Preparing Our Educators

Conference ignites discourse in research

GEA President Kendra Jackson welcomes attendees.

ATHENS, Ohio (April 26, 2011) –Fifty undergraduates, grad students, faculty, staff and other guests gathered in McCracken Hall on Saturday, April 16, to showcase research and discuss best practices at the Graduate Education Association (GEA) Second Annual Research Conference. This year’s theme was “From the Chalkboard to the Net: The Transformation of Higher Education.”

The conference kicked off with a welcome from GEA president Kendra Jackson, who addressed the importance of offering a forum for students, faculty and staff to come together in the interest of furthering pedagogical goals.

The conference featured several different concurrent sessions, led by undergraduate and graduate students presenting their research. The sessions ranged from topics of college student suicide and helping students with imprisoned parents flourish to preschool clothing habits and rural education.

Dr. George Johanson, a professor in The Patton College teaching courses in survey methodology, nonparametric statistics, research design and more, gave the keynote address to conference attendees.

Johanson cited a quote from Socrates to address the importance of research: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

To students who think, “what do I do after I get my degree?” Johanson offers research as a viable and engaging option for post-graduate work. His advice for developing a sound research agenda is to be curious, patient, industrious and persistent, and to find a good co-author to help you along the way.

Once research is completed, one must find appropriate outlets for the work. “There IS a place for your work,” Johanson assured the crowd.

But for Johanson, the key ingredient to doing quality research is time. His advice is to always think ahead with your research projects to ensure an accurate timeline and reach the goals that are important to you.

The conference also featured a panel of faculty members and graduate students who discussed the ins and outs of conducting research and how to overcome the various challenges researchers often face.

GEA serves all master and doctoral students enrolled within all educational programs in the Ohio University College of Education, providing student with resources, professional development, and mutual support. The GEA plans to host the third annual Research Conference next spring.

Story and photos by Ashley Showen.