Rebecca Rapport, Ph.D. (Curriculum and Instruction), editor of the journal New Books for Young Readers, shares a review of T-Minus: The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani, Kevin Cannon (Illustrator), Zander Cannon (Illustrator) (Aladdin. 2009. 124 pages. $12.99. Informational Science. Intermediate/Adolescent. Multicultural. 1416949607).

Readers interested in the Cold War history of the space race between the Russians and the Americans will be fascinated by this fictionalized, historical graphic novel about all the people involved in the herculean effort to land a man on the moon. The use of the T-Minus countdown device, beginning in 1957 with "T-MINUS 12 YEARS" and ending with "T-PLUS..." after the Apollo 11 mission, is quite effective in giving readers a sense of how much time passes between dramatic events.

The side columns listing failure after failure of both countries, and the deaths of some astronauts due to these unsuccessful missions and tests, reinforce the danger and the determination of those involved. The behind-the-scenes look at all the arguments over the decisions that are made also highlights the respect the scientists on both sides had for each other. The Soviet and American missions presented make this an intriguing and balanced look at what happened when President Kennedy declared that the U.S. would have a man on the moon within the decade. A glossary on the front and back covers is quite helpful; a page entitled "Did All of This Really Happen?" includes added information and resources for those readers who need to know more.

Looking for a book for a young reader? See a list of current books or do an advanced search. See also Book Week, October 13-15, 2009.

Posted by Lynn Englund at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Curriculum and Instruction Professor Thomas Swiss's new book, Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan's Road from Minnesota to the World, co-edited by Colleen Sheehy, former head of education at the Weisman Museum, has been published by the University of Minnesota Press and has received strong reviews in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Swiss and Sheehy bring together the most eminent Dylan scholars at work today--as well as people from such far-reaching fields as labor history, African American studies, and Japanese studies--to assess Dylan's career, influences, and his global impact on music and culture.

A few of the venues where Highway 61 Revisited has been reviewed and discussed are: Library Journal, Minnesota Public Radio, WNTI Radio, New Jersey, and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.

Posted by Lynn Englund at 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rayla Allison, JD, lecturer, School of Kinesiology, will be inducted into the University of Texas at Arlington's Athletics Hall of Honor on September 12. Allison was a standout softball player at UTA from 1972-75 and was a Head Coach from 1983-89 compiling a record of 189-152-2. Read more at the UTA Web site.

Posted by Jonathan Sweet at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bloomington Jefferson High School teacher Elizabeth Boeser (Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. '08) has won the 2009 National Council of Teachers of English High School Teacher of Excellence award for the state of Minnesota for her innovative use of online teaching tools.

See the August 26, 2009 StarTribune.com news story.

Posted by Lynn Englund at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Emeritus Professor Harlan Hansen (Curriculum and Instruction) and his wife Ruth Hansen (Ph.D. '81, Curriculum and Instruction) have co-authored a book, Lessons for Literacy, Promoting Preschool Success, published by Readleaf Press. The book is an outgrowth of a two year research and development project working with low income preschools in Naples, Florida supported by the Naples Community Foundation and the Naples Alliance for Children. The Hansens also co-authored a Naples Alliance publication, The Discipline Toolbox, which helps preschool teachers deal with 40 common misbehaviors and was provided free to all preschool programs in Collier County. The Hansens also co-chair the Apple Blossom Award for the top five preschool teachers in the county and Ruth is on the final selection committee for the Golden Apple Award which selects the top five K-12 teachers in the county. Harlan is President and both he and Ruth serve on the board of the SW Florida Chapter of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.

Posted by Lynn Englund at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Faten Khoury, director of clinical services in the Wayne Caron Family Caregiving Center at the University, has been selected by the Minnesota Board on Aging to serve on an Expert Team in support of the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group process. The working group was mandated by the state Legislature to examine the needs of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's and to determine whether the state and current providers have the capacity to meet those needs. In addition to her work in the Caregiving Center, Khoury is a doctoral student in Family Social Science.

Posted by colby041 at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stephen Ross, Ph.D., associate professor in Kinesiology (sport management), continues to be interviewed on the marketing implications and fan response to Brett Favre signing with the Vikings.

August 18 - Interviewed by Stan Turner of the Minnesota News Network

August 18 - NBC KARE 11 News (10pm): interviewed by Scott Goldberg

August 19 - Interviewed on WCCO Radio Morning News with Dave Lee

August 19 - Quoted by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (story by John Vomhof Jr.)

August 21 - CBS WCCO 4 News (6pm): interviewed by Darcy Pohland

Posted by Jonathan Sweet at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An engaging symposium focusing on strengthening opportunities for children, youth and adults with disabilities to participate in the arts will be held at the University's Weisman Art Museum on October 30. "Changing Landscapes: Symposium on the Arts & Disability" is being sponsored by a coalition of University and community organizations to bring together artists with disabilities, disability service providers, arts instructors, arts advocates, University faculty/staff/students, and others from around the state to share ideas for supporting and increasing involvement of individuals with disabilities in the arts. Registration is now open at the symposium Web page.

