Faculty Profile: Leighann S. Forbes

Accreditations

Pennsylvania Certificates

• Middle Level Science (7-9),
• General Science (7-12),
• Environmental Education (K-12),
• Library Science (K-12),
• Instructional Technology Specialist (K-12)               
• ESL Specialist (K-12)

Biography

My name is Leigh Forbes and I'm a lifelong resident of Erie County.  I have been teaching since 1988 and have no plans to stop!  I enjoy my position as a member of the School of Education and engage in classroom teaching as well as supervision in local schools.  I love Gannon because it provides a caring community in which to support new teachers.  In my role as an educator I particularly enjoy teaching science, technology, and literature courses.  My presentations and publications cover a wide range of topics because I'm always learning something new.  Recently I added to my certifications by completing the English as a Second Language certification. 

Beyond my role as a member of the Gannon community, I am also a wife and mother.  We live in the Erie region because we enjoy the seasons changing.  My home is off the beaten path in a lovely wooded area.  Springtime brings opportunities to take long walks in the muddy woods and ride four wheelers.  Summer is my favorite season and you can find me riding a bike with my daughter on Presque Isle, catching a Seawolves game, or relaxing on our back porch.  In the fall I enjoy watching the leaves change and attending marching band events!  My daughter plays the trumpet and I serve as secretary for our band booster organization.  Winter is hockey season and we enjoy attending the Erie Otters games.  No matter what season, I am often out on the town during the weekends as my husband is a bassist in the local music scene.  My hobby is  raising six lovely hens who provide me with entertainment and eggs.  Stop by my office and you're likely to leave with a free dozen!

I enjoy working with Gannon students and my door is always open.  Please stop and say hello if you're on campus : )

Courses Taught

• EDCR 100 Child Development
• EDCR 101 Psychology of Learning and Teaching
• EDCR 102 Instructional Technology
• EDCR 200 Planning and Managing the Learning Environment
• EDCR 300 Children’s Literature
• EDCR 320 Methods and Materials of Instruction for Secondary Education
• EDCR 400 Critical Inquiry
• ELED 231 Concepts and Methods of Science for Elementary Education
• MLED 200 Planning for the Differentiated Classroom
• MLED 201 Adolescent Literature
• MLED 202 Adolescent Development
• MLED 302 Concepts and Methods in Natural Science
• ECED 103 Planning and Managing the Early Childhood Learning Environment
• ECED 308 Concepts and Methods of Science and Technology
• EDFL 410 Student Teaching Supervision
• GEDU 619 Methods and Materials of Instruction

Educational History

Ed. D., Instructional Technology, Duquesne University, 2007
Concentrations: Instructional Design, Pedagogy and Practice, Professional Development of Educators
Dissertation:  Internet Use in Teacher Preparation Programs: The Relationship Between Pedagogy and Practice in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
 

Certificate program, Instructional Technology, Gannon University, 2002

M.Ed., School Administration, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1994
Concentration:  Secondary Education
Thesis:  The Impact of Site-Based Management on Teacher Satisfaction in Professional Development Programs:  A Study of the Iroquois School District

B.S., Environmental Science, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1988
Concentration: Earth Science with minors in mathematics and geology

B.S., Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1988
Concentration: Secondary Education with certification in General Science

Honor Societies

I received the Lambda Sigma Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2007.

