Community

Connecting with colleagues from around the world sparks important conversations about transforming the future of education, and the role of research on teaching practice and student outcomes. The Lastinger Center invites you to join us for two upcoming events!

International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities (Gainesville, October 2023)

The UF Lastinger Center for Learning is hosting the 45th Annual International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities (IARLD) conference this fall. From October 25 through 27, attendees will share cutting edge research spanning diverse fields including psychology, education, and neurosciences.?

The IARLD program features UF Lastinger Center affiliate faculty member Kathryn Maki, Ph.D. as conference speaker, Dimitris Anastasiou, Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University as Cruickshank Lecturer, and Daniel P. Hallahan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus from the University of Virginia and Cruickshank advisee.?

Register today!

Early bird: July 31, 2023

Deadline: October 18, 2023

We look forward to seeing you in Gainesville! For more information, visit bit.ly/IARLDConference .

Leadership for Professional Learning (Chile, June 2024)

While at AERA, we connected with education professionals about the Leadership for Professional Learning (LfPL) Symposium and celebrated the LfPL book launch .

Speaking of LfPL, save the date! The upcoming symposium will be hosted by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile, from June 25-27, 2024. For more information, visit lfplsymposium.org or email [email protected] to receive a notification when the Call for Proposals opens.