Digital Commons Network^™

Acknowledging The “I” In Multicultural Education, Osman Ozturgut

Essays in Education

Banks (2001) claims for students to become successful in a diverse world, they need to have the ability to communicate and negotiate among diverse cultures. Some argue that when the cultural diversity and global tolerance are promoted within multicultural education, traditional elitism and its shortcomings would be overcome (Schugurensky, 2002). Others argue that multicultural education hinders the assimilation efforts and creating a divisive society (Bernstein, 1994).

There are many views on the benefits or shortcomings of multiculturalization of education. The question is not whether a multicultural education should be adopted but it is rather what we understand from multicultural education …

Class Attendance And Gender Effects On Undergraduate Students’ Achievement In A Social Studies Course In Botswana., J.O. Ajiboye, Adeyinka Tella

Essays in Education

The study examined class attendance and gender effects on undergraduate students’ achievement in a Social Studies course. The whole group of seventy six (76) year three undergraduate students of the department of primary education, University of Botswana who registered for the course constituted the study sample. The record of students’ attendance in the course taken from the beginning of the semester was computed and compared with their overall score in the course. Multiple comparisons, Analysis of Variance and T-test were used to analyse the data to determine the relative and interaction effects of the independent variables on the dependent. Two …

Perception’S Of Preservice Teachers ’Toward Children’S Literature, Khaled Alazzi

Essays in Education

Children’s literature is used across the curriculum in elementary classrooms today. How is this literature viewed by preservice teachers and how will their viewpoints affect their use of literature with students? The purpose of this study was to describe preservice teachers’ written responses to children’s literature with geometric content. Six related, but distinct themes emerged after multiple readings of the responses; these themes depict preservice teachers who are: (1) making personal connections with literature, (2) reading for children, (3) being the teachers, (4) looking for the math, (5) finding instructional ideas, and (6) focusing on the morals.

Assessment For Learning: Assessment In Interaction, Ian Clark

Essays in Education

Wherever there is challenge in our classrooms there exists the opportunity for better formative assessment. It is beyond time that policy reflected the need for cognitive and affective challenges to be constructive, enjoyable and collaborative. In so doing practitioners are able to co-construct a learning environment which lends positive support to the self-esteem among our young learners in elementary and high schools. This article discusses a remedy to a deepening crisis in our classrooms. That remedy has become known as Assessment for Learning (AfL). AfL is a crucial aspect of classroom practice, the sub-routines of which focus on: the quality …

Channels Of Attention: Modes Of Student Attention That Compete With Classroom Learning, Gerald Grow

Essays in Education

Some students try to convert the classroom into a place where they can employ a kind of attention that enabled them to succeed elsewhere, but this kind of attention often works against learning. This article offers a model for conceptualizing why some students are difficult to teach by describing several “channels of attention” that students may arrive in class “tuned to”--the social, consumer, personality, entertainment, and street channels. This model provides a simpler way of responding to some student differences than those offered in theories on learning styles or cultural styles, and it points to the importance of training students …

Discipline Concerns Among Preservice Teachers, Leslie Irwin, Funmi Amobi

Essays in Education

This paper was prompted by conversations with preservice teachers concerning the concept of discipline. The paper explored some background theory of discipline, leading to maintenance of desired behavior in the classroom. It addressed dimensions of discipline touching on the locus of control of discipline, purposes of discipline, and factors that affect discipline. Finally, the paper dealt with the preventive aspect of discipline. Though instigated by preservice teachers in mind, the issue is of significance to all practitioners. This paper is more informational than prescriptive.

The Use Of Case Studies As An Integrating Approach In Professional Military Education: A Pilot Study, Jack D. Kem

Essays in Education

The use of case studies as an approach to integrate and synthesize learning objectives is a new approach at the United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). The case study methodology is in wide use at various professional schools, particularly at business schools. In an effort to consider different appropriate approaches to professional graduate education at CGSC, a pilot for the case study methodology was initiated during one of the core courses taught by the CGSC faculty. There were four objectives for the pilot study: to reinforce learning objectives for the preceding blocks of instruction; to develop an …

Vision That Needs To Be Technically Managed, Chi Hong Nguyen

Essays in Education

This essay aims to conceptualize the differences and complementariness of leadership and management in the discourses of change management in organizations that can be best applied to educational leadership. The discrepancies and co-existent links between the two are discussed in terms of leaders and managers’ personal traits, their interaction patterns towards power influence, their strategies for dealing with change, the results at workplace, and their followers’ perceptions towards them.

