Al Rudnitsky

Professor

Phone: (413) 585-3261

Office: 201 Morgan Hall

Email: arudnits@smith.edu

Degrees:
Ph.D. Cornell University
M. Ed. University of Massachusetts
B. S. Drexel University

Research Interests:

My research interests all revolve around teaching and learning for understanding. My recent work has focused on how teachers create learning communities, the role of discourse in deep learning, knowledge building pedagogy in higher education, the role of imagination in teaching and learning, and how creating and using videos can serve as a way to study teaching. Math and science education at the elementary and middle school level are topics of particular interest.

Courses:
Edc 238 – Introduction to the Learning Sciences
Edc 240 – How Do We Know What Students Are Learning?
Edc 554 – Knowing, Thinking, and the Design of Learning Environments
Edc 345 – Elementary Curriculum and Methods: Math & Science
Edc 334 – Creating and Analyzing Case Studies of Teaching

Representative Publications:

Course Design: A Guide to Curriculum Development for Teachers. 7th edition. (2006) (with George Posner), Boston: Allyn & Bacon Longman.

“Using Knowledge Building to Support Deep Learning, Collaboration, and Innovation in Engineering Education”, (with Ellis, G.W. & Moriarity, M.) 40th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Washington, DC. in press.

“Theoretic Stories: Creating Deeper Learning in Engineering Courses. International Journal of Engineering Education,” (with Ellis, G.W. & Moriarity, M.) Journal of Engineering Eduation, 2010 vol. 26, no. 5.

“Listening in on groups: Learning about practice through filmmaking,” (with Dlugolecki, S., Dodd, G., Donovan, K., Starkel, H., Traxler, M.) Paper presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the New England Educational Research Organization, Portsmouth, NH.

“Stories of Classroom Community,” (with Franey, B., Gundersheimer, B., Penda, K., Ramsey, L., & Treadway, M.) Paper presented at the 2008 New England Educational Research Organization Annual Conference, Hyannis, MA. April 2008.

“Creating communities of learners: What experienced teachers do at the beginning of the school year,” (with Epstein, T., Fernald, L. & McKeever, K.) Paper presented at the 2007 New England Education Research Organization Annual Conference. Portsmouth, NH. April 2007.

“Learning about Scientific Inquiry through Engineering,” (with Harwood, J.), Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, Oregon.

“Finding Meaning in the Classroom: Successful Approaches to Engaging Students in Engineering,” (with Ellis, G. and Scordilis, G.) International Journal of Engineering Education, 21 (6), 1148 – 1158.

“Using Concept Maps to Enhance Understanding in Engineering Education,” (with Ellis, G.W. and B. Silverstein) International Journal of Engineering Education 20 (6), 1012-1021.

Introducing Students to Scientific Inquiry: How Do We Know What We Know. (with Susan Etheredge), Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2003.

Rosetta Marantz Cohen

Susan Etheredge

Sue J. M. Freeman

Janice Gatty

Sam Intrator

Alan L. Marvelli

Lucy Mule

Al Rudnitsky

Cathy Topal

Carole Learned-Miller