Education Commons^™

Predicting And Explaining Pre-Service Teachers’ Social Networking Technology Adoption, Nandita Gurjar, Stephen Sivo

Faculty Publications

This research study examined pre-service teachers’ (N=250) intentions to adopt Twitter for professional development. The study used the Technology Acceptance Model to test research hypotheses grounded in the literature. The data were collected with a survey questionnaire and analyzed with Structural Equation Modelling. Findings indicated that ease of use, subjective norms, and perceived connectedness explained the variability in intentions to use Twitter. Perceived mobility, mediated through perceived behavioral control, explained participant differences in the perceived ease of use. Implications for stakeholders include highlighting the role subjective norms and mobile applications play in facilitating the ease of use and connectedness because …

Bridging The Informal And Formal Learning Spaces With Whatsapp, Tutaleni I. Asino, Nandita Gurjar, Perien Boer

Faculty Publications

When it comes to digital-based learning, the question of engagement and presence is often focused on online learning involving traditional computing devices such as desktop computers or laptops. However, in areas where mobile devices are the most widely used computing technology, engagement and interaction between teachers and students looks different. In many parts of the world, interactions between individuals takes place through mobile texting applications to bridge formal and informal learning spaces.

One of the most popular mobile tools is WhatsApp, a free cross-platform mobile application that allows users to make calls (voice) and send messages (text). The app averages …

Geographic Alliance Of Iowa. Lesson Plans, Kay E. Weller, Nancy Howe-Ford

Faculty Publications

This collection of five lesson plans in geography can be adapted for use with K-12 students. Each lesson plan explains the lesson and provides basic instructions. The lesson plans are titled: "Teaching Geography Using Literature in K-University Classrooms" (Kay Weller); "Geography and a Mystery Novel" (Kay Weller); "Understanding Latitude and Longitude" (Kay Weller); "Mississippi River Cruise" (Kay Weller); and "Create a Magazine Project" (Nancy Howe-Ford). (BT)

An Investigation Of The Amount Of Emphasis Placed On Content And Delivery By Instructors Of Public Speaking, Paul J. Siddens Iii

Faculty Publications

A study examined how much emphasis instructors of public speaking place on content and delivery when teaching and delivering oral and written critiques. The study sought to determine whether when teaching a hybrid introduction to communication course; or public speaking course; instructors are challenged with teaching their students about issues related to the content of the speech; such as the introduction and conclusion; organization; supporting evidence; and issues related to physical and vocal delivery such as appearance; gestures; eye contact; volume; rate; and vocal variety. This was a pilot study to test the research questions; survey instrument; and methodology used …

What Educators Want In A Master's Program: A Practitioner's Perspective, Mary J. Selke

Faculty Publications

A constructivist practitioner's masters program in professional development (PDMA) was designed and piloted at the University of Northern Iowa. The program provides an option for pursuing a master's in education structured upon the following constructivism-focused framework of components: (1) the program is designed for experienced educators; and all coursework is applicable to the classroom; (2) classrooms serve as field-based learning laboratories; (3) students progress through the program in cohort groups; (4) professors collaborate in teaching teams to deliver an articulated curriculum; (5) electives; seminars; and practice foster individualization within a community of learners; (6) exit outcomes reflect the linkage of …

Human Relations Training For Student Teachers, Richard Stahlhut, Richard Hawkes

Faculty Publications

Human relations training is a requirement for all teacher education majors graduating from Iowa colleges and universities. At the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) this course is delivered to preservice teacher education students in conjunction with their full semester student teaching experience. Major goals of the training program are: (1) to confront individuals with experiences designed to create an awareness of biases; attitudes; and beliefs and to create awareness of the degree of congruency between stated beliefs and actual behavior; and (2) to internalize and translate such awareness into actions which result in more positive relationships within the teaching/learning environment. …

The Maturation Of Public Relations Degree Programs--Ten Years In Retrospect: Struggles; Experiences And Analyses Of A Communication-Based Pr Program., Jon Hall, Pamela Edwards

Faculty Publications

This paper reviews the historical experience of a new public relations program housed in a speech communication department (rather than in a journalism department; which is traditional); discusses some of the internal and external struggles experienced in the implementation and administration of the program; and reports on the placement of its graduates. The program; at the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) department of Communication and Theatre Arts; was implemented in 1978 after five years of planning. The program received support from the administration but faced problems because of its phenomenal growth. The paper describes this support and a number of …

Mentoring Relationships During Student Teaching, Richard G. Stahlhut

Faculty Publications

This study sought to find out if mentoring styles were used by cooperating teachers as perceived by student teachers during their clinical field experience. After a specific mentoring model was constructed; the objectives of the study were to identify leadership behaviors cooperating teachers used; to determine if any of the inferred mentoring styles that incorporated the leadership behaviors tested were dominant; and to determine if any of these leadership behaviors or mentoring styles influenced a student teacher's success as measured by a final evaluation checklist. The Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire Form XII was administered to 212 University of Northern Iowa …

Law-Focused Education: Iowa, University Of Northern Iowa

Faculty Publications

This law-focused resource booklet is intended to help secondary level students learn about the civil law portion of Iowa's judicial system. The materials are designed to help students understand how to deal with conflict in a peaceful and orderly manner and how to cope with decision making in personal law situations as related to the family; the market place; the court of law; and the world of work. Section one; comprising about one half of the guide; contains objectives; case studies for student use; and questions for discussion on the following topics: civil law; court procedures; injury and property damage; …

There's Nothing New Under The Sun, Geraldine E. Larocque

Faculty Publications

The attempt to unite theory and practice in the education of English teachers has taken many forms: courses in which theoreticians attempt to illuminate the practice of professional teachers or student teachers; situations in which teacher-education faculty cooperate with teachers; student teachers; and the community; in order to make programs more responsive to community needs; and instruction in which school-based apprenticeship is stressed. Until research can provide a firm base for the structure and content of methods courses; professionals must rely on their own judgment as to the placement of emphasis. An adaptation of Lee J. Cronbach's research paradigm; used …

Innovations In Industrial Arts Teacher: Education--Curriculum--Facilities--Methodology, Alvin E. Rudisill

Faculty Publications

The University of Northern Iowa Department of Industrial Technology is involved in a three-phase curriculum development project along with new facility design and construction and implementation of instructional innovations. The report reflects decisions made to date in the process; including the completed phase of developing concept-based cluster courses to serve all majors in the department; including education majors. Second and third phases will focus on advanced technical courses; the professional sequence; and the graduate program. Considered in the report are factors influencing industrial arts teacher education at all levels; such as components of the industrial arts education program; State certification …

Professional Courses For Teacher Certification, Clifford Bishop, George W. Denemark, Henry J. Hermanowicz, William E. Drake

Faculty Publications

The three lectures comprising this document are introduced with a foreword by Clifford L. Bishop and an introduction by William H. Dreier; both of the Department of Education and Psychology which sponsored the Central State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) seminar on the professional program for undergraduates leading to teacher certification and the B.A. or B.S. degree. The lecture by George W. Denemark presents "A Proposed Common Professional Core for the Preparation of Teachers." He includes discussion of the context for curriculum planning and of the broad range of objectives for teacher education. In his discussion of "Ideal Experiences Needed in …