Teachers Job Satisfaction And Motivation For School Effectiveness: An Assessment, Nwachukwu Prince Ololube

Essays in Education

Significantly, job satisfaction and motivation are very essential to the continuing growth of educational systems around the world and they rank alongside professional knowledge and skills, center competencies, educational resources as well as strategies, in genuinely determining educational success and performance. This study assessed the differences and relationship between the level of teachers’ job satisfaction, motivation and their teaching performance in Rivers State of Nigeria. A questionnaire titled ‘TEJOSAMOQ’ was used to collect data for the study. While the data for the study was analyzed using multiple statistical procedures: mean point value, standard deviation, and variance, t-test of significance and …

Education For Fullness: The Role Of Adult Education In Nigeria In The 21st Century, Sydney Nwanakponna Osuji

Essays in Education

Education is very necessary for man in order to articulate himself and achieve fullness. But the formal system, which is elitist, discriminatory and instalmental, cannot alone provide all education one needs for self-fulfillment. The terminologies, such as, continuing education, recurrent education, education permanente and life-long education, have been used by different bodies to stress that education should be co-terminous with life. Adult education in its complementary and supplementary roles in education affords citizens of a country opportunities for attainment of self-fulfillment and fullness. Therefore, it is necessary that Nigeria should heighten efforts towards adult education in order to enable the …

Using Swot Analysis To Understand The Institutional Environments: A Guide For Can Tho University, Luu Nguyen Quoc Hung

Essays in Education

Strategic planning has become the practical approach to organizational management in most of organizations in the new era, when the world has undergone major social, political, economic, technological and demographic changes. Like other organizations, in this hyper-competitive world, universities have to analyze their environments both internally and externally to identify their strengths and weaknesses as well as to optimize their opportunities and reduce the threats to their institutions. The purpose of this article is two fold. Firstly, the concept of SWOT analysis as a strategic tool to help universities to adapt to changes is discussed. Secondly, a SWOT framework to …

An Overview Of Vietnamese Higher Education In The Era Of Globalization: Opportunities And Challenges, Luu Nguyen Quoc Hung

Essays in Education

Globalization is a multifaceted process with economic, social, political and cultural implications for higher education. In Viet Nam, the phenomenon of globalization has both brought out opportunities and posed the country numerous challenges for the past few years. This article reviews major concepts of globalization with the focus on opportunities and challenges posed by this process for the current Vietnamese higher education system.

Value-Based Education For Human Development – Eritrean Perspective, Ravinder Rena

Essays in Education

Education is important in any country since it promotes the knowledge, skills, habits, and values. The learning does not solely come from the teacher. Hence the educator for the child is both the teacher and his peer group. The societal values have been diminishing over the past few decades. Therefore, it is necessary develop the holistic citizenship education. The problem of value education of the young African nation Eritrea is gaining prominence in educational discussions during the recent times. Hence, Eritrea emphasises on values in education and attempted to incorporate its National Curriculum Framework for School Education-2003. An attempt is …

An Uncertain Position: Examining The Status Of Teaching As A Profession, Kevin C. Robb

Essays in Education

The purpose of this paper is to identify the characteristics of a full profession, to review how many and which characteristics cannot be ascribed to teaching, and how this situation has come to be. The affect of gender and social class on the perception of teaching as a profession is discussed. Although, teaching still has an ambiguous status as a profession, discussing it will allow people to continue to talk, think and write about this issue. Teaching will probably never be considered a full profession because it does not involve all the characteristics of a profession.

Community Colleges' Mission Statement Themes, Paula Kenney-Wallace, Judith Cox, Shao-Chieh Lu, John R. Slate

Essays in Education

The mission statements of 105 two year community colleges in Texas and New Mexico were analyzed to determine the presence of themes and the extent to which these themes were similar or dissimilar among urban, suburban, and rural community colleges. A qualitative analysis yielded 10 themes: Comprehensive; Vocational/Technical Need; Life-Long Learning; College Transfer; Fulfills Individual and Community Needs; Enhance Educational, Cultural, Economic Development; Providing Accessible, Affordable, High-Quality Education; Job Entry, Workforce Training, Career Development; Committed to Teaching and Learning; and, General Education or Well-Rounded. Once these themes had been identified, the qualitative data were quantified and coded into a SPSS-PC …

