Dr. Elsa Billings
Assistant Professor Dr. Elsa Billings teaches courses in the bilingual Multiple Subject and Single Subject credential program and in the MA degree programs. Dr. Billings' research interests include the preparation of teachers to effectively teach in diverse classroom settings; academic equity issues, especially concerning language minority children; and the use of technology such as video cases in teacher education and professional development.
Education
Professional Affiliations
Background
Current Projects and Research
Funded Research Grants and Projects
Publications
Published Video Cases
Select Presentations
Courses
Vitae
Other Interests
Education
- Ph.D. in Language, Learning and Policy Program in the School of Education at Stanford University
- M.A. in Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation, School of Education, Stanford University
- M.A. in Language, Literacy and Culture, School of Education, Stanford University
- Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential from U.C. Irvine
- B.A. in Social Ecology from U.C. Irvine
Professional Affiliations
- Assistant Elementary Chair (2009-2010), Executive Board of the Association of California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. http://www.catesol.org
Background
Prior to coming to the Policy Department at San Diego State University, Elsa served as a program director of a $1 million Federal Department of Education grant at the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning at Stanford University. Elsa has over 15 years of experience in education, including teaching in bilingual programs at the elementary level, providing professional development to pre- and inservice teachers, and most recently creating and implementing curriculum in an online CLAD certification program through Stanford University.
Current Projects and Research
I am currently involved in a research project with Dr. Carla Mathison and educators from School in the Park that investigates the effect of Primary Language Advanced Organizer Podcasts on EL's academic performance and level of engagement during subsequent English-only instruction. School in the Park (SITP) is an innovative, museum-based educational program housed in San Diego's Balboa Park's 10 museums. SITP serves over 1000 public school students from the inner city, who spend 25% of their 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade education with museum educators, engaging in hands-on learning experiences carefully aligned with California state standards. This study emerged as a response to the need to support the many English learners (EL's) that SITP serves.
For more information on School in the Park and for free access to the podcasts, please visit the following website http://SchoolInThePark.net
Funded Research Grants and Projects
- 2009-2010 Principal Author & Investigator. Investigating the Impact of Technology-Based Graphic Organizers as Instructional Tools to Support English Language Learners' Academic Development. University Grants Program. $9,913.
- 2007-2008 Selected Participant. College of Education Emerging Trends Workshop Summer Institute. Theme: Designing Online Learner-Centered Environments.
- 2002-2008 Co-author, Director, Principal Researcher, Co-PI (from 2005-2008). Stanford Collaboration for Technology Support to Improve English Language Learner Teacher Development. Title III Professional Development Grant. $1 million.
- 2005-2006 Principal Author & Investigator. Developing and Evaluating Video-Based Assessment in a Teacher Education Program. San Diego State University Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Mini-Grant. $3,000.
- 2005-2006 Principal Author & Investigator. Developing and Evaluating Video-Based Assessment in a Teacher Education Program. San Diego State University Grant-in-Aid Grant. $4,800.
- 2004 Co-author. Leaders and Sages: Motivating Principals and Counselors to Meet the Needs of English Learners in the Twenty-First Century. Title III Professional Development Grant. $750,000.
Publications
- Billings, E.S. (In press). El alfabetismo y las familias latinas: A critical perspective to literacy values and practices of Latino families with young children. Journal of Latinos in Education.
- Billings, E.S. (2009). Prescriptions to read: Early literacy promotion outside the classroom. Literacy Teaching and Learning: An International Journal of Early Reading and Writing. http://www.rrcna.org/rrcna/journals/ltl/LTL_Vol13_No1-2-2009.asp
- Bikle, K., Billings, E., and Hakuta, K. (2003). Trends in two-way immersion research. In Banks & Banks (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education, 2nd edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Cadiero-Kaplan, K., & Billings, E.S. (Spring, 2008). Developing socio-political active teachers: A model for teacher professional development. Forum on Public Policy Online. http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/papers08spring.html#ESL
- Schirling, E., Contreras, F., and Ayala, C. (Winter/Spring, 2000). Proposition 227: Tales from the schoolhouse. In E. Garcia (Ed.), Bilingual Research Journal, 24, (1-2). Washington, DC: National Association of Bilingual Education. Available online: http://brj.asu.edu/v2412/articles/art9.html
Note: Maiden name is Schirling
Published Video Cases
Note: The following video cases may be accessed free of charge for educational purposes at http://ellib.stanford.edu/
- Billings, E.S., Castellon, M., Kibler, A., & Valdés, G. (2008). Teaching High School Math Using SDAIE Methodology. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case study featuring exemplary teachers demonstrating how mathematics teachers at the secondary level can address the needs of English learners by integrating content and language objectives into their curriculum, as well as implementing research-based sheltered content and English language development strategies in their lesson delivery.
