EDUCATION
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona Sept. 2016 - Present
Utah State University, Logan, Utah Sept. 2014 – May 2016
Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota Sept. 2005 – June 2009
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (in review). Putting teacher evaluation models on the map, again: A national overview after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Teachers College Record.
Henderson, J.B., Marley, S., Wilcox, J. M., Nailor, N., Sowl, S., & Close, K. (in review). Challenges assessing the impact of project-based learning on critical thinking skills. Assessment for Effective Intervention.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (2019). Teacher-level value-added models (VAMs) on trial: Empirical and pragmatic issues of concern across five court cases. Educational Policy.
Paige, M. A., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (2019). Tennessee’s national impact on teacher evaluation law & policy: An assessment of value-added model litigation. Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy, 13(2), 523-574.
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (2018). State-level assessments and teacher evaluation systems after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act: Some steps in the right direction. Boulder, CO: Nation Education Policy Center (NEPC). Retrieved from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/state-assessment
Henderson, J. B., McNeill, K. L., González‐Howard, M., Close, K., & Evans, M. (2018). Key challenges and future directions for educational research on scientific argumentation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 55(1), 5-18.
Aghababyan, A., Martin, T., Janisiewicz, P., & Close, K. (2016). Microgenetic Learning Analytics Methods: Hands-on Sequence Analysis Workshop Report. Journal of Learning Analytics, 3(3), 96-114.
EDITORIALLY-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (in progress). The state of the states: Teacher evaluation after ESSA. Phi Delta Kappan.
*Close, K., & Amrein-Beardsley, A. (2018). Learning from what doesn’t work in teacher evaluation. Phi Delta Kappan, 100(1), 15-19. Retrieved from http://www.kappanonline.org/learning-from-what-doesnt-work-in-teacher-evaluation/
*Selected by the Horace Mann League as a top read in their newsletter
Close, K., Bowers, N., Mehta, R., Mishra, P., & Henderson, J.B (2018). Students as teachers: How science teachers can collaborate with their students using peer instruction. iWonder: Rediscovering School Science. (5).
BOOKS
Mishra, P., Skragg, B., Warr, M., Close, K., … (in progress) What do we talk about when we talk about design?
BOOK CHAPTERS
Brasiel, S., Close, K., Jeong, S., Lawanto, K., Janisiewicz, P., Martin T. (2017) Measuring computational thinking development with the FUN! Tool. In C. Hodges & P. Rich (Eds.), Computational thinking: research and practice.
Lawanto, K., Close, K., Ames, C., Brasiel, S., (2017) Exploring strengths and weaknesses in middle school students’ computational thinking in scratch. In C. Hodges & P. Rich (Eds.), Computational thinking: research and practice.
FUNDED INTERNAL GRANTS
2019 ($15,000/one year)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Internal Research Grant
Study: Applying Translanguaging Theory to Testing: Designing a New Technology-Enhanced Accommodation for English Language Learners.
2019 ($500/year)
Role: Principal Investigator
Agency: Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), Jump Start Research Grant
Study: Applying Translanguaging Theory to Testing: Designing a New Technology-Enhanced Accommodation for English Language Learners.
2016 ($12,281/one year)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Internal Research Grant
Study: Teacher evaluation systems as based upon growth and value-added models (VAMs) after the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A national overview revisited.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (April, 2019). Fewer statewide value-added models (VAMs) and more local control: Teacher evaluation systems post ESSA. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto, Canada
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (April, 2018). A national overview of teacher evaluation systems post the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York, NY.
Close, K. & Henderson, J. B. (June, 2017). Braincandy: A Cloud-Based Platform Providing Students Authentic, Engaging, and SAFE Spaces to Articulate and Refine Oral Argumentation. To be presented at Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Philadelphia, PA.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (April, 2017). Teacher value-added systems “at issue” across U.S. courts: Critical measurement issues. The annual convention of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Antonio, TX.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., Close, K., Collins, C. (January, 2017). Teacher Evaluation Systems Based on Growth and Value-Added Models (VAMs) After the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A National Overview In Progress. TCDC 3rd Annual Education Research Conference. Tempe, AZ.
Clarke-Midura, J., Allan, V., Close, K. (March, 2016) The role of mentoring as a way to increase girls’ participation in CS. SIGCSE ’16. Memphis, TN.
