Gulley's passions fuel learning in the classroom and across the nation

Over the past 22 years, the contributions of Dr. Joyce Gulley, associate professor in education, have made a huge impact not only on USI, but across the country. Implementing creative teaching techniques, and chairing the national project, Teachers' Choices Reading List, has kept her busy both in and out of the classroom.

Technology

Gulley, who received a master's degree in instructional systems technology and her doctorate in literacy education from Indiana University, Bloomington, recognizes technology as a vital component for the future of education. She introduces students in her children's and young adult literature classes to new software and applications, assigning coursework which utilizes them. "These tools allow students to reflect on what they've read, organize the information from their readings or respond to important ideas in literature," she said. "There is something about a digital response that encourages creativity and economy of words."

Gulley, a former elementary school teacher, understands the needs of teachers, and how to prepare the next generation of educators. Her assignments include using Voice Thread, an audio and file sharing program, to investigate, write and discuss an award-winning illustrator of a children's picture book. Students examine the artistic elements of the book, media used and the processes involved. They also write poems in five different styles in response to a poetry novel they've read. The poems are then published on Weebly, a Web building tool. Using photo presentation programs like Photo Story 3 or imovie, students explore elements of fiction, and create a movie, using sound effects, narration and music, to bring the images to life. (View an example.)

It's important to Gulley that students work through the process of learning how to use the tools properly and troubleshoot when needed. "I want them to see that sometimes learning is messy," she said. "If everything was easy the first time, there's not much feeling of success. I want to see if students have the perseverance to stick with it."

Teachers' Choice Reading List

When she isn't in the classroom, Gulley is building resources for other educators across the country to use. She is the chair for the Teacher's Choices Reading List, an annotated reading list encouraging multi-curriculum learning through reading, sponsored by the International Literacy Association. She, along with hundreds of teachers across the country, spend countless hours reading, reviewing and seeking out hidden gems in children's literature. In fact, two large bookshelves in her office are packed with potential winners for the 2016 list.

Only 30 books are selected as a Teachers' Choice winner, annotated by Gulley, and listed in the Reading Teacher Journal. "We're not looking for the Harry Potters of the world," she said. "We're looking for books that kids won't necessarily notice unless a teacher or parent shares the book. We're also looking for books that have good curriculum connections."  After selections are made, close to 500 books are donated to local schools, a donation value of nearly $18,000. Gulley also collaborates with colleague, Dr. Jeff Thomas, professor of education, on a list of science trade books for elementary teachers in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee.

Co-teaching

When Gulley served as the director of School Partnerships, she established a co-student teaching program at USI, to help students transition from learning in the classroom to teaching in the classroom. Based on a model established by St. Cloud University in Minnesota, where special and general educators worked together in a class, the model was adapted to fit a student/professional teacher apprenticeship. "We're not calling them student teachers anymore, because the first word the kids hear is 'student,' said Gulley. "We began calling them teacher candidates."

What's different about the co-teaching model is that the teachers in training are no longer left alone with the class for extended periods. "We don't request that or want that anymore. We want two teachers sharing the classroom instruction and assessment," said Gulley. "The teaching responsibilities are shared between two partners working in concert. Children then get more individualized attention and interaction in class."

Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, such as being named a USI Phenomenal Woman, and receiving the Pott College Excellence in Teaching Award, the USI Outstanding Advisor Award and the Celebrating Literacy Award by the Evansville Area Reading Council.

When asked about her schedule, she said "I like to stay busy, and the secret is great colleagues and picking projects that I love and feel passionate about."