Jason A. Helfer

Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Educational Studies

Contact 309-341-7206 jhelfer@knox.edu

Years at Knox: 2006 to present

Education
Ph.D., 2003, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.
M. Mus., 1996, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.
B.M., 1992, Millikin University.

Teaching Interests
Philosophy of education; curriculum and teaching; aesthetic education.

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants
Merit Bonus, University Cabinet for Excellence in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service, Millikin University, 2005.
IEA Student Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2005.
Faculty Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching Students/Athletes, 2004.
Cited on An Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked Excellent by Their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003 and 2004.
Nyberg Summer Grant, created four candidate assessments and rubrics for unit assessment system.
website Grant, created the template/initial site for the School of Education.

Publications
"The Underexposure of Appreciation: Gifted Children's Need to Interact with Exemplars in Visual Arts and Music." Schroth, S.T. and Helfer J.A. Inspiration 1 (2010): 5-9.

"Response to Intervention: Implications for Gifted Education," Schroth, S.T. and Helfer, J.A. Conceptual Foundations 18 (2010): 10-12.

Teen Opera Circle: The Musical Museum 2010-2011. Helfer, J.A. and Schroth S.T. Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago (2010.)

Backstage Pass! The Barber of Seville Student Magazine. Helfer, J.A. and Schroth S.T. Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago (2010.)

Backstage Pass! The Barber of Seville Teacher's Guide. Helfer, J.A. and Schroth S.T. Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago (2010.)

"If You Build it They Will Come: Advancing Gifted Education Through Advocacy." Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., Romano, V.M., Gonshorek, D.O., and Johnson, C.E. Illinois Association for Gifted Children Journal 10 (2010): 10-18.

Railroad Reader, Mexican Boxcar Children, Chinese Workers, Pullman Porters and Harvey Girls. A series of multi-disciplinary grade-school-level lessons based on railroad history. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Navolio, E.E. National Railroad Hall of Fame, 2010.

"Bicycling." In P. Robbins, N.Cohen and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Cities: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Dooley, M.D. SAGE Publication (2010.)

"Los Angeles, California." In P.Robbins, N.Cohen, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Cities: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Lanfair, J.K. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Abatement." In P. Robbins, N. Cohen, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Business: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Lanfair, J.K. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Green Marketing." In P.Robbins, N. Cohen, and J.R. Mansvelt, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Consumerism: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A. and Gonshorek, D.O. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Packaging and Product Containers." In P.Robbins, J.R. Mansvelt, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Consumerism: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Tam, M. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Recyclable Products." In P. Robbins, J.R. Mansvelt, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Consumerism: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Gonshorek, D.O. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Commuting." In P.Robbins, J.R. Mansvelt, and J.G. Golson (Eds.), Green Consumerism: An A-to-Z Guide. Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., Powell, M.A. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Excellence." In C.Kridel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies, 358-359. Helfer, J.A. and Schroth, S.T. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Phonics/Reading Issues." In C.Kridel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies, 645-647. Helfer, J.A. and Schroth, S.T. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Whole Language/Reading Issues." In C.Kridel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies, 943-944. SAGE Publications (2010.)

"Practitioner's Conceptions of Academic Talent and Giftedness: Essential Factors in Deciding Classroom and School Composition." Schroth, S. T., & Helfer, J. A. Journal of Advanced Academics 20.3 (2009): 384-403.

"Using Technology to Assist Gifted Children's Musical Development." Schroth, S. T., Helfer, J. A., and Dammer, R. Gifted Child Today 32.2 (2009): 54-61.

"Precocity." Schroth, S.T., & Helfer, J.A. In B. Kerr (ed.), Encyclopedia of Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent (2009): 698-700. SAGE Publications.

"The Care and Tending of Young Gifted Learners: Ways of Identifying, Engaging, and Serving Gifted Children from Pre-K through Third Grade." Schroth, S.T., & Helfer, J.A. Illinois Association for Gifted Children Journal 9 (2009): 19.23.

"Conceptual Foundations Network Year-End summary." Schroth, S.T., & Helfer, J.A. NAGC Network News 3 (2009).

"Pierre Boulez." Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., & Gonshorek, D.O. In M.D. Fisher (ed.), Heroes of
Giftedness Gifted Education Press, (2009).

"Michael Tilson Thomas." Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., and Gonshorek, D.O. In M.D. Fisher (ed.),
Heroes of Giftedness Gifted Education Press, (2009).

"Gifted Education in China: A Transition Toward Student-Centered Instruction." Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., Beck, D.L., Latshaw, K.M., and Bahr, Z.A. Gifted Education Press Quarterly 23.3 (2009): 2-7.

"An Interview with Margaret Laney Leigh." Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A. Conceptual Foundations 17.1 (2009): 3-6.

Backstage Pass! The Elixir of Love Student Magazine. Helfer, J. A., Schroth, S.T. Chicago: Lyric Opera of Chicago, (2009).

Backstage Pass! The Elixir of Love Teacher‘s Guide. Helfer, J. A., & Schroth, S.T. Chicago: Lyric Opera of Chicago, (2009).

