Daeufer Lecture Article
Current Perspectives Fall 2005

For two days in January teachers, students, UH Manoa COE faculty, and state officials had an opportunity to meet and interact with Dr. David Berliner, a Regents’ Professor from Arizona State University. The title “Regents’ Professor” serves as recognition of the
highest academic merit and is bestowed upon those who have demonstrated exceptional
scholarship and outstanding achievement. Dean Randy Hit, working with the faculty in the Institute for Teacher Education (ITE) and Alice Kawakami, Director of the Hawai’i Institute for Educational Partnerships (HIEP), planned several events to provide educational professionals and the general public with a number of opportunities to meet and speak with Dr. Berliner.

The first event was the culmination of a process that had begun two months before. Several ITE faculty agreed to form a reading group focused on the writings of David Berliner. They read two substantive articles by Berliner that addressed issues
of creating and sustaining quality teacher education programs. Faculty shared their
thoughts and their follow up questions related to the readings in on-line conversations.
Alice Kawakami coordinated the progress of the reading group leading toward a face-to-face session with Dr. Berliner. On January 24th, his first day on campus, faculty members of the reading group gathered with Dr. Berliner to discuss the articles, ask their questions, and engage in thought provoking conversations about the present state and the future
of teacher education.

That evening the Daeufer lecture series presented Dr. David Berliner as its speaker for 2005. Created by Dr. Carl Daeufer, an emeritus professor in the College of Education, the lecture series brings a speaker of note in the field of education to the UHM campus every year. The series has provided the college with regular opportunities to hear from the
leading educational thinkers of our time. Dr. Berliner’s lecture was focused on No Child Left Behind and the effects of high-stakes standardized testing on school children. He presented provocative research supporting his position that, while educational standards are very important, high-stakes testing as the sole proof of those standards may have harmful effects on students and their sense of what it means to be a competent learner.

On the following day, January 25th, Dr. Berliner was the speaker for a special gathering sponsored by Dean Hitz. The breakfast meeting, held off campus, included invited guests from the legislature, the Hawai‘i Department of Education, and the University of Hawai‘i. Dr. Berliner spoke about teachers who have received national board certification and the value of their additional training. He also spoke about the need to provide new teachers
with mentoring support during their first years. As he did the night before, Dr. Berliner
supported his views with research related to mentoring and the benefits Nationally Board Certified Teachers brought to their school districts.

The fourth event featuring Dr. Berliner was designed for student teachers in the College of Education. Approximately 200 students gathered in the Campus Center Ballroom to hear Dr. Berliner speak about beginning a career in education. Four student teachers served on a panel that questioned Dr. Berliner about issues related to teaching and their future careers. By the end of Dr. Berliner’s visit, the College of Education faculty were left with many ideas for supporting pre-service and in-service professional educators in their mutual quest for excellence.

Last Updated: January 17, 2006