Educational Research

The LAS Educational Research (LASER) Center supports action research and curriculum work as professional development for the LAS faculty. Each year we accept proposals from faculty members that outline innovative projects with a goal of developing new curriculum, improving school life and our systems of student assessment, and investigating strategies in teaching and learning. We call these innovative faculty members Resident Scholars. 

We also reach out to creative professionals in education- consultants, professors, and content specialists. These Visiting Scholars work on their own research projects alongside our own faculty, learning and leading, and presenting their findings to the school community. 

The LASER Center initiatives are supported by Director Paul Magnuson and Associate Director Dan Patton. If you have further questions about LASER, please contact Paul 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. 

2019- 2020 

Brittany Holsapple, The Road To Exceptional Student Support: SEN Professional Development
Alice Patton & Suzy Meyskens, Residential Life Curriculum
Daryl Hitchcock, Residential and Extra-Curricular Curriculum Evaluation Tool
Kim Oppenheim, LAS Language Celebration Site
Hannah Starbuck,  Reimagining the 21st Century Mathematics Classroom
Rachael Passant-Coy, Project Drawdown
Alicia Hamilton, Writing Center (Grades 7-10) 
Virginia Morgan, Writing Center (Grades 11-12)
Kevin Jennings, Ascending Cognition

2018 - 2019

Adam Bradford, How Can @home Science Experiments Help Students Achieve Better Grades in their IB Internal Assessments?
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

Aaron Deupree and Ronan Lynch, A Guide for Department Heads 
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 McGrill, 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. 

2019-2020

John Miller, Agile Classrooms (Consultant, USA)
Eric Poris, Summer Language Programs (Owner, E. Z. World Academy, Spain)
Zaida Núñez, Language Awareness (Assistant Professor, University of Alcalá, Spain)
Eowyn Crisfield, Translanguaging in LAS Classrooms (Consultant, UK)
Özge Hacıfazlıoglu, Teacher Professional Development (Professor, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey)
Bret Thayer, Scrum in the classroom (Teacher, USA)
Bilge Kalkavan, DIY Language as supplemental world language curriculum (Bahçeşehir University, Turkey)
Jón Kjaran, Gender Studies (Professor, University of Iceland)
Rae Newman, Agile in Education (Graduate Student, UC Berkeley and Mills College)
Kiko Arquer, Journalism (Consultant, Brazil)
Feyza Doyran, Curriculum and instruction in the LAS edge program (Associate Professor, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey)

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

Anna Kristín Sigurðardóttir, School Improvement and Professional learning Communities (University of Iceland) 
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

Christophe 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)

Artists in Residence

Artists in residence

 

2019-2020

Thom Padick, Digital Imaging (Consultant and former LAS teacher, USA)

Publications

2019

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.

McGowan, M. Owen, H. J., & Deupree, A. (2019). English B. UK: Hodder Education.

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/osf.io/bj2rp

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., 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.

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

Tihen, B. and Magnuson, P. (2017). Introducing EDgility. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

Magnuson, P. (2017). Teacherless observations. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

2016

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). 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. 

Flett, A. and Meyskens, S. (2016). Super Study Hall. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

Gorasia, V. (2016) Standards Based Grading. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

Prieto, L. (2016). Paper Prototype Tests @ Leysin American School (ProLearningFeedback). LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

Prieto, L. (2016). Prototype Test- 2 (ProLearning Feedback). LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

2015

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. 

Murphy, J. (2015). Spotlight on Technology. Leysin American School, Leysin, Switzerland. 

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. 

Linguistics & Languages Class. (2015). Students Review of Duolingo. LASER, Leysin, Switzerland. 

Magnuson, P. (2015). Hack School Year 1. 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). ClimateCase. 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.