News & Announcements
News & Announcements

AERA 2025: April 23-27, 2025

 

2025 AERA Conference

Check out pictures for the 2025 AERA conference in Denver and information about the 2026 conference in Los Angeles HERE.

 

2025 Award Winners

Outstanding Student Paper Award

Joyce Bibi Katompa
From Theory to Practice: Co-Design in Contemporary Education

Outstanding Conference Submission Award

Kelli M. Adam, Merlyn Joseph, and Mahjabin Chowdhury
Exploring Student Reflections while Implementing a Competency-Based Grading Schema

Outstanding Conference Submission Runner-Up

Yonghong Jade Xu, Mei Yang, Shaoan Zhang, and Venkatesan Muthukuma
Constructivist Learning as Intervention: A Pre-Post Examination of STEM Interest and Self-Efficacy

Graduate Student Travel Award

John Burrell

Attention Public Elementary School Principals: Research Opportunity

University of Colorado Denver Early Childhood Policy PhD Candidate Sierra Dinges is seeking your participation in a study on challenges and supports that shape your work. Please contact Sierra at SIERRA.DINGES@UCDENVER.EDU if you have questions.

I’m currently in the data collection phase of my dissertation, and I would be so grateful for your support in helping spread the word. My study explores how elementary school principals perceive, implement, and experience playful learning in PreK–3 classrooms, including the challenges and supports that shape their work. The goal is to inform future policy, leadership development, and professional learning grounded in constructivist and developmentally appropriate practice.

The survey is:

  • Open to current U.S. public school elementary principals with at least one year of experience overseeing PreK–3rd grade
  • Anonymous, takes about 10 minutes, and includes an optional raffle
  • Approved by the University of Colorado Denver IRB

Survey link: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_084DRmXFzIy5Mp0 

If you’d be willing to share this opportunity with others in your network, or if you have ideas for outreach within the SIG, I’d be incredibly grateful. I’m aiming for 100 participants and hoping to center the voices of leaders working to uphold joyful, meaningful learning in early education.

Thank you again for your time and for welcoming me into this vibrant scholarly community.

Warm regards,
Sierra Dinges

Webmaster Note: To post research participant requests on our website, please send study information to John Burrell (john.burrell@uconn.edu).

 

Member Shout-Outs

Congratulations

  • May 2025: University of Connecticut Doctoral Candidate John Burrell for passing his Comprehensive Exams.
  • May 2025: Immediate Past Chair Dr. Karyn Allee for being promoted to associate professor of elementary education at Mercer University.

Thank You

  • April 2025: Dr. Yaun He for completing two years of service as Constructivist SIG Secretary/Treasure (2023-2025).

Call for Graduate Student Volunteer:

Social Media Manager for AERA Constructivist SIG

The Constructivist Theory, Research, and Practice Special Interest Group (SIG) of AERA is seeking a graduate student volunteer to serve as our Social Media Manager.

Role Highlights:

  • Curate and schedule content for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (and potentially other platforms)
  • Promote member accomplishments, SIG news, and AERA conference sessions
  • Support community-building and knowledge-sharing in alignment with constructivist values

Ideal Candidate:

  • Is currently enrolled in a graduate program (master's or doctoral)
  • Has experience or enthusiasm for social media engagement in academic spaces
  • Values constructivist approaches to teaching, learning, and research

Note: This is an unpaid, volunteer leadership role within the SIG.

To express interest, please email our current Program Chair and Incoming SIG Chair, Dr. Annemarie Kaczmarczyk, at kaczmarczyk_ab@mercer.edu with a brief message.

Help us spread the word—especially to graduate students who would be a great fit!

#AERA2025 #ConstructivistSIG #EdResearch #VolunteerLeadership #AcademicTwitter #GradStudentsLead

Introducing 2025-26 New Leaders

New Leaders

 
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Please contact one of the following people (or click or scan the image below to be directed to a form) to share news with the SIG. We'd love to hear about your latest publications, presentations, awards, job postings, student opportunities, and other news and accomplishments!

Please contact one of the following people (or click or scan the image below to be directed to a form) to share news with the SIG. We'd love to hear about your latest publications, presentations, awards, job postings, student opportunities, and other news and accomplishments!

  • Chair: Annemarie Kaczmarcyk, kaczmarczyk_ab@mercer.edu
  • SIG Webmaster: John Burrell, john.burrell@uconn.edu
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