by Anna Hampton
Daily Lobo
Graduate students in education practiced presenting their research Thursday.
The research colloquium benefits their research because students do a formal presentation, get immediate feedback and finalize their project, said alumna Ann Claunch, who participated in the first four years of the colloquium.
"It gave me practice in distilling a researched project into key points," she said. "It raises the bar of professionalism because you are presenting to research colleagues who know the research community well, so when they ask you questions, it helps you grow."
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The colloquium prepares students for the professional world, said Betsy Noll, associate dean of the college.
"The purpose of this is for our graduate student professional development," she said. "People get feedback on their progress that helps them move forward on their research. It helps them gain knowledge and pushes their thinking on a wide range of topics."
This year's colloquium was the largest yet, Noll said.
Eighty-three graduate students participated, and about 300 people attended.
Presentations included discussion tables and posters.
"This kind of helps them to understand what it means to present research," Noll said. "This is a first step to going to big conferences."
Noll said the students should try to publish their research in
journals.
"What our students do, that reflects back on the University," she said. "By supporting this (program), it comes back to benefit the University."
Noll said making research a priority gives UNM a national and international reputation in the research community.
Student Sara Otto-Diniz, who presented at the colloquium, said the experience is invaluable.
"The fact that it forces me to identify something that I want to present and working toward the presentation moves me forward most," she said.
Student Ariana McLoughlin presented her experience incorporating language into history education.
McLoughlin said the process gave her confidence that the method was successful.
"It's given me a chance to share with my peers," she said. "Now, I have an idea that it's working."
Student Jacquelyn Sanchez said the process took too much time away from school.
"It's a matter of time. I'm tired," she said. "I need first to find the time to look to finding more activities for my students."
Kenneth Moore has presented at the event for five years but decided to be a spectator this time.
He said graduate students become isolated once they start writing their dissertations, but the symposium is a good way to bring them together.
"I did a singing presentation last year, and people were
enlivened," he said. "It gave me a lot of validation that I was on the right track."
Otto-Diniz said the colloquium is a reward for doing research.
"The event is the cherry on the sundae," she said. "It's a celebration of the preparation of
the work."
