Penn GSE faculty and students to share expertise at AERA 2024 in Philly

Gerald Campano (Lora Reehling Photography for Penn GSE)

From AI’s impact on learning to the power of community-based research, Penn GSE faculty and students will share their latest work on critical educational topics at the upcoming 2024 American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference.

More than 10,000 AERA members are expected to gather in Philadelphia from April 10 to 15 for the organization’s annual meeting.

Among Penn GSE’s participants, Gerald Campano, a professor in the Learning, Teaching, and Literacies Division, will offer his expertise and insights for three panels, including a discussion on April 13 at the heart of his research, “Navigating Community–University Relationships in Research–Practice Partnerships.” Campano will relay his experiences with the CARE Initiative, a university–community partnership with a multicultural and multilingual parish in South Philadelphia that tackles issues of educational equity and school reform important to the community.

Campano will also receive a lifetime achievement award on April 13 for his professional achievements and mentorship of young scholars at the AERA Writing & Literacies Special Interest Group (SIG) business meeting and reception.

In addition to his research and community advocacy, Campano is an ardent supporter of Penn GSE students, supervising more than 35 dissertations and serving on numerous dissertation committees. He has also been an NCTE Cultivating New Voices mentor and received a 2021 Spencer Mentor Award from the Spencer Foundation.

Additional 2024 AERA highlights include:

• Dean Katharine Strunk will join Dr. Joy Lesnick, the School District of Philadelphia’s Chief of Research, Evaluation, and Academic Partnerships, on April 14 at the Districts in Research and Reform SIG to discuss their work with public school districts in the U.S. Drs. Strunk and Lesnick will share their research and experiences collaborating with community stakeholders, educators, and school leaders on reforms and solutions.
• Penn GSE’s Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs and Presidential Professor Susan A. Yoon will be recognized as a 2024 AERA Fellow. This award is given to scholars who make exceptional contributions to educational research. Yoon, a learning scientist focusing on the intersection of science and technology education, is one of 24 AERA Fellows in this year’s class.
• Policy, Organizations, Leadership, and Systems Chair Michael Gottfried will represent Penn GSE at four events. He is an expert on the economics of education and how early experiences, including student absenteeism and early education, contribute to student success.

On April 13, Gottfried will join a roundtable discussion examining how center and school-based Pre-K programs impact elementary school experiences at “Nationally Representative Evidence on the Association Between School-Based Pre-K and Student Outcomes.”

On April 14, Gottfried will join a conversation titled “Do General Education Kindergarten Teachers Refer Younger Children to Special Education More Frequently?” Panelists will examine how age differences in kindergarteners may impact their learning and recommend student services and support.

• Cheryl Logan, Executive Director of the new McGraw Center for Educational Leadership, pulls up a chair for a fireside chat, “Equity-Focused K–12 School Leadership,” to discuss the benefits of school leadership that centers on the needs of students and families and promotes educational equity and diversity. Logan’s research focuses on educational leadership and how leaders navigate political complexities.
• Artificial intelligence is a hot topic on college campuses as students explore new technology and faculty wrestle with its implications and create policies. Amy Stornaiuolo, Director of The Philadelphia Writing Project and Associate Professor in Penn GSE’s Learning, Teaching, and Literacies program, will offer insights on AI and its educational possibilities (both positive and negative) as part of an April 14 discussion, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Literacy Education.” Stornaiuolo will share a paper she co-authored on AI’s potential implications on literacy education and educational equity.

Stornaiuolo will also contribute to five other AERA panels to share her digital literacy expertise and how digital technology impacts teaching and learning.

• Educational Linguistics expert Nelson Flores is co-hosting an event for academics and researchers specializing in dual language bilingual education (DLBE). Philadelphia-based educators who work in DLBE will share their experiences with leaders and researchers from other district and charter schools.

Flores, an associate professor, is a member of the AERA Bilingual Ed SIG organizing the event and chair of the board for Pan American Charter School, which is hosting the event.

Several Penn GSE students will also present their work at AERA, and other participating Penn GSE faculty include:

Sarah Schneider Kavanagh, Jon Supovitz, Janine Remillard, Abby Reisman, María Cioè-Peña, Laura Perna, Michael Gottfried, A. Brooks Bowden, Rachel B. Baker, Yasmin Kafai, Manuel S. González Canché, Howard Stevenson, Sade Bonilla, Ed Brockenbrough, former AERA President Vivian Gadsden, Bodong Chen, Linda Pheng, and Amalia Daché. For the full schedule, visit AERA’s conference agenda.