Tension And Conflict In Assessment, Viola Wong Yuk-Yue

Essays in Education

The paper aims at bringing out some of the intricacies and delicate issues related to language assessment in a discussion that places language learning in an educational context. The paper will include a study that has been carried out on the learning of English as a second language and the means of assessing English language proficiency among a group of first-year university Chinese students. Data were collected through interviews. The study highlights relationships among the espoused aims of the institution, the philosophy of the teaching and the aspiration of students as well as the resultant interactive forces that have given …

Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence, Parental Involvement And Academic Achievement Of Secondary School Students In Ibadan, Nigeria, Oyesojl A. Aremu, Adeyinka Tella, Adedeji Tella

Essays in Education

This study investigated the relationship among emotional intelligence, parental involvement and academic achievement of 500 Senior Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Nigeria. The participants ranged in age between 14 and 18 years (M=16.5, SD. = 1.7). Two hypotheses were tested for significance at .05 margin of error, Using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression Statistics. Results showed that both emotional intelligence and parental involvement could predict academic achievement. Similarly, there were significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement; and between parental involvement and academic achievement .The implications of these results for academic are discussed.

Cultivating And Keeping Committed Special Educators: What Principals And District Leaders Can Do, Whitney Moores-Abdool, Jorine Voigt, Lydia Vidal

Essays in Education

For decades, school districts all over the country have struggled with a shortage of special education teachers. Many reasons have been suggested for the problem, but few solutions have been offered. The unique challenges special education teachers confront are frequently minimized by administrators and those in general education. It is thought that because special education teachers have smaller caseloads their work is easier. Contrary to this belief, special education teachers face intense pressure from a variety of sources; which if not adequately addressed leads to burnout. Ultimately, burnout results in special education teacher attrition which is not good for schools …

Putting The Best Behind Every Desk: The Pursuit Of Excellence And Equity Through National Board For Professional Teaching Standards, Richard L. Mehrenberg

Essays in Education

This paper traces the history, mission and potential outcomes of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. It explores the debate associated with the mixed results of research on the effectiveness of National Board Certified teachers in regards to their students’ standardized tests scores and other avenues of scholastic achievement. It also attempts to address the problems of equity and consistency associated with the candidate process. The paper concludes by suggesting possible improvements and an urge for further discussion.

An Examination Of The Financial Aid Appeals Process From The Perspectives Of Quality Management And Financial Aid Issues, Susan M.L. Zee, Lillian Y. Fok, Sandra J. Hartman

Essays in Education

In this study, we report findings from a sample of students at a traditionally African American public institution in the South on a key retention issue – appealing denial of financial aid. We present background which suggests that the financial aid area is in a period of uncertainty where “good” information may be difficult for students to find. Our findings suggest that the students in our sample were relatively successful in their appeals but that they did not appear to fully realize the influence of college services in helping them to attain the results. We discuss implications and suggest future …

Virtual Programs And Assessment In Graduate Teacher Education, Nedra Atwell, Marge Maxwell

Essays in Education

This research goes to the very heart of professional education preparation in higher education today. Colleges and universities face increasing demands and many of the systems and structures currently in place will not meet future needs. This research focuses on enhancing present preparation options, developing additional options, collaborating with multiple partners, and coordinating all these in alignment with state and national standards, while focusing on the student’s ability to affect K-12 learning.

The Power Of Parental Contact: A Strategy For Teaching In High Mobility Classrooms, Donna R. Sanderson

Essays in Education

The United States of America has one of the highest mobility rates of all developed countries. Every school year millions of school-aged children are uprooted and placed in new classrooms in new schools. Research documents that transient students who change schools frequently often have trouble assimilating into their new school environment and can suffer from low student achievement. This article investigates the practices of elementary classroom teachers in a highly transient area outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and documents how they are using the power of parental contact as a strategy to help connect their newcomers to the classroom and promote …

Taking Statistics Doesn’T Have To Be Scary: Keeping The Heartrate Down, Heegyoung Song, John R. Slate

Essays in Education

In this paper, the authors examined how a well-developed graduate-level statistics course that uses online technologies scaffolds students who are in M.A. degree and Ph.D. programs to become less anxious and to become more motivated towards developing statistical and technological skills and knowledge. The significant emphases upon which these authors will focus upon are the following instructor characteristics: 1) Ability to communicate statistics at a level that students can understand; 2) Desire to provide the students with quality online learning materials; 3) Multiple teaching strategies; 4) Interpersonal skills for interaction with students; 5) Ability to use technology; and, 6) Dedication …

