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Leighann S. Forbes

  • Associate Professor
    Education Program
  • Associate Dean
    Col.Humanities,Ed.&SocScience
  • Associate Professor
    Education Program

My name is Leigh Forbes and I'm a lifelong resident of Erie County.  I have been teaching since 1988 and have no plans to stop!  I enjoy my position as a member of the School of Education and engage in classroom teaching as well as supervision in local schools.  I love Gannon because it provides a caring community in which to support new teachers.  In my role as an educator, I particularly enjoy teaching science, technology, and literature courses.  My presentations and publications cover a wide range of topics because I'm always learning something new.  Recently I became the Professional Development Coordinator for a grant initiative with Erie's Public Schools and am excited to work with mentor teachers.

Beyond my role as a member of the Gannon community, I am also mother to a Gannon senior.  My daughter is a journalism major and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Gannon Knight!  We live in the Erie region and enjoy the beauty of the seasons changing.  My home is in a small town outside the hustle and bustle of the city and I frequently spend time in nature.  I've always lived in the Erie area and can't imagine being anywhere else.  To me, we live in a great area of the world.

I wear many hats at Gannon and highly recommend becoming engaged with the community. Currently, I'm involved with our racial justice initiatives and look forward to continuing our commitment valuing and supporting all members of our community.  My pronouns are she/her and I support the Black Lives Matter pursuit of freedom, liberation and justice.  I enjoy working with Gannon students and my door is always open.  Please stop and say hello if you're on campus : )

Pennsylvania Certificates

  • Middle Level Science (7-9),
  • General Science (7-12),
  • Environmental Education (K-12),
  • Library Science (K-12),
  • Instructional Technology Specialist (K-12)               
  • ESL Specialist (K-12)

2007 Lambda Sigma Award for Excellence in Teaching (Slippery Rock University)

2013 Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award for College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (Gannon University)

EDCR 100 Child Development

EDCR 101 Psychology of Learning and Teaching

EDCR 102 Instructional Technology

EDCR 104 First Year Seminar: Education

EDCR 105 Instructional Design and Classroom Management

EDCR 200 Planning and Managing the Learning Environment

EDCR 220 Child and Adolescent Literature

EDCR 300 Children’s Literature

EDCR 302 Expressive Arts

EDCR 320 Methods and Materials of Instruction for Secondary Education

EDCR 321 Methods and Materials of Instruction Seminar

EDCR 330 Assessment and Evaluation

EDCR 400 Critical Inquiry

ELED 231 Concepts and Methods of Science for Elementary Education

MLED 200 Planning for the Differentiated Classroom

MLED 201 Adolescent Literature

MLED 202 Adolescent Development

MLED 302 Concepts and Methods in Natural Science

ECED 103 Planning and Managing the Early Childhood Learning Environment

ECED 308 Concepts and Methods of Science and Technology

EDFL 410 Student Teaching Supervision

GEDU 619 Methods and Materials of Instruction

GEDU 637 Learning Theory

GEDU 640 Young Adult Literature

GUEC 557 Dealing with Difficult People

GUEC 592 Google for Educators

Ed. D., Instructional Technology, Duquesne University, 2007
Concentrations: Instructional Design, Pedagogy and Practice, Professional Development of Educators
Dissertation:  Internet Use in Teacher Preparation Programs: The Relationship Between Pedagogy and Practice in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
 

Certificate program, Instructional Technology, Gannon University, 2002

M.Ed., School Administration, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1994
Concentration:  Secondary Education
Thesis:  The Impact of Site-Based Management on Teacher Satisfaction in Professional Development Programs:  A Study of the Iroquois School District

B.S., Environmental Science, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1988
Concentration: Earth Science with minors in mathematics and geology

B.S., Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 1988
Concentration: Secondary Education with certification in General Science

Associate Professor, and Program Coordinator, Middle Level and Secondary Education

Gannon University, Erie, PA
May 2008-Present
 

Adjunct Faculty
Gannon University, Erie, PA
January 2008-May 2008
Course: EDCR 231 Concepts and Methods of Science for Elementary Education

Instructor
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
August 2003-May 2008
 

Information Literacy & Technology Instructor-Grades K-8
GECAC Community Charter School, Erie, PA 
Oct. 2001-July 2003 
 

Substitute Teacher
Harbor Creek and Fairview School Districts, Erie County, PA
September 2001

Teacher-Grades 7 & 8 Science
Iroquois Jr.-Sr. High School, Erie, PA
Aug. 1988-June 2001 
 

Professional memberships

 

  • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (Paper Reviewer 2009-2019)
  • American Educational Research Association (SIG:  Division K:  Teaching and Teacher Education, SIG:  Education and the WWW, and SIG: Instructional Technology)
  • Association for Middle Level Education
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • International Society for Technology in Education (SIG:  Teacher Education Network and Conference reviewer)
  • National Science Teachers Association (Key Leader and Point of Contact 2009-present)
  • Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (Regional Board Past President; Past Member State Executive Board)
  • Pennsylvania Association for Educational Computing Technology
  • Pennsylvania-Professors of Middle Level Education (Charter member and member of Editorial Board)
  • Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (Journal reviewer) 
  • Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association

