Breakout Sessions, Round 1
Hinton Building | 9:10-10:05 a.m.
Option 1: Hinton 201
Exploring the Great Frontier: Research Projects to Prepare Students for Higher Ed | Drs. Tia Caster and Joseph Pelletier (50 minutes)
This session will discuss how K-12 teachers can help prepare students for research in higher education environments. This will include choosing a topic, identifying quality sources, avoiding plagiarism, and organizing research coherently.
Dr. Tia Caster serves as the Director of Academic Technology and as an Assistant Professor of Education in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Joe Pelletier is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Exploring the Great Frontier: Research Projects to Prepare Students for Higher Ed | Drs. Tia Caster and Joseph Pelletier (50 minutes)
This session will discuss how K-12 teachers can help prepare students for research in higher education environments. This will include choosing a topic, identifying quality sources, avoiding plagiarism, and organizing research coherently.
Dr. Tia Caster serves as the Director of Academic Technology and as an Assistant Professor of Education in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Joe Pelletier is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Option 2: Hinton 202
Blazing the Shared Reading Trail | Dr. Lisa J. Polk (50 minutes)
Are you looking for a creative process to maximize student engagement and build reading skills while simultaneously increasing content knowledge? Eureka! Golden opportunities abound through shared reading experiences of readers theater and poetry. Enjoy learning how these instructional practices can motivate and positively impact all students in a supportive learning environment. Participants in this session will experience practical solutions that provide effective learning experiences for students to gain specific content knowledge and improve reading fluency in a small group collaborative learning context.
Dr. Lisa J. Polk serves as a Curriculum Specialist in Livingston ISD.
Blazing the Shared Reading Trail | Dr. Lisa J. Polk (50 minutes)
Are you looking for a creative process to maximize student engagement and build reading skills while simultaneously increasing content knowledge? Eureka! Golden opportunities abound through shared reading experiences of readers theater and poetry. Enjoy learning how these instructional practices can motivate and positively impact all students in a supportive learning environment. Participants in this session will experience practical solutions that provide effective learning experiences for students to gain specific content knowledge and improve reading fluency in a small group collaborative learning context.
Dr. Lisa J. Polk serves as a Curriculum Specialist in Livingston ISD.
Option 3: Hinton 206
Imago Dei: Moving Past Preconceptions | Mon'Sher Spencer (50 minutes)
Preconceptions are ideations that we all have that can either help us connect or hinder learning and growth. They are formed from our experiences, empowered from our learning, and founded in our world views. Understanding how we are unique in culture and experiences, but united in humanity, growth, and desire for connection can help us learn to look past the preconceptions and create spaces that encourage continued active learning and relationship building. This session will dive into identifying, disarming, and redefining preconceptions we all possess and opening our minds to transform our connection tactics to create cultural competence and increased learning in all facets of living, learning, and growing.
Mon'Sher Spencer serves as the Director of Student Involvement and Student Leadership, as well as the Interim Director of Residence Life, at Houston Christian University.
Imago Dei: Moving Past Preconceptions | Mon'Sher Spencer (50 minutes)
Preconceptions are ideations that we all have that can either help us connect or hinder learning and growth. They are formed from our experiences, empowered from our learning, and founded in our world views. Understanding how we are unique in culture and experiences, but united in humanity, growth, and desire for connection can help us learn to look past the preconceptions and create spaces that encourage continued active learning and relationship building. This session will dive into identifying, disarming, and redefining preconceptions we all possess and opening our minds to transform our connection tactics to create cultural competence and increased learning in all facets of living, learning, and growing.
Mon'Sher Spencer serves as the Director of Student Involvement and Student Leadership, as well as the Interim Director of Residence Life, at Houston Christian University.
Option 4: Hinton 207
Making a Difference: Ways to Support Students with Mental Health Concerns in the Classroom | Drs. Leigh Kent, Angela K. Waggoner, and Michael Cook (50 minutes)
Mental health concerns are on the rise in our post-pandemic world, and this presentation is an opportunity to learn about this challenge as we seek to educate students. You can learn how to recognize the most common mental health problems students are facing and how to address them, guiding students to get the help they need. You will become more comfortable as a student mentor and learn how to report concerns within your organization if needed. Various types of approaches to mental health issues will be offered, such as classroom strategies, counseling services, community agencies, and spiritual resources.
Dr. Leigh Kent serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Angela K. Waggoner serves as the Chair of the Department of Counseling and an Assistant Professor of Counseling in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Michael Cook serves as a Professor of Counseling in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Making a Difference: Ways to Support Students with Mental Health Concerns in the Classroom | Drs. Leigh Kent, Angela K. Waggoner, and Michael Cook (50 minutes)
Mental health concerns are on the rise in our post-pandemic world, and this presentation is an opportunity to learn about this challenge as we seek to educate students. You can learn how to recognize the most common mental health problems students are facing and how to address them, guiding students to get the help they need. You will become more comfortable as a student mentor and learn how to report concerns within your organization if needed. Various types of approaches to mental health issues will be offered, such as classroom strategies, counseling services, community agencies, and spiritual resources.
