Recent International/National/Regional Presentations

Influence of Teacher Discursive Moves on Students’ Relational Reasoning in Science Classrooms

Influence of Teacher Discursive Moves on Students’ Relational Reasoning in Science Classrooms (Sun, Alexander, & Zhao)

Improving Students' Summary Writing Through Video Modeling

Improving Students' Summary Writing Through Video Modeling (Van Meerten, Schoute, Fusenig, & Llewellyn)

In The Eyes of The Beholder: Tertiary Students' Perceptions of Personal Interest, Task Value, and Relevance

In The Eyes of The Beholder: Tertiary Students' Perceptions of Personal Interest, Task Value, and Relevance (Schoute, Alexander, Loyens, & Paas)

Putting Words to Pictures: Defining and Categorizing the Range of Static Visuals in Multimodal Research

Putting Words to Pictures: Defining and Categorizing the Range of Static Visuals in Multimodal Research (Fusenig, Singer Trakhman, & Alexander)

Knowledge and Belief Change in Academic Development

Knowledge and Belief Change in Academic Development (Alexander, Murphy, & Sun)

Characterizing College Students’ Multiple Source Use in an Argumentative Essay Task: A Profile Analysis

Characterizing College Students’ Multiple Source Use in an Argumentative Essay Task: A Profile Analysis (Sun, Alexander, Singh, & Zhao)

Developing Effective Visualizations to Understand and Scaffold Collaborative Textual Practices

Developing Effective Visualizations to Understand and Scaffold Collaborative Textual Practices (Singh, Liu, Naik, & Piety)

Presentations (2012-Present)

International/National/Regional Conferences

Alexander, P.A., Zhao, H., & Sun, Y. (2019 August). Interrelations among relational reasoning, spontaneous focus on mathematical properties, and mathematics performance. In J. McMullen (Chair). Beyond SFON: expanding examinations of spontaneous mathematical focusing tendencies. Symposium to be presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction, Aachen, Germany.

Schoute, E. C., Alexander, P. A., Loyens, S. M. M., & Paas, F. (2019, April). In the eyes of the beholder: Tertiary students’ perceptions of personal interest, task value, and relevance. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Canada.

Singh, A., Sun, Y., & Zhao, H. (2019, April). Defining and assessing integration in the context of argumentative essays based on multiple sources. In L. M. S. Trakhman (Chair), Integration: A critical competency for the digital age. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Toronto, Canada.

Zhao, H., Sun, Y., & Alexander, P. (2019, April). Development of Relational Reasoning Ability among Chinese Elementary and Middle School Students. Symposium accepted at the American Educational Research Association conference, Toronto, Canada.

Jablansky, S., Alexander, P. A., Eilam, B., Aharon, I., & Sun, Y. (2017, April). TORRjr.: Measuring relational reasoning in children and adolescents. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX.

Zhao, H., Sun, Y., & Alexander, P. A. (2017, April). Getting students to use relational reasoning: Sequential analysis of eighth-grade science classroom discourse. Paper accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX.

Hattan, C. & Alexander, P. A. (2016, December). Prior knowledge activation redux: Conceptions, techniques and influences on learning. Paper to be presented at the Literacy Research Association conference, Nashville, TN.

Zhao, H., Wang, M., & Li, C. (2016, July). Segmental and Tonal Training in a Novel Language. Poster accepted for presentation at Society for Scientific Study of Reading. Porto, Portugal.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). Information Management versus Knowledge Building: Implications for Learning and Assessment in Higher Education. In H. A. Pant & O. Troitschanskaia (Chairs), Valid assessment of learning outcomes in higher education: International perspectives and methodological challenges. Symposium presented at the World Educational Research Association.

Loughlin, S. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). Identifying individual differences in reading: What are we looking for? In P. A. Afflerbach (Chair), Reconceptualizing individual differences in reading. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). Positioning epistemic cognition within the educational and psychological literatures: Relational complements and complexities. In L. Bendixen (Chair), Translating scholarship on epistemic cognition: Fostering public knowledge and knowing. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Discussant). Sourcing: Identifying and evaluating information in the digital age. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Discussant). The Malleability of relational reasoning: Effects of direct or indirect interventions on learning processes and outcomes. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). When students conduct research with images and text: The role of knowledge and interest in source integration. In S. M. Loughlin (Chair), Comprehension and integration of text, visual, and multimedia sources. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Grossnickle, E., & Singer, L. M., (2016, April) Effects of processing time on calibrations and comprehension in print and digital mediums Paper to be presented at the American Educational Research Association conference, Washington, DC.

Hattan, C., & Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). Patterns of prior knowledge activation in classroom discourse. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Jablansky, S., Alexander, P. A., & Singer, L. M. (2016, April). Examining the relational reasoning capabilities of elementary and middle school students with learning needs. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Singer, L. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2016, April). Effects of processing time on calibration and comprehension in print and digital mediums. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Washington DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2015, April). (Discussant). Getting to the core of relational reasoning: Lessons learned and lessons to be learned. In G. Sinatra (Chair), Relational reasoning in STEM domains: What empirical research can contribute to the National dialogue. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.

