Educational Research
LASER
LAS Educational Research (LASER) supports innovative teaching and learning focused on student agency and action research as professional development.
The LAS Educational Research (LASER) Center supports learning focused on student agency. In our LAS Edge classes (LASER’s flagship curricular project), students work at becoming the best possible independent and collaborative learners they can be. Along the way, they learn about our alpine environment, the arts, entrepreneurship, or STEAM, depending on which specialization most captures their unique interests.
Each year LASER also accepts proposals from faculty members (Resident Scholars) and researchers abroad (Visiting Scholars) that outline innovative projects that they are undertaking. Resident Scholars focus much of their energy on finding ways to enhance school curricula and develop innovative teaching methods so that our students can continue to benefit from a strong education built upon the foundation of the latest cutting-edge research. Our Visiting Scholars also become extremely valued members of our community; many of them have become regular presenters and bloggers who love to share their work and research with our students. These Visiting Scholars work on projects alongside our faculty members, helping to create a school that is constantly learning, from our youngest student to our Head of School. Inquiries about becoming a Visiting Scholar are accepted any time—please reach out to Director of Research Paul Magnuson at pmagnuson@las.ch.
Spotlight Magazine
Our Scholar Program
Resident Scholars
Resident Scholars
The goal of our Resident Scholar program is to provide support for creative and driven staff to explore educational issues in depth in our school context to enliven their experiences of professional development at LAS while enriching the academic environment for us all.
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
Andie Flett, LASER Performance Center (student agency in activities)
Hannah Starbuck, Projects in IB (literature in the math class)
Kevin Jennings, Education's Social Contract
Kim Oppenheim, Languages in the Limelight - Resources for Multilingual Education, Research, & Pedagogy at Leysin American School
Lindsay Posillico, Social Emotional Learning at LAS
Tom Cosgrove, Transitioning to NEASC ACE Accreditation
2019- 2020
Alicia Hamilton, Writing Center (Grades 7-10)
Alice Patton & Suzy Meyskens, Residential Life Curriculum
Brittany Holsapple, The Road To Exceptional Student Support: SEN Professional Development
Daryl Hitchcock, Residential and Extra-Curricular Curriculum Evaluation Tool
Hannah Starbuck, Reimagining the 21st Century Mathematics Classroom
Kevin Jennings, Ascending Cognition
Kim Oppenheim, LAS Language Celebration Site
Rachael Passant-Coy, Project Drawdown
Virginia Morgan, Writing Center (Grades 11-12)
2018 - 2019
Julia Bach To What Extent Can Translanguaging Be Used in the Social Studies Classroom to Increase Student Engagement and Mastery of the Subject?
Nic Cosgrove, Testing Agile in Education
Rachael Passant-Coy, Creating Citizen Scientists at LAS
Rob Barnett, IB Math Studies: A Challenge Based Approach
Stéphanie Ameri, Making Ecological Commitment an Integrated Part of the LAS Mission Statement
Thom Padick, The Importance of Good Lighting for Quality Video Productions
Tom Cosgrove, Self-Paced Mathematics in the Middle School
2017 - 2018
Marta Krause, Guiding Teachers to Support Student Leadership
Mat McLeod, Using the Interactive Whiteboard in the Classroom
Nicola Stewart, Agile Toolkit
Rachael Passant-Coy, The Integration of Citizen Science in LAS Science Curriculum
Stéphanie Ameri, Turning LAS Students into Active Eco- Schoolers
Thom Padick, Educational Video and Production Support
2016 - 2017
Andie Flett, Dormwork
Anthony Leutenegger, Energy Audit and Sustainability
Brittany Holsapple, Mindfulness: Creating a Culture of Self- Care
Dan Patton, Authentic Ways to Incorporate STEM Across the Curriculum
Joan Flynn, Scaffolding Self- Regulated Learning in the Middle School Reading & Writing
Kellie McGill, The LAS Community Pledge in the Middle School
Kelly Deklinski, The Middle School Idea Book: Implementation and Inspiration
2015- 2016
Adam Bradford, Product Testing: Circuit Scribe
Amanda Bjorling, Online Learning with Odysseyware and Other Platfroms
Andie Flett, Agile in the Dormitory
Andie Flett and Suzy Meyskens, Rethinking Study Hall
Chris Leonhard, Raising Environment Awareness
Dan Patton, Development of Forest Ecology and Robot Gardens - Two Middle School Courses
Jason Murphy, Technology Planning for the Middle School
Keegan Luttrell, Art in Leysin
Vanisha Gorasia, Standards Based Grading
Visiting Scholars
Visiting Scholars
The goal of our Visiting Scholars program is for LAS faculty and academics from around the world to rub shoulders so that we all may feel the excitement of new ideas coming to life and the commitment to lifelong learning.
