Associate Professor Robert Henson chats with an ERM student.
Education professionals from around the globe rely on the
expertise of faculty right here at UNCG in the Department
of Educational Research Methodology (ERM). Testing methods developed by
researchers in the School of Education are
utilized worldwide and featured in the field’s most prestigious journals.
“When the ERM program was developed, the vision was to train people to become leaders for the state,” says Dr. Randy Penfield, chair of the department. “It was a very deliberate choice to place the program at UNCG.”
“When the ERM program was developed, the vision was to train people to become leaders for the state,” says Dr. Randy Penfield, chair of the department. “It was a very deliberate choice to place the program at UNCG.”
Dick Jaeger, faculty member from 1976 to 1999, was the first
to establish ERM as one of UNCG’s key strengths, paving the way for the faculty
and students who have followed.
The department’s international reputation is not only based
on faculty researchers’ approaches to educational assessment. It is also a
result of their ability to draw important conclusions from data. In short, they
are experts in data-driven decision making.
The implications of their expertise are significant for
field leaders and everyday citizens alike. Think about the number of tests your
child takes while in school from end-of-year evaluations to the SAT to the
GRE. UNCG researchers, like Penfield and
Dr. John Willse, conduct
research that helps ensure test scores are equitable, free of bias, and can be
used validly for different groups of students.
Think about the diversity of today’s schools, which have
increasing numbers of international students. Language assessment research,
like that conducted by Dr. Micheline Chalhoub-Deville, sheds
light on how non-native learners function in different academic settings,
helping identify not only if they are prepared for immersion, but how.
Finally, consider how helpful an assessment would be if the
result were more than a test score. What if the score provided the very best
inferences on students’ abilities, skills and knowledge? Knowing what a student
has and has not mastered would allow teachers to better understand where to
focus additional instruction.
“My research helps educators develop a tailored lesson plan
specifically to what a student does not understand as opposed to simply
identifying that a student is struggling,” says Dr. Robert Henson, whose
domain is diagnostic assessment. Henson has developed the nation’s leading
textbook on the topic.
Penfield says that faculty research is just one differentiator
for the department. Faculty leadership is
another. Professors serve as experts on technical advisory boards for prominent
organizations like ETS, The College Board, and numerous state boards of
education. Dr. Terry
Ackerman, for example, holds a significant position as president-elect of
Psychometric Society. Dr. Ric
Luecht and Dr. Michelle
Chalhoub-Deville are also well known for their international leadership.
Curriculum is yet another major strength of the department.
Students benefit from access to the deepest ERM curriculum in the nation.
“The number of courses we offer is almost unparalleled,”
Penfield says. “And we complement classroom learning by unparalleled practical
experiences. Our students are placed in the top organizations within the
testing psychometric world.”
The Office of
Assessment, Evaluation and Research Services (OAERS) takes the internship
concept even further. Part in-house consulting center, part internship matching
center, OAERS gives students the opportunity to either consult for local
organizations who turn to UNCG for assistance. Students can also opt to be
placed in positions directly within local schools, school districts, charities
and other non-profit entities.
“In a very real way, we give them their first job,” Penfield
says.
The comprehensive learning environment focused on student
success is perhaps why in the past three years alone, the department has seen a
steady enrollment increase with 50 students currently enrolled.
Ph.D. student Kelli Somante is one of them. She says her experience has enabled her to
practice communicating with both technical and non-technical audiences. “UNCG
does a fantastic job of teaching the technical components of educational
research methodology and allowing students to apply their knowledge in real
data situations,” she says. She plans
to work for a certification or licensure company after graduation.
“Our graduates are highly recruited for prestigious careers
in a wide range of organizations,” Penfield says. “ETS, The College Board, EdCount,
Pearson, Physicians for Peace, NCAA. The use of assessments to measure
knowledge, skills, abilities, is pervasive in our culture. That’s why it is so
important that we continue to produce experts for the field.”
