Beth R. Sockman
Professor of Professional & Secondary Education, Department Chair
Education
B.A., 1991, University of Pennsylvania
Ph.D., 2007, The Pennsylvania State University
Beth Rajan Sockman Ph.D. has been in education since 1991 when she began as a tenured middle-level school teacher. Between teaching and university work, she directed two CISV Villages (peace camps) with 17 countries presented, was an NSF - R.E.T. for CPIMA and WISE fellow, and volunteered with teens for 10 years in nonprofit work.
After 11 years in Digital Media Technologies, she moved over to PSED to focus on K-12 education. Beth aims for alignment between belief and action especially in the way we believe people learn and the path designed to guide instruction for changing societal needs.
Teaching Interest
Teaching at a university carries particular responsibilities. Once a professor moves beyond responsibility into possibility, we reap the rewards of student learning that exceeds our own knowledge.~B.R. Sockman
Below are links to recent classroom materials that demonstrate the way that some interactive materials are created with culturally relevant learning design in mind.
Interactive Notebook-Introducing Performance Assessments, Self-Paced module on Assessment, Sample of collaborative learning research about online learning
Research Guiding Belief: We need to determine our goal, and then align instruction with how we know learning occurs to best meet that goal. This is not an easy task and needs to be empirically studied so that we can make stronger systems to improve outcomes. All knowledge is situated - qualitative or quantitative. Therefore, we engage in empirical research with our participants who we mutually honor with our work. Research interests include: systemic thinking & change; instruction & learning design; culturally relevant learning; student assessment for meaning; and, high impact practices. Research generally includes technology.
Chair of PSED: My motivation for coming to PSED is my love for education and a desire to see formal education reflect more of the way we know that learning occurs. Being department chair, I believe we can make a difference by coalescing the brilliant PSED faculty and staff. My colleagues are innovatively wise stewards of education, and with our collaboration, make a positive impact both collectively and independently.
Projects of Pride: There are many! Here are just a few.
Recent Book: Systems Thinking for Instructional Designers: Catalyzing Organizational Change, Video Participation in the Way of the Warrior Series on Empowerment, Children's Book: Nepal Adventure
Diane Holben
Associate Professor of Professional & Secondary Education
Education
B.S., 1987, Muhlenberg College
M.S., 1993, East Stroudsburg University
M.Ed., 2000, Arcadia University
Ed.D., 2009, Lehigh University
Dr. Holben instructs both undergraduate and graduate level courses in educational practice and research methodology. Her research focuses on school law and public policy issues. Currently, she is engaged in projects related to litigation connected to peer-to-peer bullying in schools as well as an analysis of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with respect to Title IV requirements for anti-bullying efforts.
Teaching Interest
Quantitative Research Methodology, Education Law, Policy and Politics in Public Education, Assessment Design, School Accountability Processes
Research Interest
Peer-to-Peer Bullying Litigation, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title IV Impacts on Bullying Prevention, Title IX Gender/Sexual Orientation Harassment Litigation, Effective School Accountability, Systems
Service
University Senate Member, Special Education Law Conference Planning Committee, Lehigh University, Education Law Association Member AERA Member
Publications & Presentations
Publications:
Holben, D. M. and Zirkel, P. A. (in press). Bullying of students with disabilities: An empirical analysis of legal bases for claims. West’s Education Law Reporter, ___, ____.
Holben, D. M., and Zirkel, P. A. (in press). Bullying of students with disabilities: An empirical analysis of the case law. Ethical Human Psychology & Psychiatry, ____, _____.
Zirkel, P. A., and Holben, D. M. (2017). Spelunking the Litigation Iceberg: Exploring the Ultimate Outcomes of Inconclusive Rulings. Journal of Law and Education, 46(4), 195-217.
Holben, D. M., and Zirkel, P. A. (2016). School bullying case law: Frequency and outcomes for school level, protected status, and bullying actions. Ethical Human Psychology & Psychiatry, 18(2), 1-23.
Holben, D. M., and Zirkel, P. A. (2014). School bullying litigation: An empirical analysis of the case law. Akron Law Review, 47(2), 299-328.
Holben, D. M., and Zirkel, P. A. (2011). Empirical trends in teacher tort liability for student fights. Journal of Law and Education, 40(1), 151 – 169.
Holben, D. M., Zirkel, P. A., & Caskie, G. I. L. (2009). Teacher fear of litigation for disciplinary actions. Journal of School Leadership, 19, 559 – 577.