Close, K., Martin, T., Brasiel, S., Janisiewicz, P. (November, 2015). Accelerating analysis of learning: Using the FUN! tool to automatically adapt, analyze, and visualize data. AECT International Convention. Indianapolis, IN.
Cain, R., Close, K., Hernandez, J., Brinkerhoff, M. (September, 2015). Crafting a new university department sign: A maker approach. Making Innovation Conference. Logan, UT.
Close, K., Martin, T., & Brasiel, S (July, 2015). What do I do with all this data? How to use the FUN! tool to automatically clean, analyze, and visualize your digital data. 11th Annual Games+Learning+Society Conference. Madison, WI.
Martin, T., Close, K., Brasiel, S., & Janisiewicz, P. (April, 2015). Capturing changes in children’s computer programming ability while playing Scratch. National Association of Research on Science Teaching Annual International Conference. Chicago, IL.
WORK EXPERIENCE
ACT, Graduate intern, Iowa City, Iowa June 2019 – Aug. 2019
Arizona State University, Graduate Research Assistant, Tempe, Arizona Sept. 2016 - Present
Utah State University, Graduate Research Assistant, Logan, Utah Aug. 2014 – Aug. 2016
Kearns St. Ann Catholic School, Chinese Teacher, Salt Lake City, Utah Aug. 2013 – June 2014
Wuhan Foreign Language School, Teacher, Wuhan, Hubei, China June 2011-July 2013
Marong International Education Group, Kindergarten English Teacher, Wuhan, China Aug. 2009 – July 2010
Carleton College, Larson International Fellow, Various Locations, Mongolia June 2008 – Aug. 2008
Prairie and Wood Day Camp, Co-Director, Northfield, Minnesota June 2007 – Aug. 2007
AWARDS
Utah State University ITLS department award winner - “Outstanding Graduate Student - M.Ed Program” May 2016
Robins Award finalist – “Utah State University Man of the Year” April 2016
Marong International Education Group “Foreign Teacher of the Year” May 2010
CIVIL LEADERSHIP
Refugee Summer Program, Phoenix, AZ July 2018
Volunteer Counselor. Volunteered weekly with Lutheran Services of the Southwest to staff a 3-week summer program for refugee children new to the Phoenix area
Teachers College Doctoral Council, Tempe, AZ Aug. 2016 - Present
Volunteer. Presented research at recruitment events
Braincandy Learning Platform, Tempe, AZ Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2017
Co-Developer. Created training for a cloud-based learning platform that facilitates constructive and critical argumentation in the classroom. More information can be found at: www.braincandy.org
Instructional Technology Student Association, Logan, UT Aug. 2015 – May 2016
President. Organize/advertise/record bi-weekly speaker series, serve as faculty-student liaison
Python Learning Group, Logan, UT June 2015 - May 2016
Organizer. Founded and organized a group of 6-8 students interested in learning Python
Scratch Programming Language Class, Wilson Elementary, Logan, UT Feb – Mar 2015
Co-organizer. Coordinated an eight-week Scratch programming class for 4th and 5th grade students. Managed data collection and a team of 4-5 research assistants.
Kearns St. Ann Catholic School, Salt Lake City, UT Oct. 2013 – June 2014
Math Tutor. Tutored visually-impaired student after school once a week
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona Sept. 2016 - Present
- PhD Candidate; Learning, Literacies, and Technologies; Current GPA: 4.0
- Dissertation in Progress: Applying Translanguaging Theory to Testing: Designing a New Technology-Enhanced Accommodation for English Language Learners
Utah State University, Logan, Utah Sept. 2014 – May 2016
- M.Ed. Candidate; GPA: 4.0
Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota Sept. 2005 – June 2009
- B.A. in Religion; Cum Laude; GPA: 3.322
- Thesis: “The Khoton of Western Mongolia: An Original Religious Ethnography of Mongolian Muslims”
- Presented original research to U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (in review). Putting teacher evaluation models on the map, again: A national overview after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Teachers College Record.
Henderson, J.B., Marley, S., Wilcox, J. M., Nailor, N., Sowl, S., & Close, K. (in review). Challenges assessing the impact of project-based learning on critical thinking skills. Assessment for Effective Intervention.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (2019). Teacher-level value-added models (VAMs) on trial: Empirical and pragmatic issues of concern across five court cases. Educational Policy.