Teacher Research Informing Policy: An Analysis Of Research On Highly Qualified Teaching And Nclb, Audrey Amrein-Beardsley

Essays in Education

One stipulation of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act is that every classroom in America will be instructed by a highly qualified teacher. To date, however, no one has satisfactorily captured what it means to be highly qualified. Common sense tells us that America’s best teachers are smart about the content areas they teach and how they teach students, but what other factors have helped to define highly qualified teachers within NCLB? The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate how the definition of a highly qualified teacher written into NCLB captures what researchers know about effective or …

Recognizing Each Others’ Faces In Educational Leadership’S Scholarship And Practice, Thienhuong Hoang

Essays in Education

In an applied field, the persisting tension over the relative importance and influence of theory and practice often creates a crevasse between scholars and practitioners. While conflict can be destructive, this paper explores both the destructive and reconstructive means of bridging the theory-practice divide. The author reflects on her experiences moving back and forth between school leadership practice and academia. The author draws on literature and research expressing the conundrums of educational professional culture and historic caste system among scholars found in the academy. The purpose of this paper is to problematize the divisions between culture norms found among scholars …

Responding To The Needs Of At-Risk Students In Poverty, Sueanne E. Mckinney, Charlene Flenner, Wendy Frazier, Lyndon Abrams

Essays in Education

A major challenge in the educational system today is improving the quality of instruction for urban students. Concentrated poverty, family instability, and early exposure to violence are but a few hardships typical of growing up in an urban environment. From an early age urban children are confronted with a series of obstacles in their attempts to meet academic, personal, and social success. Urban teachers need to be conscious of and understand the ecology of the environment that has a profound influence and impact on the urban child’s success in school. Additionally, urban teachers must respond to the needs of their …

From Zero To Over 2,500 Eportfolios In Six Years: The Eastern Kentucky University Experience, Steve M. Hyndman, Neal D. Gray, Marcia Pierce, June Hyndman, Paul Wirtz

Essays in Education

In 2000, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) was awarded a Preparing Tomorrows Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) Implementation grant. One of the major goals of the grant was to create an electronic/multimedia portfolio (eportfolio) assessment system through which future teachers would document their proficiencies and amass strategies to enhance their future teaching. Between the fall of 2000 and the summer of 2003 an eportfolio development team, consisting of faculty from the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences, a college student, a public school teacher, and a technology expert, developed and implemented an eportfolio to be used by …

Benefits Of Mentoring: Head Start Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of A Local Implementation Of A Teacher Professional Development Initiative, Grace Onchwari

Essays in Education

The study examined the extent to which a national Head Start early literacy staff development mentor-coach initiative model was effective in local Head Start Programs. The assessment of the initiative was based on analysis of 44 teacher interviews across two mid-western states. The analysis of the outcomes identifies teachers as being positive about the initiative and implementing literacy practices presented in the initiative in their classrooms. The research results point to the positive effectiveness of the mentor-coach model and support similar initiatives in the future for enhancing teacher instructional practices.

Higher Power In Higher Education: How A South Carolina Technical College Compares Spiritually With Liberal Arts Learners, George Stanley Reeley

Essays in Education

While increasing numbers of college students nationwide share tenets that embody spirituality, the problem is that not all types of institutions of higher learning recognize such tenets as integral to their mission or curricula. Two-year technical college graduates tend to enter (and often reenter) into socio-economic mainstream ahead of fouryear liberal arts graduates; however, researchers agree institutions that foster both cognitive and affective learning environments will prepare graduates better for diversity and rapid change the future holds. This study compared spiritual beliefs of students at one technical college with students attending two liberal arts universities in South Carolina. The premise …

Historical Observation Of Contradiction As Constitutional Law: Wisconsin’S First School Finance Equity Case And Reform Efforts To 1975, Michael W. Simpson

Essays in Education

This paper examines school finance in Wisconsin. The focus is on school finance efforts following World War II with particular emphasis on the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Several themes run throughout: activist lawyers and judges may be conservative or liberal, efforts at financial equalization are often joined by accountability and standards or possibly can be seen as part of the same forces, that tinkering reforms which are often advanced by education insiders are more likely to be implemented than drastic changes often advanced by education outsiders, and that even tinkering must preserve the relative advantage of the wealthy.