Education Commons^™

Analysis Of Skills Sought By Employers Of Bachelors-Level Geoscientists, Gregory Shafer, Karen Viskuptic, Anne E. Egger

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Bachelors-level geoscientists make up the majority of the geoscience workforce, and positions for entry-level geoscientists are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, with some jobs anticipating upward of 10% growth (National Center for O*NET Development, 2021). Are geoscience departments adequately preparing undergraduate students to succeed in these positions?

Learning From The Covid-19 Pandemic: How Faculty Experiences Can Prepare Us For Future System-Wide Disruption, Kathryn M. Bateman, Ellen Altermatt, Anne E. Egger, Ellen Iverson, Cathryn Manduca, Eric M. Riggs, Kristen St. John, Thomas F. Shipley

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

The COVID-19 pandemic provided education researchers with a natural experiment: an opportunity to investigate the impacts of a system-wide, involuntary move to online teaching and to assess the characteristics of individuals who adapted more readily. To capture the impacts in real time, our team recruited college-level geoscience instructors through the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and American Geophysical Union (AGU) communities to participate in our study in the spring of 2020. Each weekday for three successive weeks, participants (n = 262) were asked to rate their experienced disruption in four domains: teaching, research, ability to communicate with their …

Community Roles For Supporting Emerging Education Researchers, Christopher A. F. Hass, Emilie Hancock, Samantha Wilson, Shams El-Adawy, Eleanor C. Sayre

Mathematics Faculty Scholarship

DBER attracts many faculty from other STEM disciplines, and these faculty have little or no specific training in DBER. DBER requires a mastery of quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed methodologies, and also a nuanced understanding of breadth of topic, research questions, and theoretical frameworks. This interdisciplinarity is particularly challenging for emerging DBER researchers who often switch into DBER with only discipline specific content and research training. As part of a large study about how STEM faculty become involved with DBER, we interviewed a number of emerging DBER faculty about their pathways into DBER. We conducted a thematic analysis of these interviews …

Media Exposure On Student Work: Spotlight On Undergraduate Research, Dominic Klyve

Mathematics Faculty Scholarship

This paper describes efforts by the author to engage and motivate students in undergraduate research by giving them a large audience and engaging the media in disseminating their work. I provide an introduction to public relations from the point of view of a mathematics professor, and describe some lessons I’ve learned in my own attempts to engage newsprint, radio, and television sources in stories about undergraduate research in mathematics. After describing some partially successful early attempts, the paper discusses a recent event in which undergraduate research in mathematics became, briefly, a “hot news item” in Central Washington. The paper concludes …

Student Perceptions Of The Use Of Multimedia For Online Course Communication, Jaclyn Krause, Laura Portolese, Julie Bonner

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

A great deal of research exists in the use of multimedia communications in online classrooms as a means of furthering student engagement. However, little research exists that examines the perceptions of students when such technologies are used. Additionally, it is unclear that students are likely to engage in the use of such technologies when available. This research explores the perceptions of 69 students taking both online and hybrid undergraduate project management courses. Specifically, the study seeks to explore how students experienced the use of multimedia by their instructor and classmates in both online announcements and discussions, as well as whether …

How Much Is Enough? Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction And Common Core State Standards, Carol L. Butterfield, Sulee P. Kindle

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

As public school districts and teachers seek to understand the Common Core State Standards and what it means for literacy instruction, preservice teachers in universities are also learning about literacy and standards. The International Literacy Association (2016) defines literacy as "Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, compute, and communicate using visual, audible, and digital materials across disciplines and in any context." How is this definition applied to real-life teaching in the classroom? In this study preservice teachers are involved in analyzing interview data in regards to practicing teacher perceptions and attitudes about literacy instruction and the CCSS.

Pedagogical Considerations For Effectively Teaching Qualitative Research To Students In An Online Environment, Sara Bender, Karlie Hill

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Qualitative research aims to understand both individual meaning as well as complex systemic interactions as they apply to social problems or individual experiences. This method of research is both inductive and flexible, allowing for a holistic approach that facilitates a rich understanding of the content examined. Past research identifies a number of challenges associated with teaching qualitative methodology to undergraduate students, including: the research skills and values maintained by the instructor, the prestige associated with qualitative research in particular, as well as a number of other interpersonal and environmental factors. These challenges are further complicated, it seems, when extended into …

A Comparative Study Of Competency-Based Courses Demonstrating A Potential Measure Of Course Quality And Student Success, Jackie Krause, Laura Portolese, Christopher Schedler

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

While competency-based education is growing, standardized tools for evaluating the unique characteristics of course design in this domain are still under development. This preliminary research study evaluated the effectiveness of a rubric developed for assessing course design of competency-based courses in an undergraduate Information Technology and Administrative Management program. The rubric, which consisted of twenty-six individual measures, was used to evaluate twelve new courses. Additionally, the final assessment scores of nine students who completed nine courses in the program were evaluated to determine if a correlation exists between student success and specific indicators of quality in the course design. The …

The Sciences Of Learning, Instruction, And Assessment As Underpinnings Of The Morningside Model Of Generative Instruction, Elizabeth M. Street, Kent Johnson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