Holben, D. M., and Baird, W. J. (2009). Streamlining Response to Intervention screening. ASCD Express.
Holben, D. M. (2003). Preliminary “We the People” study on academic growth. On file with author and available from the Center for Civic Education.
Presentations:
Education Law Association Conference, Cleveland, OH (November 2018): co-presented conference session on litigation specific to the bullying of students with disabilities.
Education Law Association Conference, Orlando, FL (November, 2016): co-presented conference session on school bullying litigation settlements of claims.
Education Law Association Conference, Cleveland, OH (November, 2015): co-presented conference session on school bullying litigation frequency and outcomes.
Pennsylvania School Boards Association Conference, Hershey, PA (October, 2015): panel discussion on the use of value-added data for school and district improvement
PA Literacy Conference, Hershey, PA (2015): panel discussion on the use of value-added data for school and district improvement.
PA Literacy Conference, Hershey, PA (2014): panel discussion on the development of a local comprehensive literacy plan.
Tetradata Annual Users’ Conference, Greenville, SC (April, 2009): co-presented conference session on using data warehouse technology to facilitate Response to Intervention screening.
Donna-Marie T. Cole-Malott
Assistant Professor of Professional & Secondary Education
Education
B.A., CUNY Brooklyn College
M.A., CUNY Brooklyn College
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Donna-Marie Cole-Malott, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Professional and Secondary Education at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. She also serves as Co-Director of the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC)—an organization dedicated to educator diversity, equity, and culturally relevant education and systems, serving the needs of BIPOC learners throughout the Commonwealth.
Dr. Cole-Malott’s research and work focus and intersects in the following areas: the lived experiences and literate lives of Black girls and their social and academic identity development; race, equity, and the factors that support equal access for underrepresented students in schools; educator diversity, equity, and culturally relevant education for all educators. Her work centers on the ecosystem of public education and strategies for dismantling systemic racism that can improve outcomes for all students.
Carol M. Walker
Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology, Graduate Coordinator
Education
B.A., 2001, Education, St. Joseph’s College
B.A., 2001, Psychology, St. Joseph’s College
M.A., 2004, History, East Stroudsburg University
M.Ed., 2008, Instructional Technology, East Stroudsburg University
Ph.D., 2012, Communication Media and Instructional Technology: Indiana University of PA
Teaching Interest
Quantitative Research, Instructional Technology and Design, Communications Theory, Media Law and Ethics
Research Interest
Cyberbullying, exploring the role of emerging communication technologies and social media in Veteran education, Heutagogy and the practice of self-determined learning
Service
East Stroudsburg University: DMET 495 submitted for new GE Standard IV
Co-advisor: National Broadcast Society, Fall 2017
Acting Department Chair for the purpose of chair: Promotion Dr. Beth Rajan Sockman Fall 2016
Chair of Promotion Committee of Digital Media Technologies Fall 2016
National Association of Lutheran Church: Church Plant Committee, Secretary on Leadership Committee. Stroudsburg, PA 2015 – present
Reviewer: Computers in Human Behavior: 2016
Reviewer: Review of Educational Research (2014 Impact Factor: 3.897; Ranking 1/224 in Education and Educational Research): 2015
Reviewer: Pennsylvania Communication Annual: 2014, 2015, 2017
Reviewer: AECT Education Division: March 2015
Presenter: Christ Hamilton United Lutheran Church: Staying Safe on the Web, 2015
Student Group Advising
Advisor for Instructional Technology Graduate Students
Publications & Presentations
“Staying safe on the Web: A discussion about social media, cyberbullying, and how to use the Internet to your best advantage for career success” Accepted at Provost’s Colloquium East Stroudsburg University, April 2019
“Exploring the Role of Emerging Communication Technology and social Media in 21st Century Veteran Education” Proposed at Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Conference in March 2018 in San Diego, CA
“Exploring the Role of Emerging Communication Technology and social Media in 21st Century Veteran Education” Accepted at University of North Florida Conference in November 2017 in Jacksonville, FL
“Motivating Learning and Differentiating Instruction Using Web 2.0 Content Curating Tools” Presented at the Mini-Conference of Faculty Research & Scholarly Activity in April 2015 in East Stroudsburg University
“Motivating Learning and Differentiating Instruction Using Web 2.0 Content Curating Tools” Presented at the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) in November 2014 in Jacksonville, FL.
“21st Century Cyberbullying defined: An analysis of intent, repetition, and emotional response” Presented at the Mini-Conference of Faculty Research & Scholarly Activity in April 2014 in East Stroudsburg University
“21st Century Cyberbullying defined: An analysis of intent, repetition, and emotional response” Presented at the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) for 2013 in Anaheim, CA.