2022-2023
Becca Hart, Actor and book publisher (Beaver's Pond Press, USA)
Jennifer Carlson, Professional development (Hamline University, USA)
Jennifer Trebisovsky, Creative writing, (Freelance, USA)
Jessica Werner, Educational consultancy, (Northshore Coaching and Consulting, USA)
Marja Bertrand, Researching student behavior in STEAM classes, (Western University, Canada)
2021-2022
Joel Li, University Admissions Interviews (USA)
Juanjo Mena, Teacher Professional Development (University of Salamanca, Spain)
Kaitlyn Sampson, Approaches to Diversity in International Schools (University of Oslo, Norway)
Marja Bertrand, Tool-Based Innovative Learning and Teaching Practices (Western University, Canada)
Siena Harlin, Anti-Poverty Programs (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT, USA)
2020-2021
2019-2020
Adele Hammond, Social Entrepreneurship and Fair Trade (Abrazo Style, Mexico and USA)
Adrian Fritschi, Educational Technology, (Bildungszentrum Technik, Switzerland)
Ana Anguire, Curriculum and instruction in the LAS edge program (Tazebaez, Spain)
Bilge Kalkavan, DIY Language as supplemental world language curriculum (Bahçeşehir University, Turkey)
Bret Thayer, Scrum in the classroom (Teacher, USA)
Chiara Forrester, Climate Change (University of Boulder, United States)
Don Enoch, Set Construction for The Addams Family (Retired set designer and teacher, USA)
Eric Poris, Summer Language Programs (Owner, E. Z. World Academy, Spain)
Feyza Doyran, Curriculum and instruction in the LAS edge program (Associate Professor, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey)
Joan Flynn, Student writing and presentation support (USA)
John Miller, Agile Classrooms (Consultant, USA)
Kiko Arquer, Journalism (Consultant, Brazil)
Martin Brocklehurst, Citizen Science, (ECSA, Germany)
Nermin Hollis, Turkish art and the IB (ENKA, Turkey)
Özge Hacıfazlıoglu, Teacher Professional Development (Professor, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey)
Siena Harlin, Assessing Anti-Poverty Programs (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT, USA)
Stephen Cantarutti, Pyschology (Doctoral candidate, City University London)
Thom Padick, Digital Imaging (Consultant and former LAS teacher, USA)
Zaida Núñez, Language Awareness (Assistant Professor, University of Alcalá, Spain)
2018- 2019
Baldur Sigurðsson, The Writing Center (University of Iceland)
Daria Khanolainen, Research study on cyber bullying (Kazan Federal University, Russia)
Elena Semenova, Research study on cyber bullying (Kazan Federal University, Russia)
Eowyn Crisfield, Translanguaging (Educational Consultant)
Özge Hacıfazlıoglu, Teacher Professional Development (Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey)
Sonya Armaghanyan, Using Theater for Social Well-Being
Radhika Garland, An educational toolkit for students: Discover the Alps!