This paper focuses on a subset of the practices that have created the powerful learning technology developed and disseminated by Morningside Academy in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. We briefly describe this technology, known as the Morningside Model of Generative Instruction, and tell how it builds on the selectionist approach of B. F. Skinner and the pragmatic approach of John Dewey. We also describe the critical role Precision Teaching plays at Morningside Academy and its dependence on findings from the science of learning and the science of instruction, including placement of learners, task analysis, content analysis, instructional protocols, and principles of instructional …

Online Instructor's Use Of Audio Feedback To Increase Social Presence And Student Satisfaction, Laura Portolese, Robert Trumpy

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

This study investigates the impact of written group feedback, versus audio feedback, based upon four student satisfaction measures in the online classroom environment. Undergraduate students in the control group were provided both individual written feedback and group written feedback, while undergraduate students in the experimental treatment group were provided both individual written feedback and audio group feedback. Using a one-tailed t-test, the four student satisfaction measures were analyzed and one was found to be significant for students’ perception that the instructor seemed genuinely concerned with whether students learned. The authors believe the study, when combined with their previous research, has …

Forecasting The Storm: Student Perspectives Throughout A Teaching Personal And Social Responsibility (Tpsr)-Based Positive Youth Development Program, P. Stefan Ward, Melissa Parker, Heidi Henschel Pellett, Mark Perez

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Despite increased support for youth development, youth have few opportunities to voice the aspects of these programs that hold meaning for them. This study explored youth perceptions throughout a youth development physical activity program based on an adapted model of Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) designed to enhance Self-Determination Theory (SDT) tenets of: autonomy, relatedness, and competency (Deci & Ryan, 2008). An ethnographic case study, drawing on multiple data sources, was used to study student perceptions over a nine month program. Participants included 19 students (10 boys; 9 girls) attending an alternative middle-school. Data analysis utilized open and axial …

A Discussion Of The Mental Health Of Public School Teachers, Gary W. Ballou

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

It has been suggested that public school teachers are exposed to highly stressful situations which are related to psychological and psychiatric problems. Unfortunately, there is no quantitative data suggesting which factors contribute to improving the mental health of American teachers, nor have there been any prior studies that have directly compared the factors associated with mental health disturbances between teachers and workers in other occupations in the United States. In light of this, I felt it crucial to find the factors associated with psychological/psychiatric problems in public school teachers in the United States using an appropriate reference professional group.

Media And Teaching About The Middle East, Khodi Kaviani

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

This qualitative study was conducted in 2006-2007 and found that teachers relied on a variety of readily available media to stay informed about the Middle East and used some of them in their teaching. Teachers tried to explain to their students that every Middle Eastern Muslim is not a terrorist and Iraq was not behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The guiding questions were: (1) What are the sources of news that teachers use to teach about the Middle East? (2) How do teachers use the media to teach about the Middle East in the post 9/11 schools? Semi-structured interviews were …

Is Identical Really Identical? An Investigation Of Equivalency Theory And Online Learning, Ruth Lapsley, Brian Kulik, Rex Moody, J. B. (Ben) Arbaugh

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Business

This study investigates the validity of equivalency theory among 63 students by comparing two introductory upper-division human resource management courses: one taught online, the other in a traditional classroom. Commonalities included same term, same professor, and identical assignments/tests in the same order, thus allowing a direct comparison of course outcomes. MANCOVA results supported equivalency theory, and further suggest that the online learning pedagogy may be superior in its overall effect on student performance.

Educational Research In Washington, Emil E. Samuelson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

With this Journal issue a new feature is being presented - a section devoted to interpretations and evaluations of research studies in education which have been recently completed. The plan at present is to utilize space for these reviews in four issues-December, February, March and May. This introductory article, besides announcing the new section, will be devoted to answering the questions of "Why?" and "How?"

Classroom Sketches, Pearl Jones Spencer, Amanda Katherine Hebeler

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

We are now in the second year of the Washington State program of "in-service" training of teachers. It is not the purpose of this article to present a summary or evaluation of "in-service" work but to indicate how actual procedures reveal the philosophy of a school, its educational thinking and planning. The notes offered have been gleaned from observations made by some of those who have participated in the program.

Needs Of The In-Service Training Program, Robert E. Mcconnell

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

The Central Washington College of Education has had over a year of experience in serving public schools in the Washington state system of in-service training. This system was established by the State Board of Education in cooperation with the public higher institutions of learning in the spring of 1943. The principal function of the program is to provide a service to the schools for the refresher training of teachers returning to the profession during the war period. As a matter of fact, the service has been used not only by returning teachers, but also by present teachers who have been …

Intelligence And Achievement Testing Of Convalescent Crippled Children, Loretta M. Miller

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Psychological studies of crippled children have been few, but among published studies opinion is unanimous that crippled children test lower in intelligence than normal children. The study reported here arrives at the same conclusion. In that respect, it adds nothing new to the picture, but in an area in which findings are not entirely definitive, a study of convalescent crippled children may add confirmation to the general body of knowledge.

