Upcoming Professional Development Offerings and Events

Research & Evaluation Seminars

Co-sponsored by PERG and the Ph.D. in Educational Studies Program, this seminar series features educational research and evaluation studies by members of the Lesley community and beyond.

Unless Otherwise Noted - Seminars take place Thursday afternoons from 4:30 -6:00pm in the Creativity Commons, Room 3-039 University Hall, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Sq, Cambridge, MA. All seminars are free and open to the public. Snacks and tea will be provided. 

An Imperative for Change: Bridging Special and Language Learning to Ensure a Free and Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment for ELLs with Disabilities in Massachusetts

Date: Thursday April 19

Presenter: Maria de Lourdes Serpa, Professor of Education and Special Education, Lesley University

Description: English Language Learners are the fastest-growing group of school-age students in the nation, and in Massachusetts. At the same time, the number of ELLs identified as having disabilities are increasing at an even faster pace.  Commissioned by the Mauricio Gaston Institute at UMass Boston with support from the Barr Foundation, this report provides a critical overview of the state's current policies and practices related to the education of ELLs who are suspected of having disabilities, and offers recommendations for improvements.

Discussant: Lucy Bunning, Doctoral Candidate, Lesley University

Looking Closely: A Study of Youth's Use of Drawing and Digital Photography to Observe Nature

Date: POSTPONED until Fall 2012

Presenters: Carol Baldassari, Senior Research Associate & Debra Richardson Smith, Director, PERG

Discussant: Judy Storeygard, Senior Scientist, TERC

Building Evaluation Capacity Workshops:
Introduction to Conducting Effective Program Evaluations

This three-part workshop series, sponsored by the Program Evaluation & Research Group at Lesley University (PERG), is designed both for those new to evaluation and also for more experienced program staff, who would like to gain some practical tools and strategies to examine their program's effectiveness.

The first session will provide an overview of program evaluation and practical suggestions/techniques for carrying out the work in organizational settings. Sessions two and three will build on these techniques and will enable participants to develop and carry out a simple evaluation within their organizations, with guidance and feedback from PERG's experienced evaluators.

Building Evaluation Capacity Flier (pdf)

Dates: Three Fridays; 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at Lesley University;

• December 9, 2011
• February 10, 2012
• May 11, 2012
  • The workshop series will be offered again during the 2012-2013 academic year. Feel free to get in touch with us for more information!

Costs: $175 for the first session only or $475 for full workshop series. There is a 15% discount for additional participants from the same organization.

Registration: Please print out this form (word document) - fill it out, and mail it with your payment to the included address.

For more information and to sign up, please contact Judah Leblang at bleblang@lesley.edu or 617.349.8661.