Dr. Barbara O'Donnell
Professor
Phone: (618) 650‑3422
Office: 1142 Founders Hall
Education:
Ed. D. - 1999 - University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
M.S. Ed. - 1997 - Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
B.S.Ed. - 1971 - Ilinois State University, Normal, IL
Specialization:
Assessment of Instruction, Social Sciences Education, STEM Education, Mathematics Education, Curriculum Development
About Dr. O'Donnell
Barbara D. O’Donnell, Ed.D., is a Professor of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She joined SIUE in 2002, after teaching at Eastern Illinois University and the University of Northern Iowa. She taught 15 years in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 and 8 mathematics before entering her Master and Doctorial programs. Currently, Dr. O’Donnell is the Director of the Master of Science in Education Program. In addition to serving as director, she also advises the graduate students and teaches the Analysis of Instruction, Problem-Based Learning, and the Teaching with Primary Sources graduate courses. She also teaches courses in the undergraduate Elementary Education program in Creativity, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking, Teaching Social Studies Methods for Elementary School, and the Social Studies Methods for Middle Grades. Dr. O’Donnell is also an Assistant Director of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources grant housed at SIUE, which includes presenting and facilitating workshops, coordinating efforts with other social studies entities, such as iCivics, the Illinois Geographic Alliance, the Federal Reserve in St. Louis, and National Geographic Society.
Service Profile:
Dr. O’Donnell’s current work is centered in service. At SIUE, she serves on the Graduate Council on Assessment, which approves the assessment plans and assessment reports of all graduate programs. She has served on the Illinois State Licensure Board for 2 terms (6 years). In this role, she evaluated new teacher preparation programs, approved language for teacher education rules, participated in annual all teacher program reviews in the state, and determined licensure results based on legal proceedings. She has also served on state committees that involve creating education profiles of teacher programs (Partnership for Educator Preparation) and are in the process of determining teacher competencies (Illinois Professional Educator Competency). Dr. O’Donnell has also served as president-elect, president, and past-present of the Illinois Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. This association includes all public and private colleges and universities offering teacher education in the State of Illinois. This organization is an advocate for teacher education candidates and their students. Dr. O’Donnell also collaborates with the Center for Success in High-Needs Schools’ Professional Development Network. She presents workshops to in-service teachers on Innovative Teaching Practices.
Dr. O’Donnell is especially proud of her work with the Universidad Gerardo Barrios (UGB), San Miguel, El Salvador. She received a Travel Study Award to create a student exchange partnership. Due to Covid-19, this grant has been extended. This Excellence in Undergraduate Education grant subsidizes SIUE students who are preparing for an ESL/ELL endorsement. Presently, she is working with a local school district and UBG to facilitate a Virtual Practicum which pairs UGB English pre-service teachers with local ELL students.
Grants and Presentations:
O'Donnell, Barbara D., "Building a Partnership with Universidad Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel, El Salvador," Excellence in Undergraduate Education Grant sponsored by SIUE, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. (September 2020 – August 2021). $7,765, Funded
O'Donnell, B. (Supporting), Wilkinson, A., Competitive Grant, "Teaching with Primary Sources", Library of Congress, Federal, $75,000.00, Funded. (Submitted: May 15, 2016, Dates of funding: September 30, 2016 - September 30, 2021).
O’Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), 6th Annual Conference on English Language Teaching, Universidad Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel, El Salvador, online, “Interactive and Engaging Online Learning and Teaching”, Presentation, National, invited, published in proceedings. (October 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Maker Education", Regional, Invited. (May 6, 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Breaker Education", Regional, Invited. (April 15, 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Scientific Notebooks", Regional, Invited. (March 4, 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Design Thinking", Regional, Invited. (February 12, 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Project-Based Learning", Regional, Invited. (January 15, 2020).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Professional Development Network, The Center for Success - North Central College, online, "Engaging Students through Visual Thinking Strategies", Other, Regional, Invited. (December 11, 2019).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Oral Presentation, Critical Questions in Education Symposium, Academy for Educational Studies, Chicago, IL, "Changing the Focus of Teacher Education – Fostering Creativity, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking", Conference, National, peer-reviewed/refereed, published elsewhere. (November 11, 2019).
O'Donnell, B. D. (Author & Presenter), Oral Presentation, Reimagining Education in Illinois and Beyond, Center for Success at North Central College, Naperville, IL, "Building Creativity, Design Thinking, and Problem Solving into Curriculum through Maker Education", Conference, State, peer-reviewed/refereed, published in proceedings, Invited. (June 14, 2019).
Wilkinson, A., & O'Donnell, B. D. (2018, November). Poster Presentation. 98th Annual National Council for the Social Studies Conference, National Council for the Social Studies, Chicago, IL, “Making Vocabulary Important in Elementary Social Studies Classrooms.” Conference, National, peer-reviewed/refereed, published in proceedings.
O’Donnell, B.D. (2018, October). Keynote Speaker. 5th Congress Exploring Your Skills: Life- Long Language Learning, Universidad Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel, El Salvador, “Teaching: A Life-long Career.” Conference (Year 3, 4 & 5 students), National, invited, published in proceedings.
O’Donnell, B.D. (2018, October). Keynote Speaker. 5th Congress Exploring Your Skills: Life-Long Language Learning, Universidad Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel, El Salvador, “Laying the Foundation for Learning.” Conference (Year 1 & 2 students), National, invited, published in proceedings.