- Billings, E.S., Castellon, M., Kibler, A., & Valdés, G. (2008). Teaching High School Science Using SDAIE Methodology. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case study featuring exemplary teachers demonstrating how science teachers at the secondary level can address the needs of English learners by integrating content and language objectives in conjunction with implementing research-based sheltered content and English language development strategies into their curriculum and lesson delivery.
- Billings, E.S., & Castellon, M. (2005). English Language Development at High School. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case study featuring exemplary teachers implementing research-based English language development strategies with high school English learners.
- Billings, E.S., Bikle, K., & Sanchez, R. (2004). English Language Development at Middle School. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring exemplary teachers implementing research-based English language development strategies with middle school English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
- Hakuta, K., Billings, E.S., Valdés, G. (2003). Second-Language Acquisition Theory and Policy, Part 1. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring Dr. Kenji Hakuta discussing theory and policy in educating English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
- Hakuta, K., Billings, E.S., Valdés, G. (2003). Second-Language Acquisition Theory and Policy, Part 2. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring Dr. Kenji Hakuta discussing theory and policy in educating English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
- Billings, E.S., & Bikle, K. (2003). Using SDAIE for English Language Learners. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring exemplary teachers implementing research-based sheltered content strategies with middle school English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
- Schirling, E., Baker, S., Witt, D., & Hakuta, K. (2002). English Language Learners: Listening and Speaking. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring exemplary teachers implementing research-based English language development strategies with elementary school English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
- Schirling, E., Baker, S., Witt, D., & Hakuta, K. (2002). English Language Learners: Reading and Writing. A joint publication of Stanford University and Teachscape, Inc. A multimedia video case featuring exemplary teachers implementing research-based English language development strategies with elementary and high school English learners. Can be viewed at http://ellib.stanford.edu
Select Presentations
- Cadiero-Kaplan, K. & Billings, E.S. (2009, May). "Preparing Teachers for Urban Communities." Invited presentation at the 2009 National Center for Urban School Transformation Annual Symposium. San Diego, CA.
- Mathison, C., Billings, E.S., Gabriel, K., & Bowes, J. (2009, April). "Investigating the impact of native language podcasts as an instructional tool to support English language learners." Paper presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Education Research Association, San Diego, CA.
- Billings, E. S. (2009, March). "Searching for Evidence of a Community of Inquiry in an Online Professional Development Course." Paper presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education 2009 20th International Conference, Charleston, SC.
- Mathison, C., Billings, E., Gabriel, K., & Bowes, J. (2008, November). "The effect of primary language advanced organizer podcasts on English language learners' academic performance." Paper presented at the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education's E-Learn 2008: 13th Annual World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education, Las Vegas, NV.
- Alfaro, C., & Billings, E.S. (2008, February). "Unmasking the reality of teacher preparation: Supporting English learner teacher candidates." Presentation at the 2008 Symposium on Chicano/Latino Issues. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
- Billings, E.S. (2007, March). "Examining literacy and bilingualism for school success." Invited Presentation at the California Council on Family Relations 2007 State Conference - Theme: Working with High Risk Children & Families.
- Billings, E.S. (2004, October). "Video cases in online professional development: A research review and agenda." Paper presented at the 12th Annual World Congress on Comparative Education, Havana, Cuba.
Courses
- PLC 613: Organizational Strategies and Professional Development for the Multicultural School Community
- PLC 915A & B: ELD/SDAIE Methodology, for Single and Multiple Subjects
- PLC 931: Skills in Teaching Reading to Bilingual Students
- PLC 932: Teaching Spanish Language Arts
Vitae
Available upon request: billings@mail.sdsu.edu
Other Interests
- Spending time with family
- Traveling the world
- Going to the movies
- Listening and dancing to live music
- Loving life