“iPad: Explore the hidden potential in your students.” Accepted at the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) for 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference – “iPad: Explore the potential in your students!” February 2012
Cyberbullying: gender, culture, and the role of adults. Presented at The Laurel Highlands Communications Conference 2010. Indiana, PA.
George Herbert Mead: an overview and understanding of symbolic interactionism. Presented at The Laurel Highlands Communications Conference 2010. Indiana, PA.
Workshop: Digital storytelling. (2010) Presented at The Laurel Highlands Communications Conference 2010. Indiana, PA.
An exploratory study of cyberbullying with undergraduate students. Paper presented at the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) for 2010 in Anaheim, CA.
Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference – 3 hour Workshop – “Digital Storytelling” February 2010
Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference – “Cyberbullying – do you know?” February 2010
Ahmed Karam Yousof
Associate Professor of Art + Media + Design
Education
Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Ahmed Yousof is an assistant professor of digital media technologies at East Stroudsburg University. His area of research is game-based learning in educational, business and cross-cultural communication contexts.
Born and raised in Belgium, lived in the Middle East, and studied in the U.S., Yousof is interested in intercultural communication and the effective use of digital games in enhancing the intercultural competency of people from different cultural backgrounds. Yousof’s research focuses on the examination and production of effective computer-mediated and mixed-reality instructional approaches to solve challenging learning problems related to intercultural communication. Through considering the necessary factors in the instructional design of video games and virtual reality, Yousof tackles how dynamic learning environments made possible by 3D games and virtual reality can contribute to better development and acquisition of business, educational, and cultural knowledge. Accordingly, he has developed a video game, HERO 1, as a training tool for enhancing intercultural competency. The game concept and the research behind it received an international award for New Media and Mobile Learning in 2013 from Education Without Borders Conference in Dubai."
Teaching Interest
I am teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that are related to graphics, gamification, Multimedia design and production, animation, and digital publishing.
Research Interest
Linking games to business training and education is a necessity to create prolific experiences and achieve valuable outcomes for the individual and business. Thus, I am interested in the design and development of serious games in non-digital, digital, AR/VR formats. The games cover cross-disciplinary fields such as communication, business, science, and art.
Service
Dr. Yousof is a member of departmental and university-wide committees such as The Department of Digital Media Technologies (DMET) Evaluation Committee and ESU Campus Author Recognition Committee. Also, Dr, Yousof has given workshops and speeches in the Middle East, the U.S., and Canada.
Publications & Presentations
Yousof, A. (2019). Benefits and Disadvantages of Utilizing Gamified Learning in Higher Education In Mabel C. P., Okojie, Tinukwa C. Boulder (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Adult Learning in Higher Education (pp. TBD). Hershey, PA: IGI Publishing
Co-investigator of the Digital Fluency Grant from Adobe: Research title: The Effectiveness of using Adobe Applications in the Development of the faculty digital fluency across Pennsylvania State University in Erie, PA.
Yousof, A. Nahla, A. (2019). The Future of Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) in Shaping Intercultural Communication Competency In Heather Lum (Ed.), Critical Issues Impacting Science, Technology, Society (STS) and Our Future (pp. 120-141). Hershey, PA: IGI Publishing
“Media in Transition: Journalism and Mass Media in the Arab World after the Arab Spring and its Influence to Access and Use of Media by Arab Immigrants in the United States” (2016); Research Paper presented at AEJMC, Canada
“Do console games encourage racial and cultural discrimination: The Portrayal of Race and Culture in Commercial 3D games” (2016); Research Paper presented at LHCC conference, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“The Portrayal of Super Heroes in LEGO® Videogames” (2015); Paper presented at Popular Culture of America (PCA) Conference, New Orleans
“Egypt Vs. Indonesian Politics: Role of International Media in Reporting Egyptian Revolution Vs. Indonesian Reform” (2015) Paper presented at Indonesia Focus Conference, Ohio
“Videogames and Teen Crimes” (2014); Paper presented at Popular Culture of America (PCA) Conference, Chicago“HERO I: A Simulation Game that Promotes Cultural Understanding among Cultures” (2013); Education Without Borders Conference, Dubai
“When Lara Croft Teaches a Second Language” Paper presented at Laurel Highlands Communications Conference
“Designing a Study Skills Website for Egyptian Students in Higher Education” Case-study co-presented at Egypt TESOL Conference, Egypt