Alexander, P. A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Dumas, D. (2015, August). Getting to the source: What contributes to relational reasoning performance? Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction, Limassol, Cyprus.

Alexander, P. A., & List, A. (2015, August). Examining the consistency of students’ source evaluations throughout the multiple source use process. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction, Limassol, Cyprus.

Hattan, C. & Dinsmore, D. (2015, April). Examining elementary students’ explicit and implicit prior knowledge activation when reading grade level texts. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association conference, Chicago, IL.

Jablansky, S., Dumas, D., Alexander, P. A., & Compton, V. (2015, April). Development of relational reasoning in primary and secondary school students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.

List, A., & Alexander, P. A. (2015, April). Cognitive Affective Engagement Model of multiple source use. In E. M. Grossnickle (Chair), Competing and complementary models of multiple source use: theoretical and empirical advancements. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.

List, A., Jablansky, S., & Alexander, P. A. (2015, April). Comparing the comprehension and evaluation of information presented via text and video. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.

Singer, L., Alexander, P. A., Jablansky, S., & Hattan, C. (2015, April). Relational reasoning in figure and in word. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Chicago.

Sun, Y., Yin, L., & McBride, C. (2015, July). Chinese kindergarteners use orthographic knowledge in learning to write. Spoken paper presented at the 22nd annual conference of the Society for the Scientific Studies of Reading, Hawaii, USA.

Hattan, C., Singer, L. M., Loughlin, S., & Alexander, P. A. (2014, December). Prior knowledge activation in design and in practice. Paper presented at the Literacy Research Association conference, Marco Island, FL.

Hattan, C., & Loughlin, S. (2014, August). Prior knowledge activation and teacher talk. Paper presented at the Society for Text and Discourse conference, Chicago, IL.

List, A., Musu-Gillette, L. E., Singer, L. M., Dumas, D., & Lee, K. (2014, August). Hands on stats: A guide to basic statistical analyses. Workshop presented at the 122nd annual meeting of the American Psychological Associate, Washington, D. C.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, April) (Discussant). Situating the “who” in multiple source use: What do learners’ characteristics reveal about online processing? Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

Chiu, S., Alexander, P. A., & Hattan, C. (2013, April). The analogical reasoning patterns of children and undergraduates: What eye-tracking reveals about problem-solving behaviors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Dumas, D., Baker, L., Alexander, P. A., Jablansky, S., & Dunbar, K. N. (2014, April). Clinical relations: How relational reasoning supports medical education and practice. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

Grossnickle, E. M., List, A., & Alexander, P. A. (2014, April). Undergraduate students’ beliefs about knowledge, information, and truth. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2014, August). Navigating multiple sources: Examining source access order and the role of question type. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington DC.

List, A., Jablansky, S., Hattan, C., & Alexander, P. A. (2014, August). Relational reasoning in graphic, verbal, and multiple text tasks. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Text and Discourse, Chicago.

Wei, L. & Sun, Y. (2013, November). Analysis of eye movements when processing center-embedded relative clauses in Chinese. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Psycholinguistics in China, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). Does learning count? In E. M. Anderman & J. A. Hattie (Chairs), Predictors of academic achievement: An international perspective. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). Reasoned consideration of relational reasoning. In J. M. Kulikowich (Chair), Exploring and leveraging relational thinking for academic performance. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). Seeking order in seeming chaos. In D. L. Schallert (Chair), The multiplicity of learning theory: problems and perspectives. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). Thresholds to opportunity? In F. de Jong (Chair), Teaching for improved learning in vocational education. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Dumas, D., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). Relational reasoning and its manifestations in the educational context: A systematic review of the literature. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

List, A., & Alexander, P. A. (2013, April). Google, then what? Examining students’ source selection online. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2013, April). Examining epistemic and non-epistemic dimensions of source evaluation. In M. McCrudden (Chair), In Google we trust: Examining evaluations of source and search results. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

List, A., Loughlin, S. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2013, April). Meaning making: The role of relational reasoning in multiple source use. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, April) (Discussant). Cognitive processes in comprehension of visual representations: Art, diagrams, graphs, and models. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, April) (Discussant). The form and function of transfer in diverse contexts. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Baggetta, P., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, April). How noticing and attending relate to tactical understanding in a physical domain. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Fox, E. W., Maggioni, L., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, April). Overlap and divergence in mapping different levels of epistemic competence. In P. K. Murphy (Chair), Conceptual and methodological issues and advances in research on epistemic beliefs. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Grossnickle, E. M., List, A., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, July). Beliefs about inquiry and multiple source navigation: Are more competent beliefs always the best guide? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Text and Discourse, Montreal, Canada.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, July). “I was looking for the answer”: A critical examination of multiple source use. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Text and Discourse, Montreal, Canada. [Winner of the Outstanding Student Paper Award]