Dr. Leigh Kent serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Angela K. Waggoner serves as the Chair of the Department of Counseling and an Assistant Professor of Counseling in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Dr. Michael Cook serves as a Professor of Counseling in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Christian University.
Option 5: Hinton 209
Maybe We Shouldn't Call It Math | Dr. Katie Evans (25 minutes)
Mathematics is one of the most dreaded, even feared, subjects in K-12 and higher education settings in the United States. The dislike of mathematics seems pervasive in our society, as it is common to encounter adults who express, for example, their fear of mathematics or how they do not know how to help their children with their mathematics homework. Being resigned to expect these attitudes does an injustice to the United States economy, students, families, adults, educators, and even the subject of mathematics itself. In this talk, we will explore problem-solving as a foundational principle of mathematics that is critical to support mathematics mastery. We will discuss examples from algebra, geometry, and calculus to demonstrate why problem-solving is at the heart of mathematics.
Dr. Katie Evans serves as the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and a Professor of Mathematics at Houston Christian University.
STEM Student Preparation: Sailing the "Seven C's" | Dr. Curtis Henderson (25 minutes)
While preparing high school students for STEM majors, the soft skills that can be taught at any school can be far more important than the hard skills. We will explore the development of the "Seven C's" (Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural Competency, Citizenship, and Character Development) and why they represent essential building blocks for successful STEM students.
Dr. Curtis Henderson serves as a Professor of Biology in the College of Science and Engineering at Houston Christian University.
Maybe We Shouldn't Call It Math | Dr. Katie Evans (25 minutes)
Mathematics is one of the most dreaded, even feared, subjects in K-12 and higher education settings in the United States. The dislike of mathematics seems pervasive in our society, as it is common to encounter adults who express, for example, their fear of mathematics or how they do not know how to help their children with their mathematics homework. Being resigned to expect these attitudes does an injustice to the United States economy, students, families, adults, educators, and even the subject of mathematics itself. In this talk, we will explore problem-solving as a foundational principle of mathematics that is critical to support mathematics mastery. We will discuss examples from algebra, geometry, and calculus to demonstrate why problem-solving is at the heart of mathematics.
Dr. Katie Evans serves as the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering and a Professor of Mathematics at Houston Christian University.
STEM Student Preparation: Sailing the "Seven C's" | Dr. Curtis Henderson (25 minutes)
While preparing high school students for STEM majors, the soft skills that can be taught at any school can be far more important than the hard skills. We will explore the development of the "Seven C's" (Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural Competency, Citizenship, and Character Development) and why they represent essential building blocks for successful STEM students.
Dr. Curtis Henderson serves as a Professor of Biology in the College of Science and Engineering at Houston Christian University.
Option 6: Hinton 210
Let's Play a Game! Using Gimkit to Get Students Engaged in Learning | Malaika Lund (25 minutes)
This presentation will act as an introduction to Gimkit and how it can be used to foster a class culture of collaboration and cooperation while increasing student engagement in learning. Participants will be walked through an overview of the program and how it can be applied to a variety of classroom needs and subjects. In this presentation, educators will be given an opportunity to try several of the modes while walking through how each one could be applied to their classroom. Participants will learn how to use the tool to document student growth as well as encourage student learning in areas where they may not be as confident.
Malaika Lund teaches Upper School Spanish at Westbury Christian School. She is also a student within the Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership program at Houston Christian University, having previous graduated from the Master of Science in Learning, Technology, and Design program.
Smart Gamification: Activate the Learning! | Jennifer Moreno Calix (25 minutes)
Gamification has revolutionized effective pedagogic practices and as a result has transformed the way in which our students learn, synthesize, and demonstrate mastery. Hence, it is a powerful tool to motivate students and have them enjoy the learning experience. A world in which we have so many different gamification platforms available including Blooket, Quizziz, GimKit, Kahoot, DuckChase, etc. poses the question: which gamification platform is the best? Gamification in the classroom can maximize the learning of your students if you know which platform suits your lesson the best. This presentation explores the process of understanding the goals of each platform and aligning it to your needs and those of your students. It is not just about incorporating gamification but implementing smart gamification that will make a difference in your classroom.
Jennifer Moreno Calix teaches on-level and advanced secondary mathematics at North Shore Ninth Grade Campus within Galena Park ISD and is also a graduate of the Master of Science in Learning, Technology, and Design program and the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education program at Houston Christian University.
Let's Play a Game! Using Gimkit to Get Students Engaged in Learning | Malaika Lund (25 minutes)
This presentation will act as an introduction to Gimkit and how it can be used to foster a class culture of collaboration and cooperation while increasing student engagement in learning. Participants will be walked through an overview of the program and how it can be applied to a variety of classroom needs and subjects. In this presentation, educators will be given an opportunity to try several of the modes while walking through how each one could be applied to their classroom. Participants will learn how to use the tool to document student growth as well as encourage student learning in areas where they may not be as confident.
Malaika Lund teaches Upper School Spanish at Westbury Christian School. She is also a student within the Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership program at Houston Christian University, having previous graduated from the Master of Science in Learning, Technology, and Design program.
