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Department
Teaching and Learning
Office Location
367 Wyatt
Mailing Address
Peabody #330
230 Appleton Place
Nashville, TN 37203-5721
Direct Phone
615-322-8057
Fax Number
615-322-8999
Email Address
Victoria Risko
Professor of Education
Ed.D., West Virginia University, 1971
Short Biography
Vicki's research focuses on literacy development for students experiencing difficulties, reading comprehension and meaningful learning, and uses of technology to support problem solving and social engagement within literacy contexts. Her investigations, situated in elementary, middle school, reading resource, and college classrooms, focus on the development of instructional methods for engaging students in collaborative learning activities and for enhancing students' meaningful and strategic learning.
One aspect of her current work focuses on teacher education research. She and her co-authors completed critical analyses of published research on teacher reflection within teacher preparatory programs and published research on preparing teachers to teach reading. The goal of this research is to identify features of teacher education programs that support prospective teachers’ development in the areas of teacher reflection and applications of pedagogical knowledge within teaching situations. A particular interest for Vicki is preparing teachers for culturally and linguistically diverse students and to teach in ways that maximize students capabilities, interests, and cultural identities.
Vicki is currently a co-editor (with Vanderbilt professors Compton, Dickinson, Jimenez, Kim, Leander, and Rowe) of the annual conference yearbook of the National Reading Conference. Vicki received the A. B. Herr Award from the College Reading Association for Distinguished Contributions to Research (2002) and the Distinguished Research Award (1992) from the Association of Teacher Education for her investigations of multimedia case methodology. She was elected as a member of the Board of Directors, International Reading Association, 2002-2005. She is past-president of The College Reading Association, an international organization for literacy educators and researchers. For the International Reading Association, she was chair of the Teacher Education Research Task Force, the co-chair of the Commission on Diverse Learners, and the Chair of the Video and Literacy Special Interest Group of The International Reading Association.