If you are interested in education, attending the AERA conference each year is a must. The conference begins April 29. It is like being a kid in a candy store. What is AERA? From the website:

The American Educational Research Association (AERA), founded in 1916, is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results.

AERA members are faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other distinguished professionals with rich and diverse expertise in education research. They work in a range of settings from universities and other academic institutions to research institutes, federal and state agencies, school systems, testing companies, and nonprofit organizations. Based on their research, they produce and disseminate knowledge, refine methods and measures, and stimulate translation and practical application of research results.

AERA is international in scope.  Nearly 5% of members, representing over 85 countries, reside outside of the United States.  Over 28% of AERA members are students–approximately 6,500 graduate students and 600 undergraduate students. Over 74% of AERA members report that education is their primary discipline. Other disciplines represented by AERA members include psychology, statistics, sociology, history, economics, philosophy, anthropology, and political science.

This year will be a busy year for me again at the AERA conference. In case you want to visit with me you can find me at the following conference meetings at the upcoming annual conference in San Francisco at the end of April. See you there!