Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News

Junior, early childhood elementary level major, and Vice President of the Harry Potter Club Sara Huber portrays Professor McGonagall, the fair but strict transfiguration professor. Senior, industrial technology major, and President of the Harry Potter Club Emma Walsh raises her wand as a Hogwarts student. (Danny Damiani/The Daily Eastern News)

Many people don't see the "Harry Potter" Series by J.K. Rowling to be of much help in education, but members of Eastern's education department beg to differ.

As part of "A Harry Potter's World Event," the education department will present 'The Pedagogy of Hogwarts: Can American School's Perform the Curriculum Magic of Professor Dumbledore?" at 7 p.m. today in Room 4440 of Booth Library.

Marie Fero, a professor from the early childhood, elementary and middle level education department, will be one of the presenters.

"The presentation will be a discussion about comparing the teaching styles of the Hogwarts professors to the different styles of teaching taught today and experienced, as well," Fero said. "Anyone can relate to this discussion because we have all had teachers before. Everyone has had that one teacher like (Severus) Snape who you feel is always out to get you."

The event will consist of a PowerPoint presentation describing the different roles of the professors throughout the books and then creating a comparison to American teaching styles.

"We really want this to be a discussion for everyone to join in on," Fero said. "(Students) sit in lectures all day long. We really want this to be fun."

Sheila Lambert, a Title I reading instructor at Williams Elementary School in Mattoon, will be presenting with Fero. Both worked together previously for a Frankenstein presentation that took place about four years ago, Fero said.

"Most of the research … we found online and from journals," Fero said. "There are actually people who have done research and published about (the) Harry Potter (series)."
The presentation is open to all students, not just education majors, Fero said.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7943 or at kzyskowski@eiu.edu.

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