Parami faculty published in LAS Strengthening Guides and LAS Research Articles

Faculty members from the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Parami University, Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe and Dr. Will Buckingham, have contributed to the Liberal Arts and Sciences Strengthening Guides and Research Articles, a collection of open educational resources funded by LAS Collab. These publications highlight innovative teaching strategies that promote student engagement, critical thinking, and inclusive learning in liberal arts and sciences classrooms. Drawing on their expertise, Dr. Mineshima-Lowe explores scaffolding techniques that support student success, while Dr. Buckingham delves into the transformative power of storytelling in education.

Titled Scaffolding Learning for Student Success, Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe's guide explores scaffolding as a teaching strategy that enhances student engagement, confidence, and critical thinking. Based on Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), scaffolding involves breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps to help students gradually achieve independence in learning.

Key Strategies for Scaffolding:

• Free Writing (FW): Encourages informal writing to develop ideas and confidence.

• Deep Reading & Annotations: Helps students engage critically with texts.

• Writing-in-the-Zones (WitZ): A structured method for essay planning.

• Infographics & Posters: Visual tools for summarizing and presenting information.

• Mini Policy Briefs: A real-world application of research and writing skills.

The guide highlights how effective scaffolding makes learning more accessible and interactive, fostering deeper engagement and critical thinking. By using structured learning activities, educators can empower students to take ownership of their learning journey.

Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe is a faculty member of the Social Science and Humanities at Parami University. She is an educator and researcher specializing in politics, governance, and environmental issues. She holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Durham and has an academic background in European political integration, legal studies, psychology, and education. 

She has taught courses in politics, history, and geography and is currently a visiting lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, focusing on climate change and environmental hazards. Her research explores democratic transitions, governance, and data activism, particularly how digital tools help civic organizations combat corruption and environmental challenges. She is also the Managing Editor for the Center of International Relations and was an IWT-CLASP Fellow (2021–2023).

Access the full guide by Dr. Dale Mineshima-Lowe at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Q0wwUd6X9CYxOGJyqCRgPpN--cGIdHO/view  

Educators looking to incorporate storytelling into their classrooms can find great tools and guides in Dr. Will Buckingham's Storytelling in Education article. The article highlights storytelling as a powerful educational tool that builds community, confidence, and connection in the liberal arts and sciences classroom. Buckingham emphasizes that storytelling is not just about sharing knowledge but also about exploring the unknown.

Key Strategies for Classroom Storytelling:

• Face-to-face storytelling – Encourages direct, distraction-free communication.

• Micro-Adventures – Helps students develop narrative skills by recounting daily experiences.

• Everyday Expertise – Connects personal skills and knowledge with academic learning.

• Hidden Stories of Research – Reveals the human side of academic work.

He advocates integrating storytelling alongside academic writing to make learning more engaging and meaningful. Storytelling fosters trust, curiosity, and deeper learning experiences, helping students connect theories to real-life contexts.

Dr. Will Buckingham is a Social Science and Humanities faculty member at Parami University. He is a philosopher, writer, and educator with a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Staffordshire University and an M.A. in Anthropology from Durham University. He has held academic positions at De Montfort University and Sichuan University. He is known for his work in writing, creativity, and social change. His latest book, Hello, Stranger: Stories of Connection in a Divided World, was published by Granta Books. He also contributed to DK's bestselling The Philosophy Book. Through Wind&Bones CIC, the social enterprise he co-directs, he leads global projects on storytelling and education.

Access the full guide by Dr. Will Buckingham at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a6FC5kwCdTt9cw81xyPr0q7S4CvxWKU1/view