Making student teaching work during a pandemic
February 12, 2021
Taiesha Smith created a system that helped make sense of giant logistics puzzle
When Taiesha Smith took the job as director at the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s Office of Experiential Learning a year and a half ago, she set about modernizing by taking the office digital. “All forms required for field placement approval were converted into documents that could be completed online,” she said. She didn’t realize that she was creating a perfect platform to deal with the onslaught of changes and cancellations and volume of information that would soon be necessary to get out quickly during a pandemic.
Professor’s work touches classrooms across country
February 5, 2021
Logan Fiorella focuses on the science of learning to support quality instruction
Logan Fiorella’s research sits at the confluence of two global trends: rising demand for STEM education and the growing use of multimedia to support high-quality instruction.
Fiorella, an assistant professor of educational psychology at the University of Georgia Mary Frances Early College of Education, has devoted his career to the science of learning. Insights from his research are being implemented in a range of classrooms, from K-12 to higher education.
“We’re trying to identify practical strategies and guidelines that students and instructors can use to improve learning,” said Fiorella.
Allison Reid
January 24, 2021
Allison Reid, a senior from Canton, is majoring in criminal justice, international affairs and sociology with a minor in Portuguese. An internship at the Canton Police Department inspired her studies in international affairs and criminal justice. “My sophomore year, I became very interested in the sociological aspects of criminal justice, so I added the third major to my degree,” she said.(Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)
During her time at the University of Georgia, Allison Reid has lived on three continents in five different cities. A senior from Canton, Reid was “determined to take advantage of everything the university had to offer me.” She studied in the United Kingdom and twice went to Brazil. She’s even interned at the U.S. State Department. Through it all, she’s learned not be afraid of change. “Almost all change is good change,” she said.
Board helps UGA navigate the COVID-19 pandemic
January 20, 2021
Preventative Measures Advisory Board does essential work to keep campus safe
Last semester, the University of Georgia was able to remain open while many universities across the country opted for completely virtual learning environments. Much of the credit for keeping the UGA campus safe and in operation can be owed to a team of 13 experts from a wide variety of backgrounds who make up the Preventative Measures Advisory Board.
PMAB helped to determine the safest methods for conducting in-person classes during a pandemic based on current COVID-19 research and CDC guidelines. They worked to figure how to keep the marching band practicing and performing without potentially spreading germs. From the UGA golf course to football games to air ventilation and strategically placed plexiglass shields, PMAB worked hard to outsmart the looming threat of COVID-19.
Alexandria Lin
January 10, 2021
Senior Alexandria Lin has worked in UGA’s Small Satellite Research Lab since her freshman year at UGA. (Photo by Stephanie Schupska)
Alexandria Lin, a senior Honors student majoring in computer systems engineering, was part of the team that put UGA’s first satellite in space. She’s been part of the Small Satellite Research Lab since her freshman year. She already has a job lined up after graduation as software developer for satellite missions. A problem-solver at heart, Lin is passionate about “pushing the boundaries of what we’re capable of. There’s so much to discover and explore.”