MINUTES OF THE NCSS RESEARCH COMMITTEE MEETING

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2004, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Meeting opened by Colin Green, Chair, at 900am.

Present: Janet Alleman, Michael Berson, Judy Butler, Joseph Feinberg, Leonard Lancette, Theresa McCormick?, Melissa Marks, Shelly Singer, Raymond Walker, Susan Wunder.

1. Minutes from 2003 meeting were read and adopted with one modification. 5 nominations for the Dissertation Award were submitted, not 8 as stated in the minutes.

2. Colin addressed the issue of the Exemplary Research Award. He, along with committee members Judy Butler and Shari Castle, had evaluated 8 submissions. S.G. Grant’s work “History Lessons: Teaching, Learning, and Testing in U.S. High School History Classrooms” was judged to be the best of the submissions and received the award. Colin and Judy outlined the process and criteria for the award so that other committee members could be involved in next year’s process.

3. Three sub-committees were formed to consider nominations for three upcoming awards:

Distinguished Career Research Award Sub-committee: Chair: Judy Butler Member: Raymond Walker Member: Michael Berson

Exemplary Dissertation Award Sub-committee: Chair: Susan Wunder Member: Melissa Marks Member: Joe Feinberg

Exemplary Research Award Sub-committee: Chair: Colin Green Member: Janet Alleman Member: Theresa McCormick?

4. Election of new Chair and Vice-Chair:

Chair elect: Raymond Walker Vice-Chair elect: Theresa McCormick?

Both positions are effective July1, 2005. Colin’s tenure as Chair will end June 30, 2005.

5. The Development of the Research Website: As a committee we have added a couple of links to the website, but we are still vastly under-utilizing this resource. We decided to use the same keywords as found in the CUFA database to sort and categorize research articles or annotated bibliographies. We committed as a group to send to Colin any research articles or bibliographies that draw attention to recent research in the field of Social Studies. We agreed to include research that is of use to both university faculty and K-12 classroom practitioners. Note was made of the clear need for research that addresses Action Research projects undertaken by teachers and research that examines what Scientifically-based Research means for Social Studies practitioners at all levels.

Highlight pieces of NCSS research award winners need to be included on the website. These highlight pieces would include a simple bio of the award winner and a short summary of their award-winning research or body of research.

6. Brainstorming and discussion ensued on an integrated session for next year’s annual conference in Kansas City. Session would focus on Social Studies and its contributions to literacy skills and knowledge. The session would be in the form of a symposium with presenters representing CS4, Practitioners and Researchers. Michael will submit a brief proposal in January for our committee’s designated conference session. All members will be invited to be part of the full proposal due in March.

7. A considerable amount of time was spent considering the NCSS Governance Recommendations Document. Committee members noted that the streamlining of committees and their remits would be in violation of the spirit and democratic values espoused by the NCSS. Members did not share one of the central concerns of the Governance Task Force – on the contrary, members enjoyed and attended their respective committees and believed that the committee structure gave them a sense of involvement in the NCSS. It was suggested that perhaps the BOD needed to be streamlined. It was noted that the HOD would be raising objections at the conference about the proposed recommendations. The Research Committee drafted a statement that expressed the unanimous sentiments of the group. This statement was then voluntarily signed by every committee member. The committee’s full statement is as follows:

Resolution:

“The NCSS Research Committee is unanimously opposed to the proposed Governance Task Force Initiative Report of Findings and Recommendations. This opposition is due to issues of exclusivity which are inconsistent with the democratic values which provide the foundation for the Social Studies”.

Committee adjourned at 1050am.

Respectfully submitted 1/26/05.

Colin Green, Chair of the Research Committee.

-- TimDaly? - 05 Feb 2005