Benjamin Dotger
Assistant Professor
Overview:
Education:
Ph.D. North Carolina State University Curriculum and Instruction
M.A. University of North Carolina English Education
B.A. Elon University English Education
Benjamin Dotger is an Assistant Professor of Teaching and Leadership in Syracuse University’s School of Education. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in English Education from Elon University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from North Carolina State University.
Professor Dotger's work explores the use of simulated interaction models to help teachers and school leaders learn how to better engage in and address scholastic problems of practice. Using the medical education pedagogy of standardized patients, Dotger implemented the Standardized Parent Conferencing Model (SPCM), a teacher development model that uses (standardized) parents, students, and paraprofessionals to help future teachers learn how to better interact with and support parents and caregivers. Through his partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dotger is extending the use of simulated interactions to also enhance the professional preparation of school leaders.
Dotger’s work with simulated interactions has been generously supported by the Spencer Foundation, the Ewing Marian Kauffman Foundation, and the Institute for Education Sciences. His work has been published by such journals as the Journal of Moral Education, Teacher Education and Special Education, Teaching Education, Educational Leadership, Planning & Changing, and the New Educator.