Tony Pellegrini

Department Chair of Teacher Education/Professor of Education

  • Cedar City UT UNITED STATES

Specializing in online learning strategies in higher education, asynchronous learning, and web-based instructional tools

Contact

Biography

Dr. Tony Pellegrini is a professor of education at Southern Utah University. He teaches and presents, regionally and internationally, on topics involving 21st-century learning and learners, web-based learning tools and approaches, and methods and approaches for crafting graduate research initiatives.

Dr. Pellegrini came to Southern Utah University after a twelve-year career as a principal, including time spent at Blanding Elementary School and Three Falls Elementary school in southern Utah. During this time, he served as the President of the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals and as the state representative for Utah for the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Dr. Pellegrini earned a bachelor of arts in theatre education from Brigham Young University, a master of education in secondary education and educational administration from Utah State University and a doctorate of education in educational leadership and higher education from the University of Nevada.

Spotlight

2 min

Free College Credit Certificate in Teaching Skills & Practices

Southern Utah University’s Teacher Education program is thrilled to announce a one-time, free college credit certificate in Enriched Teaching Skills & Practices for the Professional Instructor. This certificate will amount to nine credits and count for three of the four elective courses required for a master’s degree in education at SUU."These courses are uniquely designed as invitations into our master's degree in education here at Southern Utah University,” said Dr. Tony Pellegrini. “Through these gateway courses, you will be invited to consider pursuing your master's degree and put into practice, practitioner-based research approaches to help you address the challenges and opportunities that you will face in your current and future positions. These practitioner-based approaches will provide you with the skills you need to address your learner's issues and provide leadership to your organization in addressing improved academic achievement for those for who you are the steward."This certificate is available for current teachers, aides, substitutes, and parents seeking professional development in technology, classroom management, and law. The certificate program also provides the necessary credits for a master’s degree in education from SUU, which will help in-service teachers receive an increase in pay. "This is a wonderful opportunity for SUU's College of Education to support Utah's school districts and the learners whom they serve with these professional development opportunities,” said Dr. Pellegrini. “These are designed to meet the needs of Utah's K12 communities in this unique COVID-19 time period. We encourage Utah's K12 teachers and support staff to take advantage of these courses to improve their learner's academic achievement."The Learn & Work In Utah initiative was launched by the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development and its Talent Ready Utah team, in partnership with the Utah System of Higher Education. SUU is offering a total of seven one-time, free courses through this program. The funding for these programs is made possible by the federal CARES Act funds for short-term training. Each course is offered at no cost to legal residents of Utah who are unemployed or underemployed due to COVID-19. The Enriched Teaching Skills & Practices for the Professional Instructor course is limited to 40 students, and the last day to sign up is September 18, 2020. For more information or to sign up, visit SUU's website:

Tony Pellegrini

2 min

Using Practitioner-Based Research to Better Prepare Teachers

Southern Utah University’s Master of Education (M.Ed) program has recently shifted from a traditional thesis to a practitioner-based research thesis, giving students the opportunity to personally apply their studies and research to individual classrooms and districts.Dr. Tony Pellegrini, professor/director of graduate studies in education, supports learners in the role of a coach. He helps learners assess their settings and situations, and reflect on their approach to teaching in the ever-changing K-12 school system. “Our emphasis on a practitioner-based approach provides validation and credibility to each classroom who follows this path,” said Dr. Pellegrini. “Our learners are better prepared to reflect upon and address the unique challenges and opportunities which they are confronted with today and in the future in our K-12 settings.” Students begin their thesis by asking a question of personal and professional interest that relates to their classroom or district. They then employ different methods, resources, etc. to find a solution to their problem that works for their demographic. The research conducted is more action-based than other similar capstones, projects, and theses at other universities.“Our master learners are coming to us more and more at the beginning of their career in education. We are preparing them today to reflect on, problem-solve, and critically address problems in their future career that we cannot even comprehend today. A practitioner-based research approach provides them with the tools and approaches which will truly engage them as lifelong learners, and not simply one who has completed a Thesis or Project and rests upon their laurels." Dr. Tony Pellegrini is a professor of education at Southern Utah University. He teaches and presents, regionally and internationally, on topics involving 21st-century learning and learners, web-based learning tools and approaches, and methods and approaches for crafting graduate research initiatives.Learn more about the practitioner-based thesis:

Tony Pellegrini

Media

Industry Expertise

Program Development
Corporate Training
Education/Learning
Internet

Areas of Expertise

Information and Technology in Education
Family and Parent Involvement in Education
Higher Education Leadership
Online Learning Strategies in Higher Education
Higher Education
Asynchronous Learning
21st Century Learning
Online Learning
Web-based Instructional Tools
Curriculum Design
Education and Educational Leadership
Higher Education Administration
Public School Funding and Resources

Education

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Ed.D.

Educational Leadership and Higher Education

Utah State University

M.Ed.

Secondary Education and Educational Administration

Brigham Young University

B.A.

Theatre Education

Accomplishments

Technology Innovator of the Year

Utah State System of Higher Education, 2005

Exemplar of Technology Delivered Instruction

Utah System of Higher Education, 2005

Affiliations

  • National Association of Elementary School Principals
  • Utah Rural Schools Conference

Languages

  • Italian

Articles

Engaging Graduate Learners Through High Impact Practices in Online Learning

IAFOR

2018-08-01

This presentation will outline and describe the how efforts that the Graduate Studies in Education program at Southern Utah University, engages in and incorporates these high-impact practices. We are encouraged that educational research suggests that these practices increase rates of student retention and student engagement. The rest of this presentation will explore in more detail why these types of practices are effective, which students have access to them, and, finally, what effect they might have on different cohorts of students. Focus and attention will be paid to demonstrate the alignment of these practices across graduate and undergraduate programs. Comparisons and experiences will be addressed as well regarding how these practices are addressed in both face-to-face and online learning environments.

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“This Is Not Teaching”: The Effects Of COVID-19 On Teachers

Social Publishers Foundation

Joel Judd, Betty Ann Rember, Tony Pellegrini, Brian Ludlow, John Meisner

This Project was initiated to shed light on teachers’ experiences as a result of this Spring’s school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020. Its primary goal was to understand teachers’ experiences with mandated online schooling.

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Courses

EDUC 6020 Information & Technology in Education

Introduction to information technology for teachers, administrators, and media specialists. Examines the role of technology in curriculum and instruction.

EDUC 6030 21st Century Research & Data

This course provides 21st Century teachers with the knowledge and skill to read, understand, implement, and conduct research in their classrooms.

EDUC 6036 Leadership with Technology

Students that complete this course will effectively lead and oversee a technology integration team at the school level. Upon completion the student will demonstrate knowledge of process management functions, resource management functions in the classroom, and define and set appropriate goals for technology-mediated instructional project.

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