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., Alexander, P. A. (2012, July). “It was first:” Examining the impact of domain and question type on search and source selection. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Text and Discourse, Montreal, Canada.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, September). Students’ source selections, justifications, and evaluations when responding to different question types. In B. Moschner (Chair), Supporting conceptual change by multiple texts and representation. Symposium presented at the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction’s 8th International Conference on Conceptual Change, Trier, Germany.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., Alexander, P. A. (2012, April). “What’s the question?” Examining the impact of question type on students’ multiple source use. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

List, A., Grossnickle, E. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2012, August). “Wikipedia is unreliable, but I use it anyway:” Students’ justifications for source selection and evaluation.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Orlando, Florida.

International/National Keynotes and Invitational Talks

Alexander, P. A. (2016, May). Getting it right! The education our children need and deserve. Keynote at Benchmark School on the receipt of the Compass Award, Media PA.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Panelist). Uncovering the past to shape the future. Division C Vice Presidential Moderated Debate at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Participant). Public scholarship ED Talks: Broadening conceptions of learning. Presidential Session at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Director). How to get published: Guidance from emerging and senior scholars. Professional Development Workshop to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, April) (Participant). Discovering our past, creating our future. Centennial Plenary at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2016, February). Re-educating the mind. Invited talk at the Knowledge Forum sponsored by the American Educational Research Association and the White House, Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2015, September). Looking globally at the publication process: What works? Invited presentation at the World Educational Research Association, Budapest.

Alexander, P. A. (2015, April). Information management versus knowledge building: Implications for learning and assessment in higher education. Affiliated Meeting of KOKOHs, Competence Modelling and Competence Assessment in Higher Education, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Germany and the American Educational Research Conference Chicago.

Alexander, P. A. (2015, April) (Moderator). Justice requires informed action: Fighting anti-intellectualism with educational research. Presidential Session at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago.

Alexander, P. A. (2015, April) (Director). How to get published: Guidance from emerging and senior scholars. Professional Development Workshop to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, October). Information management versus knowledge building: Implications for text-based learning in on-line and off-line contexts. Keynote at the Norwegian Graduate School of Educational Science’s National PhD Days, Stavangar, Norway.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, July). Relational thinking and relational reasoning: Tapping roots of human learning and development. Divisional Keynote Address presented at the International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP), Paris.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, March). Information management versus knowledge building: What studies of multiple source use reveal about students’ learning and performance. Keynote presented at the Second Conference for the Society for Empirical Education Research (GEBF), Frankfurt.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, April) (Panelist). Educational psychology and learning sciences: Complementary or competing interests for educational research and practice? Division C Vice President’s moderated debate. Invited session to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, April) (Director). How to get published: Guidance from emerging and senior scholars. Professional Development Workshop to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

Alexander, P. A. (2014, April). In praise of the (in)authentic in learning and instruction. Invited presentation at the Triennial Travesty Session at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, October). CAEP: Innovation in accreditation: Questions from the sidelines. Invited commentary at the American Educational Research Association Consolidated Committee Meeting, Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, September). How to get published in the academy: Tools of the trade. Invited address at the American Educational Research Association Grants Program. Washington, DC.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, August). Rethinking intelligence: Beyond IQ. Invited address at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Discussant). The intelligence of relational reasoning. In W. Slater & R. Horowitz (Chairs), The assessment of rational thinking: IQ ≠ RQ. Distinguished Scholar Symposium in Honor of Keith E. Stanovich, Sponsored by the AERA SIG: Research in Reading and Literacy, American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, April) (Director). How to get published: Guidance from emerging and senior scholars. Professional Development Workshop for the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco.

Alexander, P. A. (2013, February). Information management versus knowledge building: Challenges for teaching and learning in the 21st century. Invited address at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, Tempe.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, September). Relational reasoning and conceptual change: Coupling percept and concept in complex understandings. Keynote address presented at the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction’s 8th International Conference on Conceptual Change, Trier, Germany.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, July). Unlocking the secrets to academic publishing. Invited address at the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, July). Unlocking the secrets to academic publishing. Invited address at the Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, April) (Director). How to get published: Guidance from emerging and senior scholars. Professional Development Workshop for the American Educational Research Association, Vancouver, Canada.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, March). Facing the challenges of teaching and learning in the 21st century. Invited address at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, March). The realities of learning and teaching in the 21st century: Implications for the use of multimedia. Presentation at the invitation conference of Learning with Multimedia Materials in Formal and Informal Contexts, Madrid, Spain.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, February). Reading into the future: The challenges of competent literacy for the 21st century. Graduate Student Association, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, February). Knowledge building versus information management: Confronting the challenges of teaching and learning in the 21st century. Center for Teaching and Learning Enhancement, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.

Alexander, P. A. (2012, February). What I have learned (so far). Presidential Address at the annual meeting of the Southwest Educational Research Association, New Orleans.