Smart Gamification: Activate the Learning! | Jennifer Moreno Calix (25 minutes)
Gamification has revolutionized effective pedagogic practices and as a result has transformed the way in which our students learn, synthesize, and demonstrate mastery. Hence, it is a powerful tool to motivate students and have them enjoy the learning experience. A world in which we have so many different gamification platforms available including Blooket, Quizziz, GimKit, Kahoot, DuckChase, etc. poses the question: which gamification platform is the best? Gamification in the classroom can maximize the learning of your students if you know which platform suits your lesson the best. This presentation explores the process of understanding the goals of each platform and aligning it to your needs and those of your students. It is not just about incorporating gamification but implementing smart gamification that will make a difference in your classroom.
Jennifer Moreno Calix teaches on-level and advanced secondary mathematics at North Shore Ninth Grade Campus within Galena Park ISD and is also a graduate of the Master of Science in Learning, Technology, and Design program and the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education program at Houston Christian University.
Option 7: Hinton 216
Using the Eighth C, Cautionary Tale, to Teach the Magnificent Seven: Creativity | Collaboration | Communication | Critical Thinking | Cultural Competency | Citizenship | Character Development | James H. Ford Jr. (25 minutes)
Cautionary tales have been around for generations and are often overlooked as teaching tools. In most cases, the cautionary tale has only been used to entertain the listening audience, and then the audience is left to investigate and explore the stories’ meaning by themselves. However, stories such as Little Red Riding Hood or Jack and the Beanstalk can be used to teach almost all levels of students the ideas and philosophies associated with the theme The Magnificent Seven: Creativity | Collaboration | Communication | Critical Thinking | Cultural Competency | Citizenship | Character Development. For this symposium, the Jack and the Beanstalk story will demonstrate to teachers and educators how cautionary tales can be used to teach critical analysis, inform students learning as they move forward, and how easily all seven of the symposium themes fit in the story.
James H. Ford Jr. is a student within the Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership program at Houston Christian University. He also teaches English at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
Academic Outcomes of Homeschools | Lisa Treleaven (25 minutes)
Homeschool has been growing in popularity for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic brought homeschooling rates to unprecedented highs. Homeschooling has also been a source of controversy, with debates over the proper level of regulation, oversight, and accountability for outcomes. Research on the academic outcomes of homeschools informs one part of this issue relating to the quality of education homeschooling students receive. An overview of past research on the topic will be presented including data from the presenter's 2022 dissertation on insights into academic outcomes of homeschools from the Classic Learning Test. All education professionals may benefit from having insight into this growing, dynamic population.
Lisa Treleavan is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Houston Christian University. She is a homeschool educator and licensed professional counselor.
Using the Eighth C, Cautionary Tale, to Teach the Magnificent Seven: Creativity | Collaboration | Communication | Critical Thinking | Cultural Competency | Citizenship | Character Development | James H. Ford Jr. (25 minutes)
Cautionary tales have been around for generations and are often overlooked as teaching tools. In most cases, the cautionary tale has only been used to entertain the listening audience, and then the audience is left to investigate and explore the stories’ meaning by themselves. However, stories such as Little Red Riding Hood or Jack and the Beanstalk can be used to teach almost all levels of students the ideas and philosophies associated with the theme The Magnificent Seven: Creativity | Collaboration | Communication | Critical Thinking | Cultural Competency | Citizenship | Character Development. For this symposium, the Jack and the Beanstalk story will demonstrate to teachers and educators how cautionary tales can be used to teach critical analysis, inform students learning as they move forward, and how easily all seven of the symposium themes fit in the story.
James H. Ford Jr. is a student within the Doctor of Education in Executive Educational Leadership program at Houston Christian University. He also teaches English at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.
Academic Outcomes of Homeschools | Lisa Treleaven (25 minutes)
Homeschool has been growing in popularity for decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic brought homeschooling rates to unprecedented highs. Homeschooling has also been a source of controversy, with debates over the proper level of regulation, oversight, and accountability for outcomes. Research on the academic outcomes of homeschools informs one part of this issue relating to the quality of education homeschooling students receive. An overview of past research on the topic will be presented including data from the presenter's 2022 dissertation on insights into academic outcomes of homeschools from the Classic Learning Test. All education professionals may benefit from having insight into this growing, dynamic population.
Lisa Treleavan is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Houston Christian University. She is a homeschool educator and licensed professional counselor.
At the conclusion of the sessions, please be certain to complete one survey (available via QR code and linked HERE) for all the sessions you attended (including the keynote session). You will receive a certificate for four CPE (continuing professional education) units after submitting your feedback on all sessions.
Please also be certain to post pictures of your experience at the 2022 Dr. Dawn K. Wilson Teaching, Learning, and Research Symposium to social media using the hashtag #hcutlrs2022!
Please also be certain to post pictures of your experience at the 2022 Dr. Dawn K. Wilson Teaching, Learning, and Research Symposium to social media using the hashtag #hcutlrs2022!