Profile for Mckenzie Rabenn
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Mckenzie Rabenn
Lecturer
Educational Studies
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Mckenzie Rabenn
Lecturer
Educational Studies
Specialty area(s)
Online learning, teacher professional development, literacy, children's literature, environmental justice, and rural education.
Brief biography
Dr. McKenzie Rabenn, a proud native of rural Wisconsin, calls Eagle River home, where she resides with her family. With extensive experience in elementary education across the Midwest, Dr. Rabenn earned her Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the University of North Dakota (UND). Dr. Rabenn's research interests encompass online learning, teacher professional development, literacy, children's literature, environmental justice, and rural education. As an adjunct faculty member in teacher education departments across Wisconsin, she brings her passion for rural education and insightful research to the forefront, aiming to positively influence educators and students alike.
Current courses at UWL
EDS 203: School, Society, and Teachers
Education
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Major: Teaching & Learning
Emphasis: Teacher Education
Dissertation: “Understanding how North Dakota teachers knowledge, beliefs, and confidence are constructed in an asynchronous professional development course”
Committee: Pamela Beck (chair), Cheryl Hunter, Sonja Brandt, Colleen Pennell, Diana
D’Amico Pawlewicz
Carroll University, Waukesha, WI
Degree: Master of Education
Major: Curriculum & Instruction
Emphasis: Reading Teacher (1316) & Reading Specialist (1317)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Early Childhood Education
Emphasis: English as a Second Language
Career
Teaching history
Adjunct Lecturer September 2024- present
University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse, LaCrosse, WI
School of Education
Courses Taught
- EDS 203: Schools, Society, and Teachers
Adjunct Lecturer January 2024- present
University of Wisconsin-Superior, Superior, WI
School of Education
Courses Taught
- ENGED 206: Children’s Literature, 3 credits
- ENGED 465: Content Area Literacy, 3 credits
Adjunct Lecturer August 2023- present
University of Wisconsin- River Falls, River Falls, WI
School of Education
Courses Taught
- TED 316: Developmental Reading, 3 credits
- READ 789: Reading Appraisal and Intervention, 3 credits
- READ 785: Research in Literacy, 3 credits
Instructor of Record May 2022- present
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Office of Extended Learning
Courses Taught
- Science of Reading professional development course
Graduate Teaching Assistant August 2019- May 2023
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Teaching and Learning
Courses Taught
- T&L 335: Foundations of Reading, 3 credits
- T&L 413: Assessing and Correcting Reading Difficulties, 2 credits
- T&L 414: Corrective Reading Practicum, 2 credits
- T&L 417: Writing and Language Arts Methods, 2 credits
- T&L 486: Corrective Reading/Math Field Experience, 1 credit
Professional history
Graduate Research Assistant
University of North Dakota
I-REEED
Literacy Assessment and Research Lead
Savvy Learning
First Grade Teacher
Westside Elementary School, West Fargo, ND
Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade Teacher
Hawthorne STEM Elementary School, Waukesha, WI
Research and publishing
Brandenburg, M., Hoffer, T., Rabenn, M., and Hunter, C. (2023). Block by block: Building a discussion section. In Doran, E., & LaPointe-Terosky, A. A practical guide to teaching research methods in education: Lesson plans and advice from faculty.
Rabenn, M. (In Press). Foreword. In Tomlin, A. & Smith, H., Faculty Success in the Academy: Tips, tools, and resources for success.
Rabenn, M., & Brandt, S. (2023). Shifting North Dakota teacher beliefs about science of reading through online asynchronous professional development. Reading League, 4(3).
Rabenn, M., & Brandt, S. (2024). Fostering Empathy and Understanding: The Transformative Role of Diverse Children’s Literature in Confronting Racism. Language Arts, 101(4), 423- 425.
Rabenn, M., & Brandt, S. (2024). Navigating asynchronous learning: Empowering flexibility and engagement in digital education. ELearn Magazine.
Rabenn, M., & Smith, H. (2024). Uniting social studies and diverse perspectives through the read aloud. Minnesota English Journal, 59.
Rabenn, M. & Beck, P. (2024). Leveraging online professional development to pivot to the Science of Reading. Learning Professional, 45(4).
Gilpin, S., & Rabenn, M. (Under Review). Challenges and triumphs of female online doctoral students in scholarly pursuits. Current Issues in Education.