Vladimir Kuskovski, Innovation in the IB Program (Educational Consultant)
Rae Newman, Agile in Education (UC Berkeley and Mills College)
2017 - 2018
Alys Mendes, The Ideal School (PhD Candidate)
Conrad Aumann, Facilitating Communication (Counselor in Group dynamics)
Hervör Alma Árnadóttir, Outdoor Learning and Experiential Learning (University of Iceland)
Jon Ingvar Kjaran, Gender Identity in Iranian Culture (University of Iceland)
Karen Lillie, National and Transnational Socioeconomic Classes (PhD Candidate, University College London)
Royston Flude, Self- sustaining People, Organizations and Communities
2016 - 2017
Alys Mendes, The Ideal School (PhD Candidate)
Elizabeth Skelton, Teacher Support, Professional Development (Consultant)
John Miller, Agile Classrooms (Using Agile as an Instructional Framework)
Jon Ingvar Kjaran, Gender Identity in Iranian Culture (University of Iceland)
Sigríður Ólafsdóttir, Reading research (University of Iceland)
Steven Carber, Third culture Kids (Endicott College)
Thy Carber, Technology for Learning (Endicott College)
2015 - 2016
Christoph Randin, Alpine Science, Climate Change (Université de Lausanne)
Irene Alvarez and Anne Delestrade, Citizen Science (Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d'Altitude)
Luis Prieto, Online Professional Development Tools (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland)
Martin Brocklehurst, Environmentalism (European Citizen Science Association)
Mauro Fisher, Glaciology (University of Fribourg)
2014 - 2015
Hisashi Yoshida, Theory of Knowledge and the IB Program (Obirin, Tokyo)
Publications
2022
Cosgrove, N., Cosgrove, T., Graham, S., Magnuson, P. (2022). Agile in the Alps: Stories of the Agile Classroom, from Teaching and Learning to Administration. MacCallum, K., Parsons, D. (eds) Industry Practices, Processes and Techniques Adopted in Education. Springer, Singapore.
Fryer Smith, H., Kalkavan, B. & Magnuson, P. (2022). Newsletter 101: A self-directed course for English learners. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2022). LAS Educational Research White Paper. Leysin American School, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. & Tihen, B. (2022). EDgility, in K12 Digest, Vol. 3(2).
2021
Cosgrove, T. (2021). Do we need grades to learn? In Rethinking Assessment.
Cosgrove, T. (2021). A Modern Computer Programming Classroom. Next Generation Learning.
Cosgrove, T. and Magnuson, P. (2021). Student Agency Supported by Visible Progress Trackers. Agile Research Consortium for Schools.
Graham, S. (2021). A Contemporary Problem of Practice in the Classroom. ECIS Insightful.
Jackson, A. (2021). Action Research Supported by Online Observation. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2021). In-House Professional Learning. Next Generation Learning.
Magnuson, P., Cosgrove, N., Porter, K., and Ott, M. (2021). Teacherless Observations: Supporting Student Agency. RIPE Research Journal / Journal de Recherches, Vol. 7, pp. 44-57, Spring / Printemps 2021.
Magnuson, P., Hacifazlioglu, Ö., Carber, S., &. Newman, R. (2021). Communities of Practice with Visiting Scholars. Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. & Porter, K. (2021). Summer Camp: Learning Without Grades. The International Educator.
2020
Fritschi, A. (2020). Ein Blick aus der Schweiz in die LAS. Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Hacifazlioglu, Ö. (2020). Reflections on LAS Edge at Leysin American School in Switzerland, Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Hitchcock, D. (2020). The Map as Metaphor - Part 1. Investigating Knowledge. Ideas Roadshow.
Hitchcock, D. (2020). The Map as Metaphor - Part 2. Investigating Knowledge. Ideas Roadshow.
Jennings, K. (2020). The Ascending Cognition Principle. ECIS Insightful.
