Expert on academic equity, mindsets to speak at the U. of I.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Camille A. Farrington, an expert on academic equity and mindsets, will speak at a seminar on the University of Illinois campus. “Creating Social Impact: Enhancing Skills for Educators and School-Based Community Service Personnel” will be Nov. 14-15 at the School of Social Work, 1010 W. Nevada St., Urbana.

Farrington is a senior research associate with the Consortium on School Research at the University of Chicago. Her work focuses on achieving equity and reforming policies and practices in urban high schools. An expert on the role of noncognitive factors in youths’ academic performance, Farrington also is the author of the book “Failing at School: Lessons for Redesigning Urban High Schools” (Teachers College Press, 2014).

The seminar will include a lecture by Farrington on the ways in which schools and classrooms shape learning and development, followed the next day by a two-hour workshop on the science of learning and development. Participants will explore how students’ social identities influence their learning and how teacher practices and classroom environments shape youths’ beliefs, behaviors, school performance and development.

“There have been a lot of recent events in our community that inevitably impact students’ social-emotional learning needs,” said Kevin Tan, a professor of social work at the university and the organizer of the seminar. “We need to be aware of how students think about themselves and how their social environment impacts their behavior and learning. More importantly, we need to know how we can adequately address their needs. This seminar will help participants address some of these issues.”

Tan, a former school social worker, conducts research on social-emotional learning, risk behaviors and effective school social work practices.

The event is free but registration is required. Participants can pre-register online or in person at the event.

Illinois kindergarten-12th grade educators and school social workers who attend the seminar can earn 3 1/2 continuing-education units or professional development hours for fees of $15-35.

The event is jointly hosted by the school, the College of Education Bureau of Educational Research, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and the Center for Prevention Research and Development.

                          

Editor’s notes: To reach Kevin Tan, call 217-300-4432; email kevintan@illinois.edu