Teen Opera Circle: The Musical Museum. Helfer, J. A., & Schroth, S.t. Chicago: Lyric Opera of Chicago, (2009).

"Resisting the Strength of Necessity: Problematical Conceptions of and Reactions to Gifted Children." Schroth, S.T., & Helfer, J.A. In J.A. Helfer (ed.), 2006-2007 Proceedings of the Society for the Philosophical Study of Education. Bloomington, IN: Author House (2009): 321-348.

"Lost in Translation: The Disconnect Between Educational Implications and the Act of Teaching".
In J. Helfer (ed.), 2006-2007 Proceedings for the Philosophical Study of Education. Authorhouse.
(2009).

Review of A Whole New Mind (with Stephen T. Schroth) and Deweyan Inquiry: from Education Theory to Practice, CHOICE, 2009.

"Identifying Gifted Students: Educator Beliefs Regarding Various Policies, Processes, and Procedures." Co-authored with S.T. Schroth. Journal for the Education of the Gifted 32.2 (2008): 155-179.

"Models for Excellence: The Importance of Masterworks for Gifted Children (and Their Teachers.)" Co-authored with S.T. Schroth. Gifted Education News-Page 16.6 (2007): 2.

"Seeing and Seeing as: The Challenges in the Identification of Gifted Children." Conceptual Foundations 15.2 (2007): 12-17.

Proceedings of the 2004-2005 Midwest Philosophy of Education Society, Editor. Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, 2007.

"The Disposition Dilemma." Proceedings of the Midwest Association of Teacher Education, 2005.

"Response to 'Manos Hadjidakis: The Story of An Anarchic Youth and 'Magnus Erotics'." Philosophy of Music Education Review, 2004.

"Book Review: 'Transforming Music Education'." Bulletin of The Council For Research in Music Education, 2004.

The Dallas Opera Instructional Series: Tosca. Edited by K. Holt. Dallas, Texas: The Dallas Opera, 2001.

Presentations
"Art and Music Educators' Beliefs Regarding Talent Development of Artistically Gifted Children." Paper with Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., Gonshorek, D.O., and Lanfair, J.K. Tenth Biennial Wallace Research Symposium, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010.

"Preparing Diverse Teachers to Teach Diverse Gifted Children." Paper with Schroth, S.T., Helfer, J.A., Gonshorek, D.O., and Lanfair, J.K. Tenth Biennial Wallace Research Symposium, Iowa City, Iowa, 2010.

"Puncturing Perfectionism: Allowing Achievement." Illinois Association for Gifted Children, Chicago, Illinois, 2010.

"Using Auditory Thinking Strategies with Gifted Children." Paper, Illinois Association for Gifted Children, Chicago, Illinois, 2010.

"Painting Reality: Enriching Reading Instruction with Visual Art." Paper, Illinois Association for Gifted Children, Chicago, Illinois, 2010.

"Why Gifted Education Exists: Theoretical and Research-Based Justifications; Painting Reality: Using the Visual Arts to Enrich Reading Instruction." Paper presented with Schroth, S.T. & Gonshorek, D.O. at the National Association of Gifted Children, St. Louis, Missouri, 2009.

"The Axiology of Gifted Education; The Musical Museum: Using Guided Investigations to Teach Music and Social Studies." Paper presented with Schroth, S.T., National Association for Gifted Children, St. Louis, Missouri, 2009.

"Lazy, Goof-off, or Genius? Positioning Underachieving Gifted Students." Paper presented with Schroth, S.T. & Gonshorek, D.O. Meeting of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, 2009.

"Introducing Opera!" Paper presented at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Docent Training, Chicago, Illinois, 2009.

"Assessment Driven Decision Making: Positioning the Gifted Learner for the Checkered Flag!" Paper presented with Schroth, S.T. at the meeting of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, 2009.

"Practitioners' Conceptions of Academic Talent and Giftedness: Essential Factors in Deciding Classroom and School Composition." Paper presented with Schroth, S.T. at the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, California, 2009.

"Preparing to Teach the Gifted: A Research-Based Approach; Complex Instruction: Challenging Social Studies Students. Papers presented with Schroth, S.T. at the California Association for the Gifted, Anaheim, California, 2009.

"Using Guided Investigations to Accelerate Math and Music Learning; Providing Arts Instruction with Visual Thinking Strategies." Papers presented with Schroth, S.T. at the Illinois Association of Gifted Children, Chicago, Illinois, 2009.

Project REACH: A Model for Preparing Pre-Service and In-Service Teachers to Better Serve Gifted Children; Using Visual Thinking Strate-gies: Providing Differentiated Arts Instruction to Gifted Students in Enrichment or Mixed-Ability Classrooms; Aesthetic Percipience: A Novice‘s Entryway into the Arts; Autonomy, Giftedness, and Educational Initiatives: Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater, with S.T. Schroth, Papers, National Association of Gifted Children, Tampa, Florida, 2008.