The War And The Public Schools, Emil E. Samuelson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Now that the war is here, teachers and school administrators are being assailed by doubts and misgivings as to the importance of their day-by-day tasks. When a nation engages in war, it temporarily sets aside the more thoughtful and humane methods of improving human relationships and becomes absorbed in projecting a more immediate program for achieving an important national objective. Almost inevitably, public education in this country now faces stiff competition and struggle.

Rating Teachers To Help Them Grow, Emil E. Samuelson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

In 1936 there was considerable dissatisfaction with the rating scale being used in the supervision of student teaching at the Central Washington College of Education, and it was felt that a new scale was needed. Consequently, three faculty members, the primary supervisor, the supervisor of rural teaching, and the director of personnel and placement decided to make a detailed study and to construct a new rating scale. The Ellensburg scale, originally evolved for the rating of student teachers with emphasis on guiding their growth, should be equally helpful in the rating and guidance of teachers in service.

The Evaluation Of Teachers And Teaching, Emil E. Samuelson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

The need for accurate evaluation of teachers and teaching is strongly indicated by various current situations. Among these is the oversupply of trained teachers and of candidates for admittance to teacher-training institutions. What candidates shall be selected for training? What teachers already trained shall be given preference in placement? And, finally, what criteria may be applied to determine professional advancement, Adequate evaluation of the type mentioned would help us to the answers of these questions.

Institutional Teacher Placement, Emil E. Samuelson

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

In the spring of 1938 the placement office of the Central Washington College of Education submitted a questionnaire to school superintendents in ninety communities in the state of Washington and asked their cooperation in filling it out. The purposes of the questionnaire were three : ( 1) to secure the reactions of school superintendents to placement practices and procedures now in vogue ; ( 2) to discover local conditions, individual preferences, community prejudices etc. which have a direct bearing on teacher placement; ( 3) to secure frank criticisms of placement service rendered and suggestions on the improvement of training-institution functions.

Pupil Interest In The Core Curriculum, Robert E. Mcconnell

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

What does a young American do? How does he spend his time? What is he compelled to do as a young citizen? How should he spend his time? How do his parents spend their time? The proper answering of these questions on the part of the school forms the core curriculum. Time was (and is yet, for that matter) when adult teachers decided what the child should learn and then attempted to force him into learning it. They paid little attention to the circumstances of the moment and oftentimes little attention to reality. Too little attention was given to the …

Social Studies In State Courses, Harold E. Barto

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

A survey of social studies in the state courses of study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the comparative emphasis given to certain subject-matter areas within the scope of the social studies. Findings of the survey in the elementary field were reported in the February, 1939, issue of this magazine (page 124). Findings in the secondary-schools division are here presented.

Social Study Survey Of State Courses Of Study, Harold E. Barto

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the comparative emphasis given to certain subject matter areas within the scope of the social studies. In order to obtain the information necessary for a working basis, the state courses of study were surveyed by means of a questionnaire. One of the most recent trends in the field of curriculum development, is definitely towards integration in the social studies. No doubt there are many who are confronted with the problem of comparative emphasis. With this in mind. a summary of the findings is hereby submitted for the benefit of the readers …

Experimental Results Of Training In General Semantics Upon Intellingence-Test Scores, Joseph C. Trainor

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

The theory of General Semantics in its present (1935) form is essentially that there exists in the human nervous system a general mechanism, somewhat similar in nature of concept to that type of functioning which we have been calling vaguely, intelligence. In distinction, however, to the commonly held views on intelligence, General Semantics implies that this mechanism is exceedingly amenable to environmental influences; that it may, in other words, show marked effects of training in Semantic methods.

To this end a group of thirty sophomores in the Washington State Normal School at Ellensburg, Washington, were given the Detroit Intelligence Test, …

The Need For Conservatism In Educational Theory, Joseph C. Trainor

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

THE so-called "progressive" movement in education has in recent years given rise to the theory that the educator's primary function is to improve society. By assuming leadership education will force such improvements in the social order in directions such that the children of the next generation will develop more naturally. A two-fold attack is presented by those who hold this viewpoint. A concerted campaign of propaganda is carried on to bring about as rapidly as possible the assumed trends toward collectivism of one kind or another, while at the same time the internal environment of the school is transformed into …

World History, "What's It All About.", Harold E. Barto

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

Opinion seems to be well divided as to the shortcomings of World History. Some believe that it is a mistake to attempt to cover so much history in the time allotted. Others contend that poor teaching is the greatest obstacle. Obviously, both views have some merit. However, there is another reason that is not generally given that may come nearer reaching the source of the trouble. It may be that the starting point in World History is too far removed from the student's interest.

New Forms Of Report Cards, Amanda Katherine Hebeler

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

A report card form which is in harmony with our theories of what is good in present-day school procedure is greatly needed. The traditional pupil-parent report has had its shorcomings freely discussed. Some attempts have been made to devise new forms which might be substituted. We have found it easier, however, to condemn the old than to create the new.

Institutional Management And Home Economist, George H. Black

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

We are on the threshold of a new technique in education for adults as well as for little children. The chief feature of the new technique, as opposed to the old and now conventional type, is that it is based upon participation while the old depends chiefly upon rationalization.