Khanolainen D., Semenova E., and Magnuson P. (2020): Teachers see nothing: exploring students’ and teachers’ perspectives on school bullying with a new arts-based methodology, Pedagogy, Culture & Society
Magnuson, P. (2020). Creating Space for Students to Practice Lifelong Learning. Next Generation Learning.
Magnuson, P. (2020). Ecosystems for Innovation. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2020). Finding Opportunity in Challenge: Differentiation. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2020). Kaizen. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2020). Teacher Agency. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2020). Treating Climate as Crisis and Supporting Student Activism The International Educator, Vol 34(3), p. 33.
Magnuson, P. (2020). VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. (2020). What If? ECIS Insightful.
Magnuson, P. and Cosgrove, N. (2020). Examples of Agile in Education. Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. and Cosgrove, N. (2020). Pulling Agile into Education: Examples to learn by. Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. and Kalkavan, B. (2020). Language Awareness with Esperanto. Leysin American School Educational Research, Leysin, Switzerland.
Starbuck, H. (2020). What does a modern mathematics classroom look like? ECIS Insightful.
2019
Carber, S. & Magnuson, P. (2019). Creating Offices of Educational Research in Schools. The International Educator, Vol 34(2), p. 33.
Harlin, J. (2019). Alpine Roulette: The Impermanence of Alpine Permafrost-and How This Changes Everything. The American Alpine Journal.
Harlin, J. (2019). Lost in a Winter Forest. Panorama, 2019 edition, Leysin American School.
Hitchcock, D. & Magnuson, P. (2019). After the Bell: Leading School Change through Residential and After-School Activities. Global Insights, The Education Collaborative for International Schools, November 2019, 26-29.
Magnuson, P. (2019). DuoCon Dispatch: The Free + Fun Paradigm. The International Educator, Vol 34(2), p. 5.
Magnuson, P. (2019). Teaching Your Way Around the World. Blog of The International Educator.
Magnuson, P., Tihen, B. Cosgrove, C, & Patton, D. (2019). Getting Agile at School. In Agile and Lean Concepts for Teaching and Learning. Parsons, D. & MacCallum, K. (Eds.). Singapore: Springer.
Magnuson, P. (2019). Unschool, in Worldview: A Language Blog, Concordia Language Villages, Moorhead, MN.
Magnuson, P. (2019). Why Support Research Centers at School? Panorama, 2019 edition, Leysin American School.
Magnuson, P. & Cosgrove, N. (Eds.) (2019) Spotlight: Pulling Agile into Education. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
McGowan, M. Owen, H. J., & Deupree, A. (2019). English B. UK: Hodder Education.
McLeod, M. (2019). Assessing Assessment. Panorama, 2019 edition, Leysin American School.
Patton, D. (2019). TEDXLeysinAmericanSchool - Dare to Fail Forward. Panorama, 2019 edition, Leysin American School.
Prieto, L. P., Magnuson, P., Dillenbourg, P., & Saar, M. (forthcoming). Reflection for Action: Designing Tools to Support Teacher Reflection on Everyday Evidence. Accepted for publication at Technology, Pedagogy and Education. Preprint available at https://doi.org/10.31219/
2018
Árnadóttir, H. A. (2018). Simulating to get real, Global Insights, The Education Collaborative for International Schools, April 2018, 27-30.
Barnett, R. (2018). Learning by problem solving, Global Insights, The Education Collaborative for International Schools, November 2018, 37-38.
Harlin, J. (2018). The Skyline Challenge. Panorama, 2018 edition, Leysin American School.
Harlin, J. (Ed.) (2018). Spotlight on the Alpine Institute, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Harlin, J., Kloetzer, L., Patton, D. & Leonhard, C. (2018). Turning students into citizen scientists. In Citizen Science: Innovation in Open Science, Society and Policy. Hecker, S., Haklay, M. Bowser, A., Makuch, Z., Vogel, Johannes, & Bonn, Aletta (Eds.). London: University College London Press.
Magnuson, P. (2018). Summer camp takeaways for teachers, Global Insights, The Education Collaborative for International Schools, April 2018, 21-23.
