Academic and Professional Growth
Throughout the course of the PhD program I have developed many research and professional skills, which are listed below. Items that have been added since my Portfolio 2 meeting are marked with an asterisk (*).
Research Competencies
Research skills demonstrated:
- conducting literature reviews,
- navigating the institutional review board process,
- designing group experimental, single-subject, survey, qualitative and mixed-methods studies,
- selecting dependent measures,
- operationally defining and collecting behavioral data,
- training research staff,
- implementing interventions according to research guidelines,
- managing data from research studies,
- writing up research studies for a scholarly audience,
- presenting research to fellow researchers, teachers, and other audiences,
- *analyzing data using a variety of methods, including statistical analysis, visual analysis, calculating effect sizes, and the constant comparative method,
- *developing an instrument to collect self-efficacy data,
- *establishing a research site,
- *preparing a budget for a research study, and
- *applying for research funding
Professional Competencies
Teaching competencies demonstrated in elementary and secondary education:
- conducting formal and informal educational evaluations,
- planning instruction to meet students’ IEP goals,
- planning with and co-teaching with classroom teachers,
- assessing student progress toward curriculum and IEP goals,
- communicating with parents,
- writing IEPs and completing other special education paperwork,
- supervising a team of four special education teachers and two instructional assistants,
- training new teachers to use research-based instructional strategies in the classroom, and
- presenting staff development and training on special education topic
Additional teaching competencies demonstrated in higher education:
- developing a syllabus for the course,
- selecting textbooks and other required readings,
- designing assignments that are rigorous and promote learning and reflection for students,
- communicating expectations and progress with students,
- assessing student progress toward and mastery of course objectives, and
- *mentoring students conducting research projects
Site Design and Map
smills5@gmu.edu
