Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education

Overview

Faculty, students, and invited speakers will share current, recent, or published research in a relaxed, informal setting. The series promotes research visibility and fosters collaborations within the college, across academic communities, and beyond. The attendees include Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Arts faculty and students, colleagues from other departments, and all those interested in attending from outside the college.

Spring 2026 Seminars

AI for Research Acceleration: Practical Tools, Ethical Boundaries, and Better Scholarship

Feb. 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Carver Center and Online Via Microsoft Teams. 

Presenters: Joshua Spieles, Dr. Michael Toland, Dr. David Dueber 

Overview: This session focuses on practical ways AI can be used to support day-to-day research tasks, from organizing and reviewing literature to extracting key information and supporting synthesis. Participants will see applied examples of building customized AI research environments, using AI to draft annotated bibliographies, and leveraging tools for thematic analysis. The session emphasizes effective prompt design, workflow transparency, and responsible use, with researchers retaining full control over interpretation and conclusions. 

Leveraging Large Public Datasets for Research 

March 19, 12 Noon – 1 p.m., Carver Center and Online Via Microsoft Teams 

Presenters: Angie Keene, Dr. David Dueber 

Overview: Secondary data analysis involves analyzing existing information, rather than collecting new data, to answer a new research question. This talk details existing national and international datasets in the field of education available for public use and discusses restricted access to data and funding considerations for grant proposals. 

Unlocking Collective Teacher Efficacy: A Modern Measure for Today’s Schools  

April 2, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Carver Center and Online Via Microsoft Teams 

Presenters: Melike Gokmen, Jordan LaFevre, Dr. Michael Toland, and Dr. David Dueber 

Overview: This project aims to develop a new measure of Collective Teacher Efficacy (CTE), the shared belief among teachers in their ability to impact student learning. Since existing tools have limitations, the study follows four phases: focus groups, expert review, cognitive interviews, and a large-scale survey for psychometric analyses. The goal is to create a tool that is both valid and reliable. 

Past Seminars

How AI is Shaping Writing Pedagogy in Higher Education: English Language Practitioner’s Perspective

Presenter: Shari Dureshahwar Lughmani, Post Graduate Researcher

Overview: Generative AI, like ChatGPT and Gemini, has profoundly impacted writing pedagogy. This talk explores how ten English language teachers prepare to integrate AI into their classrooms, revealing perspectives that range from deep mistrust to a strong willingness to experiment with AI-generated feedback.

Strategies and Insights for Success for 3M/5M Competitions: Panel Discussion

Presenters: Kimberlie Kowalka Todd, Melike Gokmen, Maria Varner

Overview: A panel of previous graduate and undergraduate winners of the THInC 3M and 5M competitions will have a discussion and question and answer session about their strategies for envisioning, preparing, and presenting their winning research talks.

Working with Copilot and Other AI Tools for Classroom Use

Presenter: Josh Spieles, Dr. Michael Toland, and Dr. David Dueber

Overview: Explore how tools like Microsoft Copilot and other AI platforms can support teaching and learning. This session will highlight practical strategies, classroom applications, and key considerations for using AI responsibly in education.

Effective Professional Development (PD) for Teachers to Integrate AI in the Classroom

Moderator: Dr. Michael Toland

Overview: Panelists share their experiences in either delivering or receiving PD focused on AI integration. The discussion will highlight key challenges and opportunities, with three central takeaways: first, that current AI PD practices are largely inadequate; second, that much of today’s AI PD lacks focus and fails to provide teachers with the sustained support needed to build practical, classroom-ready skills; third, suggestions for improving PD focused AI integration. Panelists will be asked questions by the moderator and audience members.

Panelists:

• Jason Apgar, Anthony Wayne High School
• Sara Hoffman, Technology Integration Specialist, Washington Local Schools
• Kevin O’Shea, Superintendent, Otsego Local Schools
• Megan Tolin, Account Executive, Magic School
• Mark Stevens, doctoral candidate in Educational Technology, University of Toledo
• Gary Herman, Professor, University of Findlay

From Dissertation to Dollars: Translating Academic Research into Funded Projects

Presenter: Dr. Pierrette Dagg

Overview: Securing funding for academic research can feel like an insurmountable challenge, but by strategically bridging theory and practice, researchers can unlock significant funding opportunities while advancing their work. This presentation will outline a proven process for transforming academic research into funded, real-world projects—drawing from firsthand experience securing over $15 million in state, federal, and philanthropic grants across AI, cybersecurity, network research, digital skilling, workforce development, and economic development.

Video of Seminar

Examination of Rocket Kids and International Experiences in Teacher Education

Presenter: Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick

Overview: This talk will focus on the early research and the benefits students get from being part of Rocket Kids. We will explain the research methods being used, which include both quantitative data (e.g., numbers and statistics) and qualitative data (e.g., stories and personal experiences), to study how the program affects students in different ways.

Video of Seminar

Theorizing Social Justice in Education:  A Conceptual Framework  

Presenter: Dr. Dale Snauwaert 

Overview: What is the meaning of social justice?  How can we approach the construction of the theory of social justice in education? The purpose of this presentation is to explore a conceptual framework for theorizing social justice in education centered around basic questions of justice and the idea of fairness.

Video of Seminar