4th Annual State of Education in Georgia Conference
September 15-16, 2011
Keynote addresses given by: Arthur Levine, Andy Rotherham, Hank Huckaby and John Barge

Description: This conference is designed for educators, researchers, policymakers, elected officials, civic and business leaders and concerned citizens to learn more about the top education issues facing our State. This year’s conference theme is Partnering for Progress. Presentations will be given by UGA faculty, statewide leaders in education, and nationally recognized experts in the field of education

Validation: A General Framework and Prototypes (Institute Workshop)
July 28-29, 2011
Conducted by Michael T. Kane, Samuel J. Messick Chair in Validity at the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey

Description:  In this seminar, Dr. Kane will introduce an argument-based framework for the validation of educational and psychological assessments, and will use the framework to analyze several types of interpretations/uses, including measures of observable attributes, traits, theoretical constructs, and decisions (e.g., placement decisions, certification decisions). The presentations will include discussions of the generalizability of scores and of a range of claims and decisions based on scores. The validation framework is quite general, but different interpretations and uses require different mixes of validity evidence, and a number of commonly occurring, or prototypical, cases will be considered.

Back to Basics: Putting the Joy Back in Learning
July 11-13, 2011
Conducted by Dr. Janna Dresden and Kyunghwa Lee

Description:  The “Back to Basics: Putting the Joy Back in Learning” workshop is an interactive workshop for preK-3rd grade teachers. Attendees will learn how to cover multiple standards with a single set of activities, how thematic teaching makes everything easier and more meaningful, how to simplify planning and teaching while helping children become more responsible and enthusiastic learners, and how to connect the classroom to the local community.

Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling, (Institute Workshop)
June 21-24, 2011
Conducted by Dr. Debbi Bandalos

Description:  This workshop will provide a foundation in structural equation modeling by introducing participants to the basics of model estimation, evaluation of model fit, and model interpretation for basic structural equation models. The models to be covered included path models, confirmatory factor analysis models, and full structural models. Instruction will consist of lectures and hands-on activities. As part of the workshop, participants will be instructed in the use of the LISREL computer package. Afternoon activities will involve conducting analyses using the LISREL package. If time permits, participants will also be provided help in analyzing their own data.

Unlocking the Black Box: A Practical Guide to Measuring the Critical Components of Implementation Fidelity, (Institute Workshop)
June 17, 2011
Conducted by Dr. Jennifer Hamilton

Description:  This workshop will review the concept of implementation fidelity, its increasing relevancy to the evaluation field, and will discuss the measurement of its 5 key components: 1. Adherence, 2. Exposure, 3. Quality of the delivery, 4. Participant responsiveness, 5. Program differentiation

3rd Annual CSSE Summer Institute
June 16-17 2011 (Preconference June 15, 2011)
Sponsored by the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education

For more information: please visit the conference website located at: http://www.coe.uga.edu/cssesummer/

The Other Side of Poverty in Schools
June 13-14 2011
Conducted by Dr. Stephanie Jones and Mark Vagle

Description:  Two-day workshop, conducted by COE faculty members Dr. Stephanie Jones and Dr. Mark Vagle designed to help K-8 educators develop research-based teaching practices sensitive to working-class and poor children and families.

What in the World is Phenomenology? (Institute Workshop)
June 9-10, 2011
Conducted by Dr. Mark Vagle

Description:  In this exciting and engaging two-day workshop at the University of Georgia qualitative researchers, instructors of qualitative research methods, and graduate students will learn about the philosophical and methodological foundations of phenomenology and practice some of the core methodological techniques of phenomenological research.