Researcher Bios:

Yun joined NWEA in 2008 after four years of educational research at Boston College. She has also served as a research assistant at Tufts University and an educator at Boston College and Jinnan Collage in Tianjin, China. Yun’s recent published works and presentations include a look at ethnic differences in achievement growth, research involving the professional satisfaction of teachers and a comparative study of teacher development. Yun holds a Ph.D. in Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College, and a B.A. in English Education from Xiangtan Normal University, China.

What is the best thing about living in Oregon? 

Water! Oregon is on the coast and the Willamette River stretches across most of Oregon and runs through downtown Portland. There are many lakes, reservoirs, waterfalls, and rivers. You can never be bored in summer with all the water activities—kayaking, canoeing, rafting, boating, fishing, and camping by the ocean!

What do you like best about working with the Kingsbury Center team? 

At the Kingsbury Center we have opportunities to work on the projects where we can interact with administrators, teachers, and researchers from other organizations. We, as a team, support each other on individual projects, keep each other informed of current research trends, share our skills or training, and once in a while, drive to each other’s house to sit down with a cup of tea/coffee/soda to discuss our vision of the Center and thoughts about educational policy and research.

When was the last time you were out of the country? 

Just a few months ago - I was in China to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday. I wish I could afford to go to Greece, Egypt, and Japan in the foreseeable future.

If you could research anything – time and money are no object! – what would it be?

No consideration of time and money. Hmm, that is a nice assumption. A few things I am interested in exploring:

-          Function of schools: Schools are now serving as a day care center for working moms like me (with too short school days), a workshop where knowledge can be passed and skills can be developed, or a place that cultivates character and values so that heritage and tradition can be passed on between generations. When we think back even fifty years ago, the idea of “common school” was still a relative strange idea to the mass, what will or what should our schools look like in another fifty years?

-          Technology and education: I believe that progress in technology, especially the wide use of the internet, will have a profound impact on how students learn and how teachers teach. Instead of simply developing new ways to deliver instruction or gathering information, I believe that the technology development will eventually reach a point that tosses the current notion of schooling and learning. One question is how kids can thrive and take full advantage of resources available without being overwhelmed or even lost in the information. Another question is how technology may transform our traditional ideas about schooling and learning and what change this will bring to a democratic society.

-          Equal opportunity: How can the work to promote equal opportunity really bring every kid the hope that they can reach their potential through diligence? Narrowing the achievement gap is an essential part of the discussion around equal opportunity. However, equal opportunity for every kid to grow (including high performers) belongs to the spectrum of the discussion as well.

What are you reading right now? 

-          The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy  (by Nicholas Lemann)

-          Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy (by Jostein Gaarder and Paulette Møller)