Education Commons^™

Blended Genres: Pairing Picturebooks And Poems Across The Curriculum, William P. Bintz

Michigan Reading Journal

Abstract

This article reports on an action research project conducted by a teacher educator in literacy education as part of a graduate course entitled Reading and Writing across the Content Areas. The purpose of the project was to actively engage graduate students, all of whom were pre-service and in-service teachers, in a course-related project in which students developed and implemented blended genres across the curriculum. It begins by situating blended genres within the traditional notion of paired text as a curricular resource and instructional strategy to support the process of intertextuality. It provides a brief overview of the course-related …

Exploring Science And Engineering Practices In Children’S Picture Books, Derrick A. Nero, Kathleen Everts Danielson

Michigan Reading Journal

This article features an annotated bibliography of children’s books that illustrate engineering concepts tied to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Science and Engineering Practices for K-2 students (National Science Teaching Association -NSTA, n.d., see Appendix A) and NGSS K-2 Engineering Design performance expectations (NSTA, n.d., see Appendix B). The selected children’s books encourage discussion and model the process of inquiry and problem solving that may inspire young children to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) questions of their own.

Math Proficiency And The Achievement Gap, Jamila A. Peterson

Culminating Experience Projects

Mathematical proficiency and the achievement gap have been central topics in educational research for decades. Academic experts from all areas have sought resolutions, especially in Michigan, which ranks relatively low in mathematical achievement; however, the problem persists. This project will investigate the history of the achievement gap, specifically in mathematics proficiency, and explore contributing factors and potential research resolutions. Mathematical proficiency is crucial in closing the achievement gap, as it has been a proven indicator of upward mobility. Proficiency not only negatively impacts the non-proficient student, but it also projects the country's economic future.

Centering Community In Disciplinary Literacy Implementation: One District’S Story, Jenelle Williams, Stacie Angel, Jennifer Wilcox, Angela Church

Michigan Reading Journal

In this article, the authors describe the various ways they have centered community while implementing disciplinary literacy in their district. They outline how the work began, the role of professional learning, and the systemic approaches that are effectively moving the work forward. This story offers an alternate approach to implementation--one that honors educators' expertise, differentiates approaches, and develops collective efficacy.

Power Of Yet: The Integration Of The Culturally Responsive Literature With The Productive Struggle In Mathematics, Kathleen Crawford-Mckinney, Asli Ozgun-Koca, Kristy Rebar

Michigan Reading Journal

We used a children's book with three groups of students (ages 6-9) to foster mathematical engagement through read alouds. We will share lessons learned from this experience as we integrate children’s literature with mathematics through the lens of Power of Yet.

Use Of Peer Instruction And Tophat In A Pharmacology Lecture: Observation Of Students' Engagment And Perception, Hannah Espinosa

Student Scholars Day Posters

Different instructional practices can have different effects on student engagement and learning outcomes in a STEM course. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in teaching practices and the engagement of students in two different sections of the same BMS course, one section with a traditional lecture style class while the other utilized an interactive online platform, TopHat, in tandem with lecture. This study also investigates the students’ perception of the usage of TopHat and whether peer discussions in the TopHat session will lead to better learning results. Data are currently being collected by observing five classes …

Protein Structure Analysis, Agnieszka Szarecka, Chris Dobson

Peer Reviewed Articles

We describe a series of engaging exercises in which students emulate the process that researchers use to efficiently develop new pharmaceutical drugs, that of rational drug design. The activities are taken from a three- to four-hour workshop regularly conducted with first-year college students and presented here to take place over three to four class periods. Although targeted at college students, these activities may be appropriate at the high school level as well, particularly in an AP Biology course. The exercises introduce students to the topics of bioinformatics and computer modeling, in the context of rational drug design, using free online …

Teachers’ Perception Of Stem Integration And Education: A Systematic Literature Review, Kelly C. Margot, Todd Kettler

Funded Articles

Background: For schools to include quality STEM education, it is important to understand teachers’ beliefs and perceptions related to STEM talent development. Teachers, as important persons within a student’s talent development, hold prior views and experiences that will influence their STEM instruction. This study attempts to understand what is known about teachers’ perceptions of STEM education by examining existing literature.

