Denice Blair Leach
Western Kentucky University
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Visiting Assistant Professor, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, August 2011-present
- “Educational Psychology: Development and Learning” (PSY 310, traditional). Fall 2011, Spring 2012. Teaching foundational educational psychology principles and emphasizing applications to formal and informal learning environments to pre-service teachers
- “Psychological Perspectives on Classroom Behavior” (PSY 519, online). Teaching strategies and techniques designed for coping with problem behaviors in the classroom, including preventative and problem encounter measures
Teaching Assistant, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, May 2008-August 2011
- “Teaching Social Studies to Diverse Learners” (TE 401, traditional). Instructor of record. Fall 2010. Developed construction of knowledge of social studies content and methods in senior-level students during their elementary social studies classroom placements
- “Reflections on Learning” (TE 150, traditional). Instructor of record. Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010. Taught foundational educational psychology principles and emphasizing applications to formal and informal learning environments to pre-service teachers
- “Reflections on Learning” (TE 150, traditional). Grader. Spring 2010. Assisted with classroom activities, including groupwork, and grading student essays and weekly responses journals for students in MSU College of Education’s Global Education cohort
- “Electronic Portfolios for Teaching and Learning” (CEP 813, online). Teaching assistant. Spring 2010, Spring 2011. Directed and evaluated semester-long project of graduate students, who created individual electronic portfolios to showcase and evaluate their own students’ (K-16) classroom work
- “Capstone Course” (ED 870/CEP 807, online). Teaching assistant. Summer 2008, Summer 2009, Spring 2011, Summer 2011. Directed and evaluated semester-long project of graduate students, who created individual electronic portfolios to showcase and evaluate their learning during the completion of the Master of Educational Technology (MAET) degree
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Current Research Projects
- Descriptive study of faculty use of a university museum as a resource for teaching and research (October 2011-present)
- Quasi-experimental study of students’ participation in a semester-long problem based learning project in an undergraduate educational psychology course (January 2012-present)
Research Assistant, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, September 2008-September 2009
- Research project assistant, Paths to Appreciation of History, for Dr. Jere E. Brophy
- Coded and analyzed qualitative data about students’ motivation for learning history
- Wrote final reports and presented project at American Educational Research Association conference 2010
Independent Graduate Student Researcher, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, January 2009-August 2011
- Children’s Concepts of Historic Sites. April 2010-September 2010. Designed, coordinated, and performed qualitative study of 13 elementary school children’s beliefs about the nature and function of historic sites. Trained and supervised two undergraduate assistants for data collection. Research presented at the National Council for the Social Studies 2010 conference
- Children’s Experience Recall and Cognitive Tool Use from a Historic House Visit. January 2009-July 2009. Designed, coordinated, and performed qualitative study of 22 third grade students’ museum experience, through evaluation of student-produced journal entries. Results presented at the Michigan Council for History Education 2010 conference and forthcoming in Visitor Studies
MUSEUM AND MUSEUM EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
Editorial Assistant, Museums & Social Issues journal, East Lansing, MI, June 2006-May 2008
- Assistant to the editor-in-chief
- Journal article fact checking, research, and copy editing
- Managed author contracts, records, correspondence, and journal database
Museum Inventory Consultant, Alice B. Cowles House, East Lansing, MI, June 2005-January 2006
- Performed documentary inventory on over 1,000 objects and architectural elements in the University President’s Home on the Michigan State University campus
- Developed and maintained object database using FileMaker Pro software
- Researched and wrote for materials conservation report and house history
Curriculum Consultant, Nokomis Learning Center, Okemos, MI, January 2005-August 2006
- Developed and wrote Understanding Michigan Indian Sovereignty and Treaties: Negotiating the Past, Navigating the Future curriculum guide and museum program for later elementary students. Guide includes educator readings, lesson plans, and student activities
- Worked on the development team for the curriculum guide with museum director, museum educator, Native American law expert, K-12 teacher, and university cartographer
Virtual Outreach Program Academic Specialist, Michigan State University Museum, East Lansing, MI, January 2004-June 2006
- Developed and facilitated virtual field trips at the MSU Museum for K-12 audiences in Michigan and nationwide using videoconferencing equipment
- Evaluated educational materials and programming
- Coordinated program promotion
- Designed and updated program website
- Created and presented “MSI: Museum Scene Investigation” virtual program. Presented 51 programs to 1,750 Grade 3-6 students in 21 Michigan and 22 out-of-state schools
- Grant writing and research
EDUCATION
Ph.D. (2011), Educational Psychology & Educational Technology, Michigan State University College of Education, East Lansing, MI.
