The UH Mānoa College of Education (COE) Department of Educational Psychology (EDEP) had a large presence at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) annual meetings on April 7–12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Four COE doctoral students and a recent graduate of the EDEP MEd program presented their research, and eight students enrolled in EDEP Chair and Professor Lois Yamauchi’s Seminar in Educational Psychology: Learning through AERA course attended the conference.
“One of the learning objectives for both the master’s and PhD programs in Educational Psychology is for students to present scholarly research effectively,” Yamauchi said. “In addition to conducting rigorous and relevant studies, educational researchers must be able to communicate their findings to those in the field if we want our work to influence educational practice and policy.”
Attending national conferences provides students with opportunities to observe and present on a much broader scale. AERA is the national organization of educational psychologists with more than 24,000 members. The 2026 annual meeting included well over 13,000 attendees and 2,500 sessions.
“AERA can be overwhelming to navigate, especially for first time attendees,” Yamuchi said. “I decided to offer the EDEP 768B seminar for students to learn about AERA’s divisions and special interest groups and for them to focus on how to make effective presentations across a variety of formats. AERA is a place to learn about the most cutting-edge research that has not yet been published.”
Students conducted research before attending the conference and were required to attend different types of sessions once there. They were assigned a final paper, related to their dissertations or master’s projects, that incorporated what they learned.
Elisa Hartwig, PhD in Educational Foundations student enrolled in EDEP 768B
“I was very grateful to prepare for attending AERA for the first time with a class cohort. I felt well prepared and supported for what is otherwise a very overwhelming experience. I would definitely recommend this class to other students aspiring to represent UH scholars by attending and eventually presenting at AERA. I only hope that there might be a UH (all campuses) reception or dinner organized, so that students can connect with the larger community of UH scholars while at AERA. A big thank you to Professor Yamauchi!”
Masako Imanishi, PhD in EDEP student, presented her EDEP MEd thesis: A Multiple Case Study of the College Motivation of Three Students with Intellectual Disabilities
“Attending and presenting at AERA 2026 was a meaningful milestone in my academic journey. As a first-time presenter, I was both excited and nervous, but I was grateful for the opportunity to share my research. Through engaging with scholars and practitioners, I was particularly inspired by conversations around student voice and inclusive learning environments. Hearing different perspectives and experiences reminded me of the importance of creating spaces where students’ autonomy is respected, where they feel connected and supported, and where they gain confidence through meaningful support. This experience also broadened my perspective as I begin to explore potential directions for my future doctoral research. I am especially grateful to Dr. Yamauchi for her guidance and support throughout this experience.”
Saki Kashimura, MEd in EDEP student enrolled in EDEP 768B
“Being able to attend AERA for the first time was an eye-opening experience! I never knew there were so many researchers and scholars out there. It was amazing to see all the work that each individual is passionate about, and to learn about their personal driving force to identify and fill gaps in our current educational systems through educational research. I enjoyed the experience of going with my peers through the EDEP 768B course, as it allowed us to converse about it later, such as what we saw, what we liked (or didn’t like), and provide suggestions if we were to attend again in the future. I highly recommend that all graduate students attend to see what is out there in the field of educational research.”
Soheyon Lee presented Task Complexity, Prompt Choice, and Fairness in Second Language Writing Assessment
Carl Moog, Ed Foundations PhD student enrolled in EDEP 768B
“Having been to AERA once before this class, I’m aware how a massive conference like this can be intimidating and confusing, especially for first-timers. This class has been genuinely helpful not only in preparing us what to expect for AERA, but also on how we can get the most out of it. This course provided a structure and forced me to plan way ahead of time in terms of which sessions to attend. My AERA experience became so much richer because of this class.”
Taryn Nakagawa, PhD in EDEP student, presented her MEd thesis: Family-Centered Approaches to Supporting Kindergarten Transitions at a Preschool in Hawai‘i
“It was such an honor to have been able to present my work at AERA and be part of a live discourse of knowledge. Being part of a conference this size can feel overwhelming with the amount of scholars and presentations available, but at the same time, the community feels remarkably welcoming. It is supportive in the sense that we all share the same goal of working toward a future of education that is collaborative and connecting. Stepping into that space reminded me that even though the field is vast, our shared mission makes it feel small.”
Kiley Oeda, PhD in EDP student, presented a poster: Evaluating School Climate Trends in Hawai‘i: COVID-19 Pandemic and Return to In-Person Instruction
“Presenting at the poster session was a wonderful experience. I met individuals with similar interests who provided insightful feedback on my project and resources that supported my future endeavors. I also learned about the work that others were doing in their state and school districts, which were identical to my study and research interests on Hawaiʻi schools. Moreover, conversing with professionals in the field helped me understand diverse roles in research and education. Overall, the poster session served as a friendly environment that allowed me to share my work and network with others too. Also, faculty from the College of Education came to visit and support me, which I am very thankful for as well!”
Lilian Rebamonte-Smith*, PhD in EDEP student enrolled in EDEP 768B, presented Cultivating Inclusion: Redesigning Hawaiʻi Community College Early Childhood Programs
“Having attended and presented at several conferences in the past, AERA has been my favorite by far. It was inspiring to be in spaces with scholars whose work I am actively reading in my courses and to engage with research across such a wide range of educational fields. I appreciated how the course intentionally prepared us to navigate the conference with purpose, helping me align sessions, conversations, and opportunities with my professional and academic goals. That preparation made the experience feel focused and impactful. I left feeling energized, connected, and motivated to continue growing as a researcher and practitioner, and I hope to attend future AERA conferences.”
*Smith received a $500 travel award through the AERA Annual Meeting Graduate Student Assistance Fund
