X. Christine Wang
Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education

Education | Publications | Conferences | Projects | Teaching | Professional Service | Awards

Education

Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2003)

M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, Beijing Normal University, China (June 1995)

B.A. in Education, Beijing Normal University, China (June 1992)

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Publications

Wang, X. C. & Ching, C. C. (2003). Social construction of computer experience in a first-grade classroom: Social processes and mediating artifacts. Early Education and Development, 14(3), 335-361.

Wang, X. C., Hinn, D. M., & Kanfer, A. (2001). The effect of learning styles with regard to computer supported collaborative learning. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 34(1), 65-80.

Wang, X. C., Kanfer, A., Hinn, D. M., & Arvon, L. (2001). Stretching the boundaries: Using ALN to reach on-campus students during an off-campus summer session. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Network, 5(1). (http://www.aln.org/alnweb/journal/jaln-vol5issue1.htm)

Wentling, T. L., Waight, C., Gallaher, J., Fleur, J., Wang, X. C., & Kanfer, A., (September 2000). E-Learning: A review of literature. Research Report of Distributed Learning Project at NCSA funded by Allstate Insurance Company, Sears, Roebuck and Company, and Eastman Kodak Company.

Wang, X. (1996). Play and early childhood development (in Chinese). In C. Lin & L. Lu (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Excellent Birth, Excellent Care and Excellent Education. Guangxi: Education Press.

Wang, X. (1993). The latest developments of moral education (in Chinese). In Z. Liang (Ed.). The Pedagogy of Early Childhood Education. Beijing: Educational Research Press.

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Conference Presentations

Wang, X. C., Ching, C. C., & Kedem, Y. (2003, November). "I know you know this, but…": Peers mentoring at computers in an early childhood classroom. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education for Young Children, Chicago, IL.

Wang, X. C. (2003, April). Constructing a third space at the computer in a first-grade classroom: Artifacts and processes. In B. Bruce (Chair), Perspective on artifacts in physical and virtual learning environment. Symposium at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Wang, X. C. (2002, October). Third space: Sharing a computer in a first-grade classroom. Paper presented at the Doctoral Consortium of the International Conference of Learning Sciences, Seattle, WA.

Wang, X. C., & Ferneding, K. (2002, April). Examining websites designed for children: A contextual model of evaluation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.

Wang, X. C., Bae, J., & Lee, J. (2001, November). Click, click, click: Choosing appropriate websites for young children. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education for Young Children, Anaheim, CA.

Wang, X. C. (2001, April). Chinese language school in an immigrant community: A case study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, WA.

Wang, X. C., & Spodek, B. (2000, November). Early childhood education in China: A hybrid of traditional, communist, and western culture. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Atlanta.

Hinn, D. H., Kanfer, A., & Wang, X. C. (2000, October). Evaluating online learning initiatives from multiple perspectives. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Wang, X. C., Kanfer, A., & Hinn, D. M. (2000, October). TILE: A computer supported collaborative learning environment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Denver, CO.

Wang, X. C. (2000, July). Basic skills training vs. cultivation of creativity: Differences between Chinese and American art education. Paper presented at the inaugural conference and meeting of the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association, Kobe, Japan.

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Research Projects

Researcher, Technology Integration in K/1 classroom, University Primary School, Champaign, IL, Fall 2002 - Spring 2003.

Helping the teacher develop a curriculum for peer coaching computer skills. Studying children's apprenticeship at computers.

Research Assistant, Technology Initiative in Stratton School, Champaign, IL, funded by AT&T Technology Grant, July 2001 - August 2002.

Helped children at the after-school computer club as part of efforts to integrate technology into this Title I school.

Research Assistant, Technology Research Group, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), UIUC, June 1998 - Aug 2000.

"Developing and Evaluating A Distributed Learning Environment: Towards Integrated Learning Environments (TILE)" funded by the National Science Foundation and the NCSA Alliance.

Designed online surveys, conducted interviews, analyzed the data and led the writing of the report.

"Asynchronous Learning Networks in Summer School" funded by the ALN Sloan Foundation.
Designed an online survey, collected and analyzed online chatting data and led the writing of the report.

"Distributed Learning" funded by NCSA, Allstate Insurance Company, and Eastman Kodak Company.
Conducted a literature review on distributed learning.

Research Assistant, Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Institute, funded by the Department of Education and directed by Professor Susan Fowler, UIUC, June 1997 - May 1998.

Translated and selected culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for Chinese-American students, parents and teachers.

Research Assistant, Department of Education, Beijing Normal University (BNU), China, Fall 1992 - Spring 1995.

"Nationwide Kindergarten Curriculum Reform" funded by the National Social Science Foundation and directed by Professor Hui-Zhong Shi.
Worked with the research team to create and evaluate a national kindergarten curriculum.

"Developing Early Childhood Education in Poor and Remote Areas" funded by UNICEF and the State Education Commission, directed by Professor Zhi-Shen Liang.
Collaborated with teachers from rural and remote areas to create appropriate curricula based on local culture and conditions.