Magnuson, P. (2018). Global Futurizer. Panorama, 2018 edition, Leysin American School.
Tihen, B., Magnuson, P., & Patton, D. (2018). Designed to float your boat, Global Insights, The Education Collaborative for International Schools, April 2018, 9-12.
2017
Harlin, J. (2017). International Award. Panorama, 2017 edition, Leysin American School.
Holsapple, B. & McGill, K. (2017). Mindfulness: LAS Embraces a Global Movement. Panorama, 2017 edition, Leysin American School.
Magnuson, P. (Ed.) (2017). Spotlight on Residential and Visiting Scholars, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2017). Teacherless observations. TIE Online, The International Educator. December 22.
Magnuson, P. (2017). Beyond the Classroom: Expanding the Notion of Self-regulated Learning. Panorama, 2017 edition, Leysin American School.
Patton, D. (2017). LETS Update: Local Environmental Transect Survey. Panorama, 2017 edition, Leysin American School.
Tihen, B. and Magnuson, P. (2017). Introducing EDgility. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
2016
Flett, A. and Meyskens, S. (2016). Changing the Homework Conversation. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Gorasia, V. (2016) Standards Based Grading. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Harlin, J. (2016). Introducing the Alpine Institute. Panorama, 2016 edition, Leysin American School.
Harlin, J. (2016). LAS Alpine Club. Panorama, 2016 edition, Leysin American School.
Magnuson, P. (2016). 35 minutes. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). But it won't work for me! LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Beyond the classroom: Expanding the notion of self- regulated learning, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). The First EDgility audit, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Guide rails to keep off the lecture circuit, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Inspect and adapt as a guide to curriculum, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Peer review of academic papers, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Pulling agile into education, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Scholars of LAS. Panorama, 2016 edition, Leysin American School.
Magnuson, P. (2016). Simtown: Active, Authentic Language and the Spirit of Adventure. In World Cultures: The Language Villages, Willis, D. B. & Enloe, W. (Eds.) St. Paul, Minnesota: Tertium Quid Press.
Magnuson, P. (2016). When you ask me what's agile, I'd like to say...,LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. and Ameri, S. (2016). Why DIY Language, LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. and Tihen, B. (2016). Agile in Education at Leysin American School in Switzerland. Podcast, Agile Amped.
Murphy, J. (2016). Spotlight on Technology. Leysin American School, Leysin, Switzerland.
Patton, D. (2016). LETS. Panorama, 2016 edition, Leysin American School.
Prieto, L. & Magnuson, P. (2016). Paper Prototype Tests @ Leysin American School (ProLearningFeedback). LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Prieto, L. & Magnuson, P. (2016). Prototype Test- 2 (ProLearning Feedback). LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
2015
Debrincat, V. (2015). Review of the eBeam Edge. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Deupree, A. (2015). English B Assessments. IB Review, January 2015.
Harlin, J. (2015). Climate Sensor Poles. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Harlin, J. (2015). Full Circle. Panorama, 2015 edition, Leysin American School.
Linguistics & Languages Class. (2015). Students Review of Duolingo. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2015). TAKK- Paper pilot of a professional learning app. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2015). Universal Language and Our School's Online Tools. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Mendus, A. (2015). Letters from Lesbos. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2015). Hack School Year 1. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2015). Hack School. Panorama, 2015 edition, Leysin American School.
Magnuson, P. (2015). Personalizing Duolingo. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Magnuson, P. (2015).A Year of Language Learning. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Murphy, J. (2015). Making Progress Visible with Digital Badges. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Patton, D., Tihen, B, and Harlin, J. (2015). Climate Case. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Yoshida, H. (2015). A Study on the International Education in Leysin. In Japanese. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
Yoshida, H. (2015). A Study on the International Education in Leysin. English summary. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland.
2014
Magnuson, P. (2014). Teaching with Duolingo. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland