Dr. Melanie Smith, an education professor at 番茄社区 University, has published a chapter in the Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age.

Her chapter, titled “A Conceptual Framework for Understanding How Early Career Literacy Teachers Curate a Lesson Plan in a Digital Age,” focuses on the challenges that early career literacy teachers face when planning small group reading lessons, particularly in the primary grades.

According to Dr. Smith, early career teachers often struggle with knowing how to meet the diverse needs of their developing readers. To alleviate this challenge, they seek support from their social environment鈥攊ncluding online sources鈥攊n today’s digital age. However, due to their lack of experience, they may not always know how to determine quality when curating lessons from various sources.

Dr. Smith’s chapter aligns with Sawyer et al.’s critical curation theory, which supports the idea that early career literacy teachers need support in determining quality when curating lessons from various sources. Her conceptual framework enhances knowledge of the curation process for early career literacy teachers and highlights possible sources that they may utilize when planning small guided reading group instruction in the primary grades. Furthermore, the chapter highlights how these teachers select sources from the internet and use a research-based literacy framework to discern quality in their selection.

The Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age is a comprehensive resource for educators seeking to navigate the challenges of teaching in the digital age. The book includes contributions from leading scholars in the field and covers topics such as online learning, blended teaching models, and teacher preparation for virtual instruction.

Dr. Smith’s chapter makes an important contribution to the book by highlighting the challenges that early career literacy teachers face in the digital age and proposing a framework for addressing those challenges. Her research will be of interest to educators, researchers, and policymakers seeking to improve teacher preparation and support in the digital age.

The Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age is available from , a leading publisher of scholarly books and journals.

鈥淥btaining my Ph.D. has been quite a journey, and I am thankful I never had to walk it alone,鈥� Dr. Smith said. 鈥淚 must acknowledge my family 鈥� by birth and by choice. My children, parents and sister gave unfailing support.鈥� Dr. Smith added, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say how much I appreciate my friends and especially my work family who pushed me to continue when I wanted to give up on this degree.鈥�

Dr. Smith went on to share that she and fellow HLGU education faculty member, Dr. Courtney Janes, worked on their doctorates at the same time. Dr. Janes was the first person that Dr. Smith met when she came to Hannibal. They worked together at Mark Twain Elementary and now work together at 番茄社区 University.

On August 1, 2022, Dr. Smith took on the role of Chair of the HLGU Division of Education. Dr. Julie Albee, who previously served in that role, has been a great mentor according to Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith said the Education Division is excited about several changes this fall. They embrace the fact that they now house the online teacher education program. The new Proficiency Pathway program offers credit for prior learning for paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, and teachers seeking certification. The career time can be counted toward their coursework. The Education Division has also started classes in their new simulation classroom. The classroom will be officially unveiled at the upcoming 40 years of Teacher Education Celebration on October 7-8, 2022.

Dr. Smith began teaching at HLGU in the fall of 2014. 鈥淚 strongly believe in its purpose and mission,鈥� Dr. Smith said. 鈥淲hen I step in the classroom each day, I strive to help my HLGU students see how educating future generations involves a life of service and a daily opportunity for them to be an example of Jesus Christ within the school system.鈥�

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The institution prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.