UGA will host a two-day national conference next spring that will focus on extending and expanding knowledge about the relationship between learning and diversity.
Faculty from the colleges of education and arts and sciences are collaborating in planning the conference titled, “The Intersection of Diversity and Learning,” scheduled to be held March 31-April 1, 2006, at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. The conference is being funded by a $47,539 grant from the National Science Foundation.
The overarching goal of the conference is to generate knowledge about diversity learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Information on effective strategies for teaching, learning and diversity will be disseminated throughout the symposium. The agenda will include keynote speakers, small group presentations, discussion and feedback sessions. Keynote speakers will be internationally recognized as emerging leaders or scholars in pre-K-12, higher education, workplace or community areas.
The conference is expected to draw educators, researchers and student advocates for diversity in pre-K-12, higher education, workplace and community areas from across the nation.
“This conference will begin an interdisciplinary dialogue we need to have in order to move toward the establishment of a center here at UGA that will engage in research, and subsequently develop effective strategies for teaching, learning and diversity across the four context areas,” says Jenny Penney Oliver, one of the conference planners and director of academic initiatives at the College of Education.
The grant team also includes UGA faculty members Kecia Thomas, of psychology; Janette Hill, of educational psychology and instructional technology; Robert Fecho, of language and literacy education; and Talmadge Guy of lifelong education, administration and policy.