"Integrated Moral Education in Kindergarten" funded by the Beijing Municipal Social Science Foundation and directed by Professor Zhi-Shen Liang.
Collaborated with classroom teachers to explore ways of integrating meaningful moral education into the curriculum.

Research Assistant, Institute of Research on Child Development, BNU, Fall 1992. "Bilingual Education in Kindergarten" directed by Professor Qi Dong.

Developed the English curriculum and led the English teachers' team.

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Teaching Experience

Teaching College Courses:

Instructor, LAI549 Early Childhood Development and Learning. Fall 2003, University at Buffalo, SUNY

Teaching Assistant, C&I 320 Foundations of Early Childhood Education. Instructor: Professor Daniel Walsh, Spring 2002, UIUC.

Co-Instructor, C&I 345 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education. Co- taught with Professor Susan Adler, Fall 2001, UIUC.

Instructor, C&I 235 Educational Software Evaluation. Supervised by Professor Karen Ferneding, Fall 2000, 2001, UIUC.

Instructor, C&I 235 Developing Electronic Teaching Portfolio. Supervised by Professor Karen Ferneding, Spring 2001, UIUC.

Teaching Assistant, C&I 300 Emerging Technologies. Instructor: Professor Alaina Kanfer, Fall 1998, UIUC.

Teaching Assistant, Intensive Summer Chinese Language Program. Sponsored by the Department of East Asian Language, Princeton University and Beijing Normal University, Summers 1994, 1995, Beijing.

Teaching Young Children:

Teaching Assistant, volunteering at the University Primary School (K/1 Grade), Champaign, IL, Fall 2002- Spring 2003.

Teaching Assistant, volunteering at the Yankee Ridge Elementary School (1st Grade), Urbana, IL, Spring 2001- Spring 2002.

Teacher, Champaign Community Chinese Language School, Chinese Heritage Association, Champaign, IL, Fall 1996 - Spring 2001.

Part-time Teacher, Cotton Alley Childcare Center, Beijing. Rated one of the 10 best Childcare Centers in Beijing, Fall 1993 - Spring 1995.

Head Teacher, After-school Bilingual (Chinese/English) Program at Xin-Jie-Kong Early Learning Center, Beijing, Fall 1992 - Spring 1993.

Head Teacher, Little Star Boarding School, Beijing, Summers 1992, 1993.

Student Teacher, Child Development Lab affiliated with Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 1991 - 1992.

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Professional Service

Reviewer & Editorial:

Reviewer, Early Education and Development

Reviewer, Journal of Research on Early Childhood

Reviewer, International Journal of Educational Technology Editorial Board (http://www.outreach.uiuc.edu/ijet/)

Reviewer, AERA 2002, 2003, 2004 Annual Meeting

Division C/Section 7: Technology Research
Division C/Section 5: Learning Environment
SIG/Early Education and Child Development
SIG/Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education
SIG/Cultural-Historical Research

Reviewer, Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood Education (2002) Edited by B. Spodek and O. N. Saracho and published by Information Age Publishers, Greenwich, CT.

Reviewer, International Journal of Early Childhood Education (2001) (2002) Special issue for the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) Annual Conference.

Co-Editor, Division of Curriculum and Teacher Education (CATE) Newsletter Department of Curriculum & Instruction, College of Education, UIUC.

Professional Organization:

Advising Board member, Technology and Young Children Interest Forum affiliated with the National Association for Education of Young Children. 2001 - present.

Technology Committee member, The Association for Childhood Education International. 2001 - 2003.

Technology Board member, Illinois Student Government, UIUC. 2000 - 2001.

Webmaster, RERUIT: An alternative program for Recruiting, Educating, and Retaining Underrepresented populations in Teaching science and mathematics. August 2002 - present. (http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/RECRUIT/)

Webmaster, Technology and Young Children Interest Forum affiliated with NAEYC. 2001 - present. (http://www.techandyoungchildren.org)

Webmaster, The Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association. August 2000 - present. (http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/pecera/)

Professional Consulting & Others:

Consultant, the Oriental-Cambridge Center for Child Development, Beijing, China, 1994 - 1995.

Translator (English-Chinese), the ERIC Clearing House on Elementary and Early Childhood Education, UIUC, 1996 - 1997. Translated twelve ERIC Digests to Chinese. (http://ericps.crc.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/eece3search/?db=eece3&query=Xiaohui+Wang)

Interpreter (Chinese-English), the International Conference on Family Education, Beijing, China, May 1994.

Interpreter (Chinese-English), the China/USA Joint Conference on Early Childhood Education, Beijing, China, October 1993.

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Awards & Honors

Dissertation Research Grant, UIUC, 2001

 

Conference Travel Grants, Graduate College, UIUC, 2001, 2002, 2003

 

Conference Travel Grants, College of Education, UIUC, 2001, 2002

 

William Chandler Bagley Scholarship, College of Education, UIUC, 1997 - 1998 & 1996 - 1997

 

University Fellowship, UIUC, 1996 - 1997

 

Outstanding Student-Teaching Award, BNU, China, 1992

 

University Fellowship, BNU, China, 1990 - 1991

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