Paige, M. A., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (2019). Tennessee’s national impact on teacher evaluation law & policy: An assessment of value-added model litigation. Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy, 13(2), 523-574.
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (2018). State-level assessments and teacher evaluation systems after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act: Some steps in the right direction. Boulder, CO: Nation Education Policy Center (NEPC). Retrieved from http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/state-assessment
Henderson, J. B., McNeill, K. L., González‐Howard, M., Close, K., & Evans, M. (2018). Key challenges and future directions for educational research on scientific argumentation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 55(1), 5-18.
Aghababyan, A., Martin, T., Janisiewicz, P., & Close, K. (2016). Microgenetic Learning Analytics Methods: Hands-on Sequence Analysis Workshop Report. Journal of Learning Analytics, 3(3), 96-114.
EDITORIALLY-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (in progress). The state of the states: Teacher evaluation after ESSA. Phi Delta Kappan.
*Close, K., & Amrein-Beardsley, A. (2018). Learning from what doesn’t work in teacher evaluation. Phi Delta Kappan, 100(1), 15-19. Retrieved from http://www.kappanonline.org/learning-from-what-doesnt-work-in-teacher-evaluation/
*Selected by the Horace Mann League as a top read in their newsletter
Close, K., Bowers, N., Mehta, R., Mishra, P., & Henderson, J.B (2018). Students as teachers: How science teachers can collaborate with their students using peer instruction. iWonder: Rediscovering School Science. (5).
BOOKS
Mishra, P., Skragg, B., Warr, M., Close, K., … (in progress) What do we talk about when we talk about design?
BOOK CHAPTERS
Brasiel, S., Close, K., Jeong, S., Lawanto, K., Janisiewicz, P., Martin T. (2017) Measuring computational thinking development with the FUN! Tool. In C. Hodges & P. Rich (Eds.), Computational thinking: research and practice.
Lawanto, K., Close, K., Ames, C., Brasiel, S., (2017) Exploring strengths and weaknesses in middle school students’ computational thinking in scratch. In C. Hodges & P. Rich (Eds.), Computational thinking: research and practice.
FUNDED INTERNAL GRANTS
2019 ($15,000/one year)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Internal Research Grant
Study: Applying Translanguaging Theory to Testing: Designing a New Technology-Enhanced Accommodation for English Language Learners.
2019 ($500/year)
Role: Principal Investigator
Agency: Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), Jump Start Research Grant
Study: Applying Translanguaging Theory to Testing: Designing a New Technology-Enhanced Accommodation for English Language Learners.
2016 ($12,281/one year)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Agency: Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Internal Research Grant
Study: Teacher evaluation systems as based upon growth and value-added models (VAMs) after the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A national overview revisited.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (April, 2019). Fewer statewide value-added models (VAMs) and more local control: Teacher evaluation systems post ESSA. Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto, Canada
Close, K., Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins, C. (April, 2018). A national overview of teacher evaluation systems post the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York, NY.
Close, K. & Henderson, J. B. (June, 2017). Braincandy: A Cloud-Based Platform Providing Students Authentic, Engaging, and SAFE Spaces to Articulate and Refine Oral Argumentation. To be presented at Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Philadelphia, PA.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Close, K. (April, 2017). Teacher value-added systems “at issue” across U.S. courts: Critical measurement issues. The annual convention of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Antonio, TX.
Amrein-Beardsley, A., Close, K., Collins, C. (January, 2017). Teacher Evaluation Systems Based on Growth and Value-Added Models (VAMs) After the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): A National Overview In Progress. TCDC 3rd Annual Education Research Conference. Tempe, AZ.
Clarke-Midura, J., Allan, V., Close, K. (March, 2016) The role of mentoring as a way to increase girls’ participation in CS. SIGCSE ’16. Memphis, TN.
Close, K., Martin, T., Brasiel, S., Janisiewicz, P. (November, 2015). Accelerating analysis of learning: Using the FUN! tool to automatically adapt, analyze, and visualize data. AECT International Convention. Indianapolis, IN.
Cain, R., Close, K., Hernandez, J., Brinkerhoff, M. (September, 2015). Crafting a new university department sign: A maker approach. Making Innovation Conference. Logan, UT.
