Stressing the influence of learning environments, Columbia University Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman (BA65, MA66) addressed the School of Education and Social Policy Convocation on June 20. One hundred fifty-four students received diplomas at the ceremony, and several awards were announced as well."The ultimate success of education is determined primarily by what occurs in the classroom between teacher and student," said Fuhrman, an expert on education policy and founder of the Consortium on Policy Research in Education.
Referring to digital media as what has been termed a "disruptive innovation" - so-called because it changes organizations - she commented on the implications of new technologies for education. Education technology needs to be rooted in the human-centered principles of John Dewey, she contended.
"Schools need to move to a student-centered approach," she explained, maintaining that computers in the classroom have led to little payoff. According to Fuhrman, the critical need is to use computers to teach to the needs of individual students. "Truly effective teaching must take into account the whole student," she remarked, as she praised the School of Education and Social Policy for being in the vanguard of making this goal a reality.
While a flaw in education is the separation of practice and research, she said that new media can unite the two camps. She cited the exemplary work of SESP professors Brian Reiser, Louis Gomez and James Spillane, who apply research to practice in schools and whose research takes place in school settings. "Theory and practice must converge," she said. "Teachers must keep up with research, and researchers must know what's going on in the schools."
Preceding Fuhrman's speech, Dean Penelope Peterson addressed the graduates, congratulating them and challenging them to be innovators. "Innovations can and do change our lives, and they are the hallmark of our work as a school," she said. "Please believe you can make a difference."
The student speaker was Andrew Tinajero, who considered the importance of service in making people great. He answered the question of what makes someone remembered with this response: "If you want to be remembered, serve someone." He concluded, "It is the great ones who are remembered and the great ones who serve."
The awards presented at Convocation included awards for outstanding faculty selected by students and awards to outstanding students determined by alumni. Dorie Blesoff, an instructor in the Master of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program, and James Rosenbaum, a professor in the Human Development and Social Policy program, won Outstanding Professor awards. Students said of Blesoff that she is "enthusiastic and passionate about her students and material." Of Rosenbaum, students said he is "someone who challenges them intellectually and genuinely cares about students."
The Undergraduate Alumni Leadership Award went to Janet Rocha, who volunteered and tutored in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and will pursue a PhD at University of California-Los Angeles. The Graduate Leadership Award went to Leah Doane, who was project director of undergraduate research within associate professor Emma Adam's sleep and stress study and a teaching assistant; next year she will have a postdoctoral position at the University of Chicago.
Ivy Ann LeTourneau won the award for highest grade point average in the school. During her years at Northwestern, she was treasurer for Associated Student Government, a rugby player and a research assistant at the Institute for Policy Research.
The student co-chairs of Convocation were Jennifer Contreras and Jen Ochsner, who presented the welcome and farewell.
Photo caption:
Graduates including Claire (Na Young) Park and Terrence Roche wait outside Cahn Auditorium before the procession at Convocation.
Last Modified: 8/14/09