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Department of Teaching and Learning News

We are focused on educational research and the preparation of educators at all levels. In addition to our bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, and doctoral degree programs, our professional education programs focus on essential knowledge, established and current research findings, and sound professional practice.

Current Teaching and Learning News

Kenneth Varner in red shirt and arms crossed while standing outside
People |

Kenny Varner, the 2025 Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award winner, tackles the state's critical teacher shortage through the Nevada Forward Initiative.

black and white photo of Herbert Derfelt
51吃瓜网万能科大 History |

51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 origin story traces back to one vote by one man, Herb Derfelt. And his legacy continues through generations of family members who followed in his educator footsteps.

Pate Thomas holds a photo of his great-grandfather Herbert Derfelt
51吃瓜网万能科大 History |

Pate Thomas initially had no desire to add his name to the long list of family members who became Rebels and then educators. Now? He鈥檚 a proud alum, a difference-making educator, and the boss of a brand-new high school.

51吃瓜网万能科大 students walking on campus
Research |

The College of Education's National Institute for the Advancement of Education awarded four faculty research grants that will explore potential solutions for retaining Nevada's teachers.

close up of woman sitting on bench near railing
People |

When not dreaming of travel or watching baseball, this administrative assistant efficiently manages the Department of Teaching and Learning.

group posing in front of sign that reads Ice Age Fossils State Park
Campus News |

GeoPaths program leads to more student-centered and interactive Earth science classes.

Teaching and Learning In The News

TODOS Mathematics For All Podcast

What happens when three Asian American women math educators come together to reflect on their journeys, activism, and the role of mathematics in justice? In this powerful episode, Dr. Kari Kokka鈥攎ath educator, social justice advocate, and former high school teacher鈥攋oins hosts Shari Kaku and Michelle Lo for an inspiring conversation about searching for our own stories, math identity, and community organizing.

51吃瓜网免费App Sun

A national teachers union leader came to 51吃瓜网万能科大 this week to learn more about how the university is answering the call to get more educators in classrooms through less-traditional routes.

New India Abroad

Drowsy driving among college students and young drivers in America is a public health challenge that critically impacts road safety drives with the rising number of accidents involving the youth and new drivers, according to a new study published by the public health experts of the 51吃瓜网万能科大 (51吃瓜网万能科大).

KTNV-TV: ABC 13

Three months after a shooter opened fire on the 51吃瓜网万能科大 campus 鈥 terrorizing students, staff and faculty members 鈥 the campus seemed normal Tuesday. The weather was picture perfect, birds were chirping and students moved about the campus walkways just outside the Student Union.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

It鈥檚 part of the 51吃瓜网免费App-Clark County Library District Foundation and the nonprofit organization Andson.

KTNV-TV: ABC 13

With ongoing contract disputes between Clark County School District and Clark County Education Association, many question what the future of teachers will look like.

Teaching and Learning Experts

An expert in language and literacy practices, critical race theory, and culturally relevant pedagogy.
An expert in mathematics and integrated STEM education.
An expert in educational equity and race theory in education.
An expert in educational technology and self-regulated learning.
An expert on STEM education.
An expert on teacher preparation and diversity in classrooms.

Recent Teaching and Learning Accomplishments

Kari Kokka (Teaching and Learning) gave the Distinguished Lecture for the Cal Poly Pomona Math and Stats Colloquium on April 30, 2025. 
Xue (Cher) Xing (Teaching and Learning), associate professor and program coordinator of Career-Technical & Postsecondary Education at 51吃瓜网万能科大, received the Association for Career and Technical Education Region V Teacher Educator of the Year award. This award honors teacher educators who demonstrate a commitment to preparing high-quality鈥
Qingmin Shi (Decision Support), Shaoan Zhang (Teaching and Learning), Yingtao Jiang (Engineering), along with 51吃瓜网万能科大 alumna Chengcheng Li (Ph.D., 2021) and Tiberio Garza (Florida International University), recently presented their research at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA) in Denver, Colorado. Their study,鈥
Holmes Scholar Mayra Marquez-Mendez, Ph.D., (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) and Tina Vo, Ph.D., (Teaching and Learning) presented their work titled, 鈥淯nderstanding Science Teachers鈥 Support Needs: Assessing the Reliability of a Support-Seeking Instrument,鈥 at the 2025 Annual American Educational Research鈥
Katrina Liu (Teaching & Learning) and Richard Miller (Music), together with 51吃瓜网万能科大 alumna Lei Ping (Ph.D., 2025) and Christopher R. Crowley from Wayne State University recently published "Testing the Limits of the Practical: Using van Manen鈥檚 Framework to Support Prospective Teachers鈥 Critical Reflection for Transformative Learning" in the鈥
Danielle Mireles, Norma A. Marrun, and Christine Clark (all Teaching and Learning) co-authored a chapter titled, "Between hypervisibility and invisibility: Unpacking what it means to be an HSI on Indigenous lands through critical unearthing of local histories and epistemologies of Latinx communities," published in Contemporary issues in鈥