Kelly A. Parkes receives 2010 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Kelly A. Parkes, assistant professor of teaching and learning in the School of Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, received the university’s 2010 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award for her efforts in advancing research-based practice in the development of music educators

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award is presented annually by Virginia Tech’s Center Instructional Development and Educational Research. The award recognizes faculty members who have dedicated themselves to the examination and investigation of higher education teaching and learning.

Parkes, a professor of music education in the Department of Teaching and Learning, has focused her teaching efforts on the pedagogy of teaching music educators. She focuses on the motivation and self-efficacy of pre-service teachers, and the impact of these on teachers’ performance. 

“Our teachers need more assistance in identifying themselves as teachers as opposed to musicians or students,” said Parkes.

Parkes has also made efforts to increase the use of research-based assessment strategies in higher education music education settings. In 2008, she presented her ideas on the use of rubrics for the assessment of instrumental music at the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Bologna, Italy. She has published in journals such as Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Journal of Research in Music Performance, Journal of the College Music Society, the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.

Parkes is currently the chair-elect of the Society for Research in Music Education (SRME) Assessment Special Research Interest Group. She received her bachelor's degree in musicology and psychology from the Australian National University, a master's degree in trumpet performance and pedagogy from The Canberra Institute of the Arts in Australia, a master's degree in music education from Florida International University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami.

To find out more about the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, visit the Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research website or contact Cortney Martin at 540-230-9366.