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NRJE Emerging Scholars Mentoring Seminar June 10-11, 2014

American Jewish University, Los Angeles, CA

Welcome to the Network for Research in Jewish Education (NRJE) Emerging Scholars Mentoring Seminar, organized by NRJE with support from the Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education (CASJE) and the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. The mentoring seminar:

1) Brings together emerging scholars of Jewish education from different backgrounds, academic programs, disciplines, and career areas, for the sake of fellowship and guidance;

2) Connects emerging scholars with veteran researchers for mentoring, and fosters new connections and potential collaborations among them;

3) Facilitates sharing current research ideas, methodologies, and works in progress among peers and with mentors;

4) Underscores NRJE’s commitment toward advancing the professional development and research acumen of emerging scholars;

5) Contributes to the growth of the Jewish education profession by inducting emerging scholars into the field.

Program With the above goals in mind, the program features six major components: First, all participants will gather for a Keynote Session to be facilitated by this year’s NRJE Conference Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Lee S. Shulman, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University. The title of Lee’s session, “Framing and Naming: Mommy, Where do conceptual frameworks come from?,” alludes to our focus on what it means to create a rich, generative, guiding conceptual framework for one’s research. All participants are asked to bring a statement of their conceptual framework, in order to inform this interactive, hands-on session.

Second, the panel discussion on the “Productive Habits of Highly Respected Researchers” will introduce three more mentors to the larger group, focusing on how prolific researchers go about their work, including a consideration of how they germinate and develop research ideas, secure funding (where appropriate), comprise a research team (where applicable), collect, analyze, and write-up data, and so forth. The aim of this session is to provide practical professional tips for emerging scholars on what it takes to get the job done.

Third, the Dinner with Peers and Mentors allows emerging scholars and their mentors to get to know each other in a casual albeit purposeful context.

Fourth, the panel discussion of “Diverse Modes of Disseminating Jewish Education Research” will concentrate on academic journals, conferences, organizational reports, blogs, social media, and

   

macintosh hd:users:bethlevick:dropbox:network:conference 2014:nrje emerging scholars mentoring seminar (without emails).docx

   

 

other outlets that allow researchers to connect to scholarly peers, policymakers, and the public. This session will provide successful models and practical recommendations.

Fifth, participants will be asked to divide into two small groups—one on “Managing the Multiple Demands of Research-Teaching-Service and Life” and the other a “Spotlight on Methods of Research”—that will allow focused attention on matters of personal and professional interest. Emerging scholars and mentors will self-select into these groupings.

Last, the Individual Consultations allow emerging scholars a significant block of time to meet individually with their mentors for guidance on current research projects in development, with a particular focus on research methodologies. Time permitting, further small groupings will be made in order to allow peers to share with peers as well. Participation Inherent in the spirit of the seminar is the idea that, as Lee Shulman put it, “both the young-uns and the mentors are all ‘emerging scholars.’” In other words, the program should be oriented toward everyone's learning. In that sense, it is expected—and encouraged—that both the mentors and their younger counterparts are committed to come to the sessions prepared, having done "homework" in preparation for the seminar, and that the sessions are as conversational and participatory as possible. Everyone should feel free to contribute and everyone should feel open to intellectual, social, and professional growth. Participants (in alphabetical order) Mentors Isa Aron, HUC-JIR Sarah Benor, HUC-JIR Steven M. Cohen, HUC-JIR Benjamin M. Jacobs, NYU Meredith Katz, JTS Jon Levisohn, Brandeis Alex Pomson, Rosov Consulting Lee Shulman, Stanford Miriam Heller Stern, AJU

Mentees Samuel Abramovich, University at Buffalo Lauren Applebaum, JTS Suzanne Brooks, YU Arielle Levites, NYU Sarah Levy, Denver Jewish Day School Ben Lewis, NYU Orah Minder, Brandeis Sivan Zakai, AJU

Special Thanks Lauren Applebaum, Ben Jacobs, Meredith Katz, Jonathan Krasner, Beth Lutzker Levick, Alex Pomson, Zach Rabiroff / NRJE / CASJE / Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University / American Jewish University

   

 

NRJE Emerging Scholars Mentoring Seminar June 10-11, 2014

American Jewish University, Los Angeles, CA

A G E N D A Tuesday, June 10 4:00 pm Gathering and Overview of the Program Ben Jacobs, Meredith Katz Keynote: “Framing and Naming: Mommy, Where do conceptual frameworks come from?”

Lee Shulman 5:30 pm Productive Habits of Highly Respected Researchers Isa Aron, Steven Cohen, Jon Levisohn 6:30 pm Dinner with Peers and Mentors Wednesday, June 11 8:00 am Breakfast 9:00 am Diverse Modes of Disseminating Jewish Education Research Ben Jacobs, Alex Pomson 10:00 am Small Group Discussions (Choose One)

1) Managing the Multiple Demands of Research-Teaching-Service and Life Miriam Heller Stern

2) Spotlight on Methods of Research: Mixed Methods Sarah Benor

11:00 am Individual Consultations with Peers and Mentors on Current Research (Box Lunch) 12:30 pm Closing Comments and Evaluation