Close, K., Martin, T., & Brasiel, S (July, 2015). What do I do with all this data? How to use the FUN! tool to automatically clean, analyze, and visualize your digital data. 11th Annual Games+Learning+Society Conference. Madison, WI.
Martin, T., Close, K., Brasiel, S., & Janisiewicz, P. (April, 2015). Capturing changes in children’s computer programming ability while playing Scratch. National Association of Research on Science Teaching Annual International Conference. Chicago, IL.
WORK EXPERIENCE
ACT, Graduate intern, Iowa City, Iowa June 2019 – Aug. 2019
- Received competitive internship to work on a project analyzing cognitive interviews for construct-irrelevant features
Arizona State University, Graduate Research Assistant, Tempe, Arizona Sept. 2016 - Present
- Currently conducting a dissertation on a new type of linguistically-adaptive test
- Co-authored six peer-reviewed journal articles about teacher evaluation and assessing critical thinking
- Currently co-writing a book about design thinking in education
Utah State University, Graduate Research Assistant, Logan, Utah Aug. 2014 – Aug. 2016
- Researched learning analytics techniques, computational thinking assessment, and virtual assessments
- Co-authored a paper on sequence analysis techniques for capturing learning in videogames
- Worked on a tool to automatically capture, clean, and analyze data from a children’s computer programming website
- Co-lead computer programming workshop for elementary school students
Kearns St. Ann Catholic School, Chinese Teacher, Salt Lake City, Utah Aug. 2013 – June 2014
- Founded first Chinese language program in Salt Lake Diocese K-8 schools which continues today
- Designed and taught custom curriculum for 6th-8th grade students aged 11-14
Wuhan Foreign Language School, Teacher, Wuhan, Hubei, China June 2011-July 2013
- Taught TOEFL English, English Literature, SAT Math, and American History to 32 Chinese high school students each year aged 15-17
- Lead team to North American Invitational Model U.N. Competition in Washington D.C.
Marong International Education Group, Kindergarten English Teacher, Wuhan, China Aug. 2009 – July 2010
- Taught 25 students in an English immersion program aged 3-4
- Selected to lead demonstration class for national company conference
Carleton College, Larson International Fellow, Various Locations, Mongolia June 2008 – Aug. 2008
- Designed, budgeted, conducted anthropological research about a disappearing Muslim culture in Mongolia
- Planned all research arrangements independently, lived nomadically, managed $4,000 grant
- Presented original research to U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia
Prairie and Wood Day Camp, Co-Director, Northfield, Minnesota June 2007 – Aug. 2007
- Created curriculum, recruited campers, served as counselor for a 9-week summer camp for campers aged 3-14.
- Made $6,000 profit with unprecedented attendance
AWARDS
Utah State University ITLS department award winner - “Outstanding Graduate Student - M.Ed Program” May 2016
Robins Award finalist – “Utah State University Man of the Year” April 2016
Marong International Education Group “Foreign Teacher of the Year” May 2010
CIVIL LEADERSHIP
Refugee Summer Program, Phoenix, AZ July 2018
Volunteer Counselor. Volunteered weekly with Lutheran Services of the Southwest to staff a 3-week summer program for refugee children new to the Phoenix area
Teachers College Doctoral Council, Tempe, AZ Aug. 2016 - Present
Volunteer. Presented research at recruitment events
Braincandy Learning Platform, Tempe, AZ Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2017
Co-Developer. Created training for a cloud-based learning platform that facilitates constructive and critical argumentation in the classroom. More information can be found at: www.braincandy.org
Instructional Technology Student Association, Logan, UT Aug. 2015 – May 2016
President. Organize/advertise/record bi-weekly speaker series, serve as faculty-student liaison
Python Learning Group, Logan, UT June 2015 - May 2016
Organizer. Founded and organized a group of 6-8 students interested in learning Python
Scratch Programming Language Class, Wilson Elementary, Logan, UT Feb – Mar 2015
Co-organizer. Coordinated an eight-week Scratch programming class for 4th and 5th grade students. Managed data collection and a team of 4-5 research assistants.
Kearns St. Ann Catholic School, Salt Lake City, UT Oct. 2013 – June 2014
Math Tutor. Tutored visually-impaired student after school once a week