Brian Leventhal, James Madison University, and Allison Ames Boykin, University of Arkansas
A significant percentage of NCME membership reside as educators of educational measurement, psychological measurement, or related domains. In addition to performing research, these professionals are responsible for training future educational measurement professionals. Through recruiting students, teaching courses, and advising students, academics must develop the future professionals who will shape the field. In addition, internship mentors have a similar task of transforming future educational measurement professionals from students into practicing professionals. To facilitate research and understanding of these unique roles, we have initiated a new Special Interest Group in Measurement in Education (SIGIMIE). This group, Educators of Measurement, emphasizes scholarship and discussion of issues that these professionals currently face. The Educators of Measurement SIGIMIE launched with a focus on: (1) Recruitment, (2) Teaching and Learning, and (3) Advising and Mentorship of future educational measurement professionals.
Educators of Measurement is chaired by Brian C Leventhal (James Madison University) with sub-chairs: Allison Ames Boykin (University of Arkansas), focusing on Recruitment; Joseph Rios (University of Minnesota), focusing on Teaching and Learning; and Corinne Huggins-Manley (University of Florida), focusing on Advising and Mentorship. To get involved in the community, you can join the SIGIMIE or reach out to Brian Leventhal.
As a first major initiative, the SIGIMIE is happy to announce a summer Webinar series, with each centered on one of the three focus areas above. For more information, click here. The webinar series will be free. Webinar recordings and other exclusive content/ events will be reserved for SIGIMIE members. It’s free to sign up for NCME members, so don’t miss out on staying updated! Below you can read more about the summer Webinar series. We look forward to connecting with you through the SIGiMIE!
Webinar 1: Psychometrics: A Curricula Review of Graduate Programs in the U.S.; Thursday, June 25, 2020, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST. Register here.In this webinar, panelists will answer three questions: 1) What content is taught/offered in measurement programs? 2) What do working professionals in measurement identify as critical content/skills for success in the field? 3) What is the role of NCME, if any, in bridging the gap between what it means to be an expert in educational measurement and what it should mean? Panelists include Chad Buckendahl (ACS Ventures), Sara Finney (James Madison University), Kristen Huff (Curriculum Associates), Matthew Madison (Clemson University), Jennifer Randall (University of Massachusetts Amherst), and Ye Tong (Pearson); moderated by Joseph Rios (University of Minnesota).
Webinar 2: Recruiting Students for the Measurement Profession; Thursday, July 23, 2020, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST. Register here. The webinar discussion will revolve around Sireci’s (2000) framework for addressing the concerning shortage of measurement professionals: 1. Familiarize practitioners and students about the field of educational measurement; 2. Reach out to a more diverse group of potential students and make the profession more open and attractive to them; 3. Engage outside entities in the funding and supporting of graduate students in educational measurement; 4. Initiate master’s and undergraduate degrees in measurement, as well as certificates; and 5. Develop distance-based training programs in educational measurement. Panelists include Sarah Depaoli (University of California, Merced), Brian Leventhal (James Madison University), Kyndra Middleton (Howard University), and John Willse (University of North Carolina Greensboro); moderated by Allison Ames (University of Arkansas).
Webinar 3: Shaping the Future of Educational Measurement through Advising and Mentoring; Thursday, August 13, 2020, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST. Register here.We help to shape the future of our field through the choices we make as advisors and mentors of students and recent graduates of educational measurement. In this webinar, panelists will address questions such as: How do we make those choices? How do we tailor those choices simultaneously to the interests of the student and the needs of the field? How do we ensure that our advising and mentoring can provide preparation for the wide range of important careers in measurement spanning across academia, industry, government, and schools? Panelists include Terry Ackerman (University of Iowa and ACT), Joshua Goodman (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants), Lisa Keller (University of Massachusetts Amherst) and David Miller (University of Florida); moderated by Corinne Huggins-Manley (University of Florida).