By CASSIDY BLACK
For the Clarion News
After observing students at Keystone High School in Knox, Clarion University student and student teacher Jacob Craig was inspired inspired to teach young people who respect their teachers and want to learn.
And when Craig brought his findings and teaching plan back to CUP’s April 27 Undergraduate Research Conference, he invited five Keystone students to also participate in the conference.
During his internship and student teaching at Keystone High School, Craig observed Conrad Warner’s eighth-grade Social Studies classes and was inspired by their work ethic.
Craig focused his research around the attitudes of the students he observed, calling his piece, “Instruction Isn’t Enough.”
Craig’s research revolved around his analysis of ways to successfully educate students. He found teachers have to tell their students the purpose of what they’re doing in the classroom in order to earn their respect; setting expectations for students only works if they understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.
Craig said after working with students, his motto became, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Through his research, Craig made it possible for the five young Keystone students to partake in Clarion University’s Research Conference.
The five students attending the conference included Abbey Henry, Corinne Lloyd, Rori Vickers, Cody Zaeske, and Danae Hurrelbrink.
Their research was led by Craig, Warner, and Keystone High School Librarian Patrick Busch.
Their eagerness to learn even outside of the classroom was apparent as they presented their research to the many college students and professors.
The Keystone students were the youngest team of “experts” at the event, but they did not come up short when presenting their work and were arguably the most captivating.
There was a constant line of attendees eager to hear their presentations.
Keystone students in junior high are conducting the same level of research as college undergraduate students. They proved academic excellence is the new normal, having researched topics such as “The Enlightenment of Pennsylvania,” “Women in Egypt: An Ancient Exception,” “The Absence of Rights in Ancient Sparta,” “Pennsylvania Philosophy,” and “Pennsylvania: the Making of a Nation.”
About the conference
Professor Steve Harris brought the conference to life 15 years ago, creating a diverse experience for Clarion University’s high-achieving students from any major or program to display their research.
Harris’ idea first conference included approximately 10 students in the library sharing their work, and it is now close to outgrowing the multipurpose room located in the Gemmell Student Center.
Professor Todd Pfannestiel, the university’s Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, started the seminar by saying this was his favorite day of the year because, “You’re the stars because you’re the experts.”
Harris shared he has noticed students who conduct research and present their hard work learn poise and self-confidence, and the conference breaks academic barriers by proving research is not just about collecting data from scientific experiments.
This was the third year Professor Susan Prezzano has been involved with the conference. Prezzano explained students don’t always know about the opportunities waiting for them, and this helps them find out.