- Main interest areas: Educational psychology, informal learning environments, and teaching with primary sources
- Title: Enhancing the use of historic site texts as primary sources for historical inquiry through focused instruction. Dissertation director: Dr. W. Patrick Dickson
M.A. (2007), American Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, September 2005-July 2007
- Fields in historic preservation, place studies, and museum education
- Thesis title: In Place of Memory: Museums and Historic Resources as Distinct Place Types. Thesis advisor: Dr. Kristine Morrissey
Eastern Michigan University, Historic Preservation, Ypsilanti, MI, September 2004-May 2005
- M.S. student in Historic Preservation Program with concentration in Historic Site Administration and Tourism
- Completed one year of coursework in these areas before transferring to Michigan State University
B.A. (2004), History with Museum Studies Certification, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, August 2002-May 2004
AWARDS AND PRIZES
- Summer Research Fellowship, Michigan State University Graduate School, February 2010
- Dean’s Scholar Award, Michigan State University College of Education, March 2007
- Andrew E. Rasmussen, Jr. Fellowship, Michigan State University Graduate School, March 2007
- Phi Beta Kappa Membership, May 2004
- Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Prize Finalist Award, Featherstone Society, MSU, May 2004
- Outstanding History Graduate Award, Michigan State University History Department, May 2004
- Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society Membership, May 2001
PUBLICATIONS
- Leach, D. B. Children’s Recollections of a Historical House Visit: Recall of Experiences Using Cognitive Tools. Visitor Studies, 14(1), 34-47.
- Leach, D. B. (2007). Dynamic museum place: Exploring the multi-dimensional museum environment. Journal of Museum Education, 32(3), 197-207.
- Leach, D. B., Morrissey, K., & Alvarado, G. (2007). Taking videoconferencing to the next level: Creating a model for museum virtual field trips. In D. Newman, P. Barbanell, J. Falco, & S. Silverman (Eds.), Videoconferencing technology in K-12 instruction: Best practices and trends (pp. 20-34). Hershey: PA: IGI.
- Leach, D. B. (2006). Understanding Michigan Indian sovereignty and treaties: Negotiating the past, navigating the future. Curriculum package. East Lansing, MI: Nokomis Learning Center.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
- Leach, D. B., & Heilman, E. (Accepted paper, 2012, April). Language matters: Rethinking how we teach the concepts primary source and secondary source. American Educational Research Association annual meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia.
- Leach, D. B. (Accepted session, 2012, March). Teaching students to read historic site “texts” for historical inquiry. National Council for History Education annual meeting, Kansas City, MO.
- Leach, D. B. (2011, April). Historic site websites: Engaging and educating online visitors. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting, New Orleans, LA.
- Leach, D. B. (2010, November). Learning from children’s concepts of historic sites. Paper presented at the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies annual conference, Denver, CO.
- Leach, D. B. (2010, November). Using post-visit journal writing to scaffold elementary school students’ museum learning. Session presented at the Michigan Council for History Education annual conference, Lansing, MI.
- Leach, D. B., & Stier, S. (2010, May). Creating successful collaborations in preservation education. Presentation at the Michigan Historic Preservation Network annual conference, Ann Arbor, MI.
- Leach, D. B. (2010, May). Children’s experience recall and cognitive tool use from a historic site visit. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting, Denver, CO.
- Brophy, J. E., & Leach, D. B. (2010, May). Students interested in learning about history: What sparked their interest and what benefits do they derive? Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association annual meeting, Denver, CO.
- Leach, D. B. (2008, September) Opening borders at historic sites through visitor inclusion. Paper presented at the Michigan Museum Association conference, Traverse City, MI.
- Leach, D. B. (2007, September). Deciphering the spatial codes of museum place and historic place. Paper presented at the Association of Midwest Museums/Michigan Museum Association regional conference, Mackinac Island, MI.
- Morrissey, K. A., & Leach, D. B. (2005, April). Taking the distance out of distance learning. Workshop presented at the Museums and the Web international conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Leach, D. B. (2005, March). Getting the most out of virtual field trips. Workshop presented at the Michigan Council for the Social Studies annual conference, Dearborn, MI.
- Leach, D. B. (2004, October). The virtual field trip. Workshop presented at the Michigan Council for History Education annual conference, Dearborn, MI.
OTHER PRESENTATIONS
- Leach, D. B. (2009, December). Children’s narratives of a historic site visit. Literacy colloquy presentation at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
SERVICE
- Education Committee member, Michigan Historic Preservation Network, statewide preservation organization (2005-present)
- Peer member, Michigan State University College of Education student’s practicum committee (September 2010-May 2011). Topic: Empathy in Education
- School volunteer, Enrichment Clusters program, Murphy Elementary School, Haslett, MI (March-May 2010)
- Vice-president, Michigan Historic Preservation Network (2006-2007)
- Board member, Michigan Historic Preservation Network (2005-2008)
- Museum volunteer, Courthouse Square Association, Charlotte, MI (2005). Exhibit design and fabrication
- Museum volunteer, Michigan State University Museum (2002-2003). Curatorial volunteer, Folk Arts division
- Museum volunteer, Michigan Historical Center, Lansing, MI (2002). Visitor assistance volunteer