Recent publications:

Forbes, L. (2013). Situating TPACK in the Teacher Knowledge Base: Creating a Shared Theoretical Vision. In R. McBride & M. Searson (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2013 (pp. 5048-5053). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Forbes, L. S., & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Documenting experiential learning in higher education:  The case for digital mashups.  In T. Bastiaens & G. Marks (Eds.) Proceedings of E-LEARN 2013 - World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education (586-590).  Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

Forbes, L. S., Leonard, R. C.  Vitolo, T. M. (2012).  Exploration into reproduction literacy, an aspect of digital literacy, and its correlation with Noel-Levitz measures.  Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 28(3), 61-68.

Forbes, L.S., Merritt, J., and Quick, R. (2011). Ongoing support for novice educators: Online classroom support modules.  Pennsylvania Educational Leadership, 31(1), 40-45.

Forbes, L.S.  (2010). Greening the teacher preparation curriculum. Metropolitan Universities Journal, 20(4), 87-104.

               Grants:

Quick, R. L. & Forbes, L. S. (2012).  Enhancing the education experience of an inner-city after-school program:  A diversity project proposal to the Stackpole-Hall Foundation. Funded for $5000 from Stackpole-Hall Foundation Diversity Grant

Quick, R. L. & Forbes, L. S. (2011).  Enhancing the education experience of an inner-city after-school program:  A diversity project proposal to the Stackpole-Hall Foundation. Funded for $5000 from Stackpole-Hall Foundation

Presentations: 

Forbes, L. S. (2013).  Situating TPACK in the teacher knowledge base:  Creating a shared theoretical vision.  Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education 24th International Conference:  March 27. New Orleans, LA.

Forbes, L. S. & Quick, R. L. (2012).  Documenting experiential learning in higher education:  The case for digital mashups.  E-LEARN 2013 - World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education:  October 9.  Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Forbes, L. S., (2012).  Differentiating instruction using technology.  Cathedral Center School In-Service Workshop: October 5.  Erie, PA.

Forbes, L. S., (2012). Excellence in teacher preparation: PK-16 and beyond:  Accountability Panel. Invited to serve on the panel for Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Collaboration for Excellence in Quality Teacher Preparation: April 18. State College, PA.

Forbes, L.S. (2011). Crittercam. Presentation to Northwest Region Pennsylvania Middle School Association: April 12. Erie, PA.

Forbes, L.S. (2011). Interactive notebooks and foldable organizers:  Tools for success. Presentation to Erie Reading Council:  March 15. Edinboro, PA.

Forbes, L.S., Merritt, J., and Quick, R. (2011). Ongoing support for novice educators: Online classroom support modules.  Presentation Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators conference:  October 27. Grantville, PA.

Forbes, L.S. and Macadaeg, P. (2011).  Learning about middle level philosophy.  Presentation to Pennsylvania Middle School Association Annual Professional Development Institute:  March 7. Lancaster, PA.

Forbes, L. S., & Quick, R. L. (2010).  Using digital mashups to document teacher candidate experiences.  Presentation Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators conference:  October 28. Grantville, PA.

Forbes, L.S. (2010). Middle Level Program Implementation Challenges. Invited presentation to Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Spring Conference: April 16. Penn State, PA.

Forbes, L.S. (2010). Interactive notebooks and foldable organizers:  Tools for success. Presentation to Northwest Pennsylvania Middle School Association Conference:  April 27. Titusville, PA.

Forbes, L.S. (2010). Interactive notebooks and foldable organizers:  Tools for success. Presentation to Pennsylvania Middle School Association Conference: March 1-2. Penn State, PA.

Forbes, L.S. & Quick, R.L. (2009). Dynamic design: Curriculum mapping as a tool for visualizing teacher preparation programs. Presentation to Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Fall Conference: October 29-30. Penn State, PA.

Service to the University

  • Program Coordinator of Middle Level and Secondary Education Programs
  • Teacher Education Advisory Committee
  • Open House and Orientation point of contact 
  • Presenter: Praxis, ePortfolio, curriculum mapping, technology tips, and more 
  • Professional Development Coordinator: Gannon University-Erie's Public Schools Teacher Residency Program
  • Peer Reviewer for faculty evaluations
  • Advisor: Gannon University Winter Guard
  • Advisor: Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honor Society

Service to the Profession

  • Paper Reviewer for the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education national conference. 
  • Program Reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • Northwestern Pennsylvania Point of Contact and Key Leader NSTA
  • Northwest Region Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education
Leighann S. Forbes

Phone: 814-871-7144
Office: PC 2015C

Contact Leighann Forbes