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor, and Program Director,  Middle Level and Secondary Education

Gannon University, Erie, PA
May 2008-Present
 

Adjunct Faculty
Gannon University, Erie, PA
January 2008-May 2008
Course: EDCR 231 Concepts and Methods of Science for Elementary Education

Instructor
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
August 2003-May 2008
 

Information Literacy & Technology Instructor-Grades K-8
GECAC Community Charter School, Erie, PA 
Oct. 2001-July 2003 
 

Substitute Teacher
Harbor Creek and Fairview School Districts, Erie County, PA
September 2001

Teacher-Grades 7 & 8 Science
Iroquois Jr.-Sr. High School, Erie, PA
Aug. 1988-June 2001 
 

Professional Societies

Professional memberships

• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (Paper Reviewer 2009-Present)
• American Educational Research Association (SIG:  Division K:  Teaching and Teacher Education, SIG:  Education and the WWW, and SIG: Instructional Technology)
• Association for Middle Level Education
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• International Society for Technology in Education (SIG:  Teacher Educators)
• National Science Teachers Association (Key Leader and Point of Contact 2009-present)
• Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (Regional Board President; Member State Executive Board)
• Pennsylvania Association for Educational Computing Technology
• Pennsylvania-Professors of Middle Level Education (Charter member and member of Editorial Board)
• Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (Facilitator: Middle Level Focus Group)
• Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association

Publications

Recent publications:

• Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Documenting experiential learning in higher education:  The case for digital mashups.  In T. Bastiaens & G. Marks (Eds.) Proceedings of E-LEARN 2013 - World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education (586-590).  Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.


• Forbes, L. S., Leonard, R. C.  Vitolo, T. M. (2013).  Exploration into reproduction literacy, an aspect of digital literacy, and its correlation with Noel-Levitz measures.  Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 28(3), 61-68.

Scholarship/Research

Recent presentations:

• Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Using digital mashups to document teacher candidate experiences.  Gannon University Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence: February 8.  Erie, PA.
• Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Hook, line, and thinker:  Designing an engaging anticipatory set.  Kappa Delta Pi Every Child Can Learn Conference: April 21.  Erie, PA.
• Forbes, L. S. (2012). Excellence in teacher preparation: PK-16 and beyond:  Accountability Panel. Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Collaboration for Excellence in Quality Teacher Preparation: April 18. State College, PA.
• Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Taskstream:  An introduction.  Gannon University Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence: November 7.  Erie, PA.
• Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Differentiating instruction using technology.  Kappa Delta Pi Education Week: November 12.  Erie, PA.

Recent grant awards:

• Currier, K., Wasiesky, S., Lupo, P., & Forbes, L. (2012).  Environmental education program for pre-service teachers.  Funded for $3750 from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
• Quick, R. L. & Forbes, L. S. (2012).  Enhancing the education experience of an inner-city after-school program:  Phase 2. Funded for $5000 from Stackpole-Hall Foundation Diversity Grant.

Service

Service to the University

• Program Director of Middle Level and Secondary Education Programs
• Chair, Teacher Education Advisory Committee
• Committee membership:  SOE mission, handbooks, diversity, dispositions, technology, assessment
• Open House and Orientation point of contact 
• Presenter: Praxis, ePortfolio, curriculum mapping, technology tips, and more 
• MLK partnership
• University Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee and Liberal Studies Committee
• Co-chair IT Outcomes Assessment
• NCATE Standard 14 committee
• SOE representative to Knight with Scholar and Day with the Dean Luncheon
• Peer Reviewer for faculty evaluations

Service to the Community

• Donations to the Gannon Annual Fund, United Way, Erie Food Bank, Salvation Army, and other local charities.
• Chairperson, St. Francis Xavier Sister Parish Committee (2008-2012)
• Erie Otters Booster Club
• Fort LeBoeuf Marching Band Boosters
• Presenter on children’s literature for the Mom’s Group at Grace Church
• Participant in School of Education Activity Room for the Social Work dinner
• Coordinator, Scholastic Book Clubs donations to MLK Center

Service to the Profession

• Paper Reviewer for the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education national conference.  Program Reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Northwestern Pennsylvania Point of Contact and Key Leader by NSTA
• PAC-TE Middle Level Focus Group Facilitator
• Science of Sand research project participant
• President of the Northwest Region Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education
• Newsletter editor, Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education
• Editorial Board, Betwixt & Between, Journal of PAMLE/POMLE