Auditory Thinking Strategies: Opening Gifted Children‘s Musical Worlds One Child at a Time; Using Tiered Lessons with Math & Music: How One Teacher Can Differentiate Instruction to Empower the Gifted Student, Building Gifted Education: How Parents and Teachers in One District Built a Gifted Education Program, with Schroth, S.T., papers, Wisconsin Association of Talented & Gifted, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 2008.

Educators‘ Conceptions of Giftedness: An Essential Factor in Decisions Regarding Classroom and School Composition, with Schroth, S.T., Paper, Ninth Biennial Wallace Research Symposium, Iowa City, Iowa, 2008.

Differentiating Arts Instruction with Aesthetic Puzzles; Using Guided Investigations to Maximize Middle School Math Instruction; Visual Thinking Strategy: Providing Breadth and Depth in Art, with Schroth, S.T., Papers, California Association for the Gifted, Anaheim, California, 2008.

The "Science" of Teaching and Learning from 1890-2007, Paper, Anhui Normal University, WuHu City, Anhui Province, The People's Republic of China.

"Autoethnography, Self, Culture, and Other." Association for Teacher Education, Atlanta, Georgia, 2006.

"Autoethnographic Stories of Students' Immersion Experience." American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education, San Diego, California, 2006.

"Using autoethnography as a Reflective Tool to Develop Professional Identity in the Pre-Service Teacher." Midwest Association for Teacher Education, Charleston, Illinois, 2005.

"Langer's Philosophy of Mind as a Tool to Decipher Culture and Identity." American Education Research Association - Women in Education Special Interest Group, Dayton, Ohio, 2005.

"The Disposition Dilemma." Midwest Association for Teacher Education, Lafayette, Indiana, 2005.

"Disposition Assessment." Association for Teacher Education, Chicago, Illinois, 2005.

"Langer and the Cultural Importance of the Arts." Foundations of Music Education, School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 2004 and 2005.

"Piaget and Vygotsky: What Can They Tell Us About Teaching." Language Arts Methods, School of Education, Milliken University, Decatur, Illinois, 2004 and 2005.

"Isocratic Education." Midwest Philosophy of Education Society, Chicago, Illinois, 2004.

"Thinking About Pedagogy." Illinois Education Association, Bloomington, Illinois, 2004.

"Isocrates and Pedagogy." International Network of Philosophers of Education, Madrid, Spain, 2004.

"Music in a Flash: Incorporating Flash Technology in the Music Curriculum." Missouri Music Educators State Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, 2004.

"An Exploration of Musical Communication in Music Partnerships Through Distance Learning." Missouri Music Educators State Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, 2004.

"Secondary General Music - How To Reach the Other 80 percent Through Technology." Missouri Music Educators State Conference, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, 2004.

"The Special Learner and the Music Classroom." Champaign Unit District 4, Champaign, Illinois, 2003.

"Response To: Manos Hadjidakis: The Story of An Anarchic Youth And 'Magnus Erotics'." Fifth International Symposium On the Philosophy of Music Education, Lake Forest, Illinois, 2003.

"Music in a Flash: Incorporating Flash Technology in the Music Curriculum." National Symposium On Music Instruction Technology, Bloomington, Illinois, 2003.

"Developing An Educational Philosophy." Principles and Techniques in Music Education, School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

"Problems of Art, a New View: Langer, the Arts, and Curriculum." Curriculum and Instruction: Aesthetics and the Curriculum, School of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 2002.

"Susanne K. Langer's Epistemology of Mind." Graduate Music Education Seminar, School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, 2002.

"General Music Methods: Ways of Musical Knowing." Undergraduate General Music Methods for Music Majors, Music Education Department, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2000.

"Music Teaching Through Technology." Teacher-In-Service, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, Colleyville, Texas, 1998.

Campus & Community Involvement
Member, Illinois State Teacher Certification Board.
Program Chair, APA Spring Conference, The Society for the Philosophical Study of Education.
Board of Directors, The Society for the Philosophical Study of Education.
Executive Committee, Illinois LiveText Users Group.
CAT1 Facilitator, School of Education, Millikin University.
LiveText Facilitator, School of Education, Millikin University.
Sub-Committee Member, E-Portfolio.
Volunteer, Garfield Elementary School.
Member, Council on Teacher Education Programs.
Member, Midwest Philosophy of Education Society.
Member, International Network of Philosophers of Education.
Member, American Educational Research Association.
Member, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Member, Council on Faculty.
Freshman Advisor, School of Education, Millikin University.
Honors Thesis Committee Member.
Committee Member, Music Education Search.
Vice President, Midwest Philosophy of Education Society.
Honors Interviewer, School of Education, Millikin University.
Committee Member, E-Portfolio Summer Session.
Reviewer, Association for Teacher Education Conference.
Campus Preview Days Facilitator, School of Education, Millikin University.
Faculty Sponsor, Illinois Education Association.
website Developer, School of Education, Millikin University.
website Developer, International Network of Philosophers of Education.
Member, Kappa Delta Pi.
Member, Phi Delta Kappa.