WASHINGTON, D.C., April 22, 2010—At the American Educational Research Association's 91st Annual Meeting that starts next week in Denver, Colorado, several Presidential sessions will focus on international aspects of education research, specifically the persistent educational challenges across national borders.
"The international component of our Annual Meeting is growing," said AERA President Carol D. Lee of Northwestern University. "We have more than 1,500 scholars from 60 countries around the world attending, and want to find ways to connect U.S researchers and their international colleagues around common interests." The Annual Meeting runs from Friday, April 30, through Tuesday, May 4, and more than 12,000 education researchers from the United States and abroad are expected to attend.
The AERA Annual Meeting will feature a special focus on China and U.S. education on Saturday afternoon, May 1, bringing together top Chinese and U.S. leaders and scholars in education and education research. In addition, there will be a special reception, and a Chinese musical performance, all at the Colorado Convention Center.
In a 2:15 p.m. session, "Educational Innovation in China and the United States: The Ecological Challenges of an Interdependent World in the 21st Century," the Vice Minister of Education in the People's Republic of China, Madame Xiaoya Chen, will speak on the topic, "Preparing for the Future: Changes and Innovations of Basic Education in China." Complementing her presentation will be remarks by Marshall (Mike) S. Smith, Senior Counselor to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education. He will outline "New Opportunities for Education Improvement for All in the U.S." Eva L. Baker, Professor, University of California - Los Angeles, and President-elect of the World Education Research Association (WERA), will serve as the discussant.
Earlier, a 12:25 p.m. session, "Developing Students' Creativity: Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese and American Educators and Researchers," will include presentations by a dual-hemisphere panel composed of Qi Dong, Executive Vice President, Beijing Normal University; Youqun Ren, Vice President, East China Normal University; Jin Huang, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ambow Education Group; Robert Siegler, Professor, Carnegie Mellon University; and Michael S. McPherson, President, The Spencer Foundation.
Then, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, and Ambow Education Group will co-sponsor a special reception at 3:45 p.m. The reception will be followed by a special choral performance by students from the East China Normal University at 5:30 p.m. AERA's Carol D. Lee and Xiaodong Lin of Teachers College, Columbia University, will welcome guests and introduce the Chinese student performers.
"AERA also is especially pleased to welcome the representatives from associations world-wide that constitute the Council of the World Education Research Association (WERA)," Lee says. In a symposium co-sponsored by AERA and WERA, "Multilingualism and Intercultural Communication: Research Findings and Research Paradigms across the World," scholars will present research on linguistic diversity and its impact on individual development and educational settings from national or regional perspectives.
Speakers in the AERA-WERA session include Ingrid Gogolin, Universität Hamburg and the current president of the World Education Research Association, speaking on "Linguistic Diversity Management in Urban Areas – European Experience;" Michael Singh of the University of Western Sydney, discussing "Multilingualism and Transnational Knowledge Exchange: Findings from Changing 'Australian' Educational Research Paradigms;" and Gunther Dietz of Universidad Veracruzana, describing "Super-Diversity" in the Mexican Countryside? Experiences from Bilingual and Intercultural Education Strategies."
Another international session will highlight "The Role of Education in Building Capacity across Diverse Populations in Complex Political Ecologies." Speakers include Saravanan Gopinathan, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Berte van Wyke, Stellenbosch University, South Africa; Joyce E. King, Georgia State University; and Frederick D. Erickson, University of California - Los Angeles. Carol D. Lee of Northwestern University will chair this Presidential session on Sunday, May 2, at 12:25 p.m.
AERA President Lee adds, "We look forward to an exciting, interactive Annual Meeting that will challenge many assumptions and provide opportunities to expand how we as education researchers, across our diverse fields of study, gain traction in achieving equitable educational outcomes for all."
For a complete list of international-related sessions, including sessions planned by 12 international-aligned organizations and the AERA International Relations Committee, please visit the AERA Web site, www.aera.net, and search the online program.
Note to Editors, Reporters: In Denver, the AERA Press Room is located at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street; Room 302, Street Level. Telephone: (303) 228-8402. To reach AERA Communications before April 30, call (202) 238-3234 or 238-3235. E-mail hpatterson@aera.net or lcunningham@aera.net. For complimentary press registration, contact AERA Communications at outreach@aera.net
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the national interdisciplinary research association for approximately 25,000 scholars who undertake research in education. Founded in 1916, AERA aims to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.