Results: Study inclusion criteria consisted of empirical articles, which aligned with research questions, published in a scholarly journal between 2000 and 2016 in English. Participants included in primary studies were preK-12 teachers. After quality assessment, 25 articles were included in …

Food And Energy For All, Bradley Stevens, Stephen Rybczynski, Deborah Herrington

Peer Reviewed Articles

When asked what plants need for photosynthesis, many students can correctly recall the reaction equation and state that plants require CO2, H2O, and light. Many students, however, do not understand that these reactants are the raw materials plants use to make sugars and instead believe that they are food for plants. Moreover, when questioned further, students often voice the idea that plants get their food from the soil (Kestler 2014). This is consistent with findings that fewer than half of current middle and high school students have a correct understanding of the process of photosynthesis (AAAS 2015). We developed this …

I Want To Be The Inquiry Guy! How Research Experiences For Teachers Change Beliefs, Attitudes, And Values About Teaching Science As Inquiry, Deborah Herrington, Senetta F. Bancroft, Molly M. Edwards, Caroline J. Schairer

Peer Reviewed Articles

This qualitative study examined how and why a research experiences for teachers (RET) influenced middle and high school science teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, and values about teaching science as inquiry. Changes teachers reported after participating in the RET ranged from modifying a few lessons (belief change) to a comprehensive revision of what and how they taught to better reflect inquiry (attitude change). Some teachers who described comprehensively changing their instruction also described implementing actions meant to change science education within their respective schools, not just their own classrooms (value change). We present how and why teachers went about changes in their …

Using Interviews In Cer Projects: Options, Considerations, And Limitations, Deboarh G. Herrington, Patrick L. Daubenmire

Peer Reviewed Articles

Interviews can be a powerful chemistry education research tool. Different from an assessment score or Likert-scale survey number, interviews can provide the researcher with a way to examine and describe what we cannot see, aspects such as feelings, thoughts, or explanations of thinking or behavior. Most people have no doubt seen countless interviews on TV news and talk shows. These sessions might convey interviewing as a spontaneous, easy, and straightforward process. However, using interviews as a meaningful research tool requires considerable thought, preparation, and practice. This chapter provides a general introduction to the use of interviews as a tool within …

Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Freshman Chemistry Laboratories, Elizabeth Ann Maschewske

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to facilitate the implementation of inquiry-based chemistry curriculum devised by the College University Resource Institute (CURI) into the freshman chemistry labs at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) with the aim of retaining and enthusing chemistry students in general and women and minorities in particular. Pertinent educational research is reviewed and practical strategies are recommended for the process of curriculum implementation. A pilot laboratory section is taught incorporating as many of the recommendations as possible. Pilot labs study the process of implementation and look at student perceptions and academic achievement. An action plan is developed …

A Comparison Of Kentwood Public Schools' Algebra Standards And The Ucsmp Algebra Objectives, Carol A. Farrer

Masters Theses

This paper compares the Standards written by Kentwood Public Schools in Kentwood, Michigan for its algebra course and the objectives of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project Algebra textbook. The paper includes an examination of national recommendations and publications which influenced the authors of the UCSMP text and the national and state publications which influenced Kentwood's Mathematics Curriculum Committee. Lessons are provided for Kentwood's algebra teachers for the few instances where the objectives of the textbook do not meet the district's standards.

Mathematics Placement At A Community College, Bonnie E. Morris

Masters Theses

There are few recently documented effectiveness studies of locally designed math placement tests, while there are many that utilize a professionally designed test. All tests that are used in placement whether professionally designed or created by faculty need to conform to the same standards.; This research assimilates the current best knowledge of the qualities required of a math placement test. It delineates the procedures required in the creation and evaluation of a valid and reliable mathematics placement test by addressing a variety of issues. These include calculating difficulty and discrimination indexes, validating and setting cut scores, and evaluating test validity …