COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS PRESENTS 2010 AWARDS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE

DIVISION ON VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS DISSERTATION OF THE YEAR

Pictured: Dr. Sinikka Smothers, winner of the Disseration of the Year, with Derrick Smitha and Phyllis Simmons.

The Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Visual Impairments (DVI) is proud to present the Dissertation of the Year Award to Dr. Sinikka Smothers at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee on April 22, 2010.  Dr. Smothers recently completed her doctorate with a focus on Blindness and Visual Impairment at the University of Alabama.

The Dissertation of the Year Award is presented to a DVI member who makes a significant contribution to the field through extensive study and research.

Dr. Smothers’ dissertation, “Atoms, Elements, Molecules, and Matter: An Investigation into The Congenitally Blind Adolescents’ Conceptual Frameworks on the Nature of Matter” was a qualitative multiple case study.  “Qualitative research is about words; words that describe what are essential about that which is studied.  The study of human cognitive processes is complex, challenging and does not lend itself to quantitative research methods.  This qualitative research relied on Dr. Smothers as an instrument for data collection and interpretation.  Each researcher, therefore, has a position regarding their study.”  Dr. Smothers is “an advocate for blind and visually impaired students who are marginalized in society and whose contributions in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are largely ignored. “  Her research “bears the marks of someone who is passionate about the education of congenitally blind students.  The thought world of congenitally blind students’ is vibrant with images, colors and fresh brilliant ideas.”

“Dr. Smothers work may well be viewed as a seminal piece of work in the field of science education as more research in the area unfolds.  She has already had one paper accepted for publication in Science Education, a top tier journal, in the field of science education.”  Dr. Smothers is characterized as being “of exemplary stature and intellect.”