EDU-NOR Research Seminar: Academic life in transition: Insights from a liberal university in the United States – March 17 2025
ILP has collaborated with Adelphi University in New York for 8 years. American students follow a course that runs every other year, and where parts of the course are set in Tromsø. The purpose is for the students to get an impression of how to work pedagogically in Northern Norway, climatically, geographically and diversely.
This year the course was held in week 12. On March 17 the research group EDU-NOR invited those interested to a seminar, where colleagues at Adelphi talked about what it is like to be an academic and affiliated with an American liberal university in today’s political climate. They also presented the course they lead and their experiences from it, as well as their own research projects.
Professor Mary Jean McCarthy: Developing and Evaluating an Interdisciplinary Coastal Science Curriculum
Adelphi University/New York, USA
Currently, New York State has no standard curriculum specific to marine, coastal or environmental science, and certainly not one that is responsive or relevant to the communities living in our rapidly changing coastal zones. To respond to this gap, a team of experienced earth science educators at the secondary and postsecondary level will collaborate with local civic organizations to develop a coastal science curriculum that is scientifically sound, community-focused, inclusive of diverse viewpoints, and relevant to Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson River estuary. Completion of this project will result in a program designed to train and inspire the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards.
The new curriculum will be evaluated with mixed methods research tools such as surveys and semi-structured interviews. Those research results will provide insights into student knowledge gaps, effectiveness of active learning approaches such as project- and place- based learning, and the overall experience of participating teachers. This project is in development, so we welcome feedback on our methods of research and assessment.
Mary Jean McCarthy is a clinical associate professor of childhood education at Adelphi University in New York. Her areas of interest include community-based teacher preparation, science education, and place-based learning. Mary Jean also serves as Chair of the Nassau Land Trust, an organization that maintains a working, historic farm on Long Island offering experiential agricultural education for the community.
Professor Rob Linné: Memory Work: Arts-Based Research Informing Triangle Factory Fire Memorialization
Adelphi University/New York, USA
The New York City Triangle Factory Fire of 1911 needlessly killed 146 young workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant women. The disaster proved to be one of the most consequential moments in US history as the labor movement flourished in response and a new social contract in the US grew out of the ashes. However, across decades memory of the moment faded seemingly at the same rate the social contract was chipped away. As the 100-year anniversary approached historians, artists, and educators took on a project of bringing this history back into our national discourse. Public history education took the form of street-based theatre, visual arts, books, plays, and ultimately a permanent memorial installed onsite.
Arts-based research was used to both inform the project of memorialization, as well as to assess the effectiveness. This talk will outline this dynamic interplay between inquiry and action.
Rob Linné is professor emeritus of education and cultural studies at Adelphi University, USA. His areas of interest include creative writing, labor education in the schools, and place-based learning. Rob also serves on the board of the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, an organization dedicated to educating about the historical and cultural significance of the fire.
Published: 17.03.2025
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