Posted by donag003 at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Juergen Konczak Ph.D., professor in Kinesiology, has published a new article, "Arbitrary visuomotor mapping during object manipulation in Parkinson's disease." The article, published in the international journal Movement Disorders, was written in collaboration with Dennis Nowak, Ph.D., a neurologist and former research fellow in Konczak's Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory. Nowak now heads the Kipfenberg Clinic, a neurological rehabilitation center near Munich, Germany.

The study investigates whether subjects with Parkinson's disease are able to use arbitrary color cues linked to the mass of an object to allow the person to choose an appropriate grip force in lifting the object. The data imply that Parkinson's disease does not preclude the ability of visuomotor mapping in a task involving gripping and lifting.

Posted by Jonathan Sweet at 7:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nicole LaVoi delivered two sport parent PLAYS (Parents Learning About Youth Sport) workshops to over 600 Eagan Athletic Association parents in August.

For more information about PLAYS, call 612.626.6055. LaVoi will also conduct parent and coach workshops for the Ortonville, MN school district September 2-3, 2009.

Posted by Austin Stair Calhoun at 12:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Family Social Science Ph.D. student Amanda Matzek was elected secretary of the Gerontological Society of America's Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization. The society, the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to aging, created the emerging scholar organization in 1960 to provide students with an opportunity to be players in the field of gerontology. Over the years, the student leadership has had a role in the development of programs and activities, helping to stimulate the development of student awards and establishing a mentorship program to link students with seasoned professionals. In 1995, the Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization helped launch the society's Campus Ambassador Program, designed to establish a professional/social network on every campus where there is, or should be, an active gerontology curriculum. Amanda and the society's other new officers will officially take their positions at GSA's 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting, November 18-22 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Posted by colby041 at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University Council for Educational Administration's (UCEA) Roald F. Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Karen Seashore, Ph.D., who is a professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. This award was instituted by UCEA in 1992 for the purpose of recognizing senior professors in the field of educational administration whose professional lives have been characterized by extraordinary commitment, excellence, leadership, productivity, generosity, and service.

Seashore is the author of numerous significant publications including books, book chapters, journal articles, and conference papers. She has served as professor, chair, and associate dean at the University of Minnesota since 1987. She has also served as visiting scholar at Rijksuniversiteit van Utrecht as well as lecturer at Harvard University. Seashore received her Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University in 1975 and her B.A. in history from Swarthmore College in 1967. During her long, illustrious career, Seashore has mentored numerous educational leadership and policy scholars.

All of UCEA's annual awards will be presented at its 23rd Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA on November 19, 2009 at its UCEA Awards Luncheon. The University Council for Educational Administration is a consortium of research universities with doctoral programs in educational leadership and policy. The dual mission of UCEA is to improve the preparation of educational leaders and promote the development of professional knowledge in school improvement and administration. UCEA headquarters is currently hosted by the University of Texas at Austin.

For more information about the impact of high-quality leadership preparation, visit UCEA's web site at http://www.ucea.org/ or Michelle D. Young at 512-475-8592 or michelleyoung@austin.utexas.edu.

Posted by Jodie Gustafson at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Paul Rosenblatt, Ph.D., Family Social Science professor, has published a new book Shared Obliviousness in Family Systems. Rosenblatt defines "shared obliviousness" as the state of being unmindful or unaware of something, and in a family setting, it means that all family members distance themselves from information they could--and maybe should--be conscious of. For more information, read the UMNews article or hear the Minnesota Moment podcast by clicking below.

Posted by colby041 at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

University of Johannesburg faculty members visited College of Education and Human Development faculty and staff from July 15-17. The visit was intended to link faculty and staff of the two institutions around University of Johannesburg's Soweto education initiative, in which UJ will build, staff, conduct research, and undertake community outreach in a new model school located on its Soweto campus.

Pictured (left to right): Kakoma Luneta, UJ Mathematics Education; Lara Ragpot, UJ Educational Psychology; UJ Dean Sarah Gravett; and Scott McConnell, CEHD Educational Psychology.

Posted by Nuria Sheehan at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Catherine Solheim, Ph.D., associate professor in Family Social Science, spoke with Minnesota Public Radio about family communication after parents have lost their jobs. "When you bring in a really stressful, anxiety-producing situation, like lack of finances, and there's worry all the time, it's very easy to slip into an unconscious mode where you're not thinking all the time, 'what am I portraying?' " Read "Families Struggle to Take Away Lessons from Recession."

Posted by colby041 at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two University of Minnesota faculty members were quoted in a St. Paul Pioneer Press article about the two-year anniversary of the I-35W bridge collapse. Judy Hoy, a clinical social worker and community faculty member in the School of Social Work, is working with two families that were affected by the bridge collapse. She noted that, in the second year after a traumatic event, "there is an expectation that people 'get over it' ... but most people can't." Pauline Boss, professor emeritus in the Family Social Science Department and a therapist in private practice, advised that "the community needs to be patient and listen to these people's stories, even if it is two, three, five years later. Often they can't put it aside unless someone hears it." Read the full article.

Posted by colby041 at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)