Carla Zembal-Saul, holder of the Kahn professorship in STEM education at Penn State, is co-author of a newly released book designed to support K-5 teachers in integrating explanation-driven science in their classrooms. "What's Your Evidence? Engaging K-5 Students in Constructing Explanations in Science" (Pearson, 2012) examines the importance of scientific explanation in elementary science instruction. Zembal-Saul's co-authors are Katherine McNeill, faculty member at Boston College, and Kimber Hershberger, a third-grade teacher at Radio Park Elementary School in the State College (Pa.) Area School District. (more)
Dr. Edward Glantz, a professor in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology, has a wealth of experience to draw from when it comes to helping students get acclimated at Penn State. In his new book, "A Student Guide to Success at Penn State," he explains to incoming students that getting a degree in a particular major is not the ultimate goal of a college education. Rather, he encourages incoming students to "take advantage of all that college has to offer, including preparing for the first job." (more)
Gwendolyn Lloyd, professor of mathematics education at Penn State, has co-authored a new book with Beth Herbel-Eisenmann of Michigan State University and Jon Star of Harvard University.
The book, titled "Developing Essential Understanding of Expressions, Equations, and Functions: Grades 6-8" (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], 2011), is part of NCTM's Essential Understandings series. This series, edited by Penn State faculty member Rose Mary Zbiek, aims to help teachers deepen their understandings of mathematical topics that are critical to students' learning but challenging to teach. (more)
A new book co-edited by Gwendolyn Lloyd, Penn State professor of mathematics education, offers strategies and resources for using Standards-based curriculum materials in mathematics teacher education. Lloyd collaborated with Vanessa Pitts-Bannister, of the University of South Florida Polytechnic, to produce "Curriculum-Based Activities and Resources for Preservice Math Teachers." The book follows on the heels of research that Lloyd and Pitts-Bannister conducted over several years. In their work, Lloyd and Pitts-Bannister examined strategies for using innovative curriculum resources to improve preservice teachers' understandings of mathematics teaching and learning. (more)
A religious studies scholar and pioneer in the study of American Buddhism reflects in his newest book on a more than four-decade career that included controversies and insights that changed the field of Buddhist studies. Charles Prebish said he chose to write his memoir, "An American Buddhist Life: Memoirs of a Modern Dharma Pioneer," (The Sumeru Press, 2011), to highlight the personalities of the people and scholars he met during his career. "People in Buddhist studies typically don't write memoirs, so there's no reflection on the great people in the field," said Prebish. "I thought, why not go ahead and write it because the stories are so good." (more)
--"Penned by Penn Staters: Books by Alumni Authors," an exhibit from the Penn State University Archives, is on display in the Hintz Alumni Center, January 18 through June 10, 2012. Students graduate from Penn State, leave these hallowed halls and go on to create useful, productive lives for themselves making their alma mater proud of their accomplishments. Some of Penn State's alumni sit down with note cards, pad and pencil, typewriter, or computer and create marvelous works of fiction, poetry, short stories, non-fiction, biography, travel, and the list goes on. This exhibit, which features 33 books authored by Penn State alumni, is a mere sampling of the creative endeavors fostered by former Penn State students, and it gives the exhibit viewer a glimpse at their individual genius. (more)
Charles Cantalupo, distinguished professor of English, comparative literature and African studies at Penn State Schuylkill, has published a new book. "Joining Africa," published by Michigan State University Press, is an eye-opening personal history, telling the story of an American college professor's 20-year engagement with a thriving Africa rarely encountered by Western visitors, including connections to poets across the continent. (more)
A Penn State alumnus and faculty member has published a hard-bound, coffee table book with images from every football season since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993. (more)
Four faculty awards, three sabbaticals and 21 publications were reasons to celebrate Dec. 7, at a reception in Blissell Library at Penn State New Kensington. Jennifer Gilley, head librarian, hosted the 10th annual faculty publications party, meant to honor the accomplishments of faculty members at the New Kensington campus.
The informal get-together is an effective way for members of the campus family to recognize achievements during the year and "a nice venue for faculty to share potential opportunities for interdisciplinary projects," said Arlene Hall, director of academic affairs at the campus. (more)
