Barry University’s Adrian Dominican School of Education hosted the 14th Annual South Florida Education Research Conference on Saturday, June 6, 2015.
Over 160 attendees, representing more than 14 institutions, school districts, and community organizations, participated in the conference. Presentations included 16 papers, 6 symposia, and 23 posters.
Barry’s Interim Provost, Christopher Starratt, PhD, opened the conference with welcoming remarks. Joan Wynn, PhD, Florida International University’s College of Education professor and recipient of the 2011 MLK Torch of Peace Award for the Promotion of Racial Harmony, gave the morning keynote in which she discussed her research on education for liberation from the perspective of transformational leadership, quality education as a constitutional right, and building partnerships among youth, parents, schools and communities. Barry’s Gerene Starratt, PhD, moderated the lunch panel discussion where experts addressed issues related to breaking the school-to-prison pipeline.
Barry University undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, faculty, and alumni participated throughout the conference. Barry poster sessions included:
- Instructional Gaming- Pamela Crossett and Gerene Starratt
- What are the Effects of the 6+1 Writing Traits on the Attitudes and Writing Skills of Fifth Grade ELLs- Leeann D. Forbes
- Empathy Levels of American and Bahamian Special Education Graduate Students and Students in Other Majors- Michelle Aznarez, Kimberly Todman, and Clara Wolman
- Parental Involvement-Theodora Cherelus and Gerene Starratt
- Project-Based Learning, Achievement, and Engagement in Second Graders- Sabrina Dixon
- Hands-on Activities and Engagement in Kindergarten Students- Marina Hanssen and Gerene Starratt
- Extracurricular Activities and Academic Achievement in Fourth Grade Students- Jacqueline J. Perez and Gerene Starratt
- Students’ Educational Use of Technology Outside of the Classroom- Diahann Holder
- Application of an Educational Research Lab (ERL) Model to a Community Sailing Program- Lauren Shure, Emilie Ney, Precious Broffee, Gerene Starratt, and Andy Rogers
- Working in a Mexican Classroom: An Autoethnographic Study- Hemaghini Das, Barry University
- WINNER: How Graduate Professors and Students Understand the Relationship Between Higher Order Thinking and Pedagogical Practice: An Exploratory Study- Lilla DiBello, Ruth Ban, and Veronica Gesser
Barry Symposia included:
- Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program's Influence on Preschool Teachers' Beliefs and Practices- Laura J. Monsalvatge
- Evaluating the Sandcastles Program: A Group Intervention for Children of Divorce- Moderator: Gerene Starratt,Barry University; Discussants: Lauren Shure, Barry University; Alvaro Donenech, Miami Dade College; and Isadore Newman, University of Akron and Florida International University
- Development and Application of a Multi-dimensional Strategy for Measuring Fidelity of Implementation of a Districtwide Intervention- Moderator: Steve J. Rios, South Florida Education Research Alliance; Discussants: Latrell Carr, Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Maria Ligas, Nova Southeastern University; Russell Clement, Broward County Public Schools; Gerene Starratt, Barry University; and Isadore Newman, University of Akron
Universities participating on the Planning Committee for the South Florida Education Research Conference included Florida International University, Keiser University, DeVry University, Miami Dade College, Florida Memorial University, Johnson & Wales University, Florida Atlantic University, St. Thomas University, the University of Miami, and Nova Southeastern University.
The purpose of the Annual South Florida Education Research Conference was to enhance the existing culture of research in colleges and universities in South Florida. The conference provides a meaningful vehicle for the preparation, mentorship, and presentation of scholarly work by students, faculty, and alumni.