Education Commons^™

A Guide For Educators To Move Beyond Conventional School Playgrounds: The Re-Aim Evaluation Of The Lunchtime Enjoyment Activity And Play (Leap) Intervention, Brendon P. Hyndman, Amanda C. Benson, Amanda Telford

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Despite an increase in the provision of effective school-based interventions in recent times, there is an absence of literature for teachers focusing on the translation of promising interventions into real-world practice. The aim of this research was to provide a social-ecological guide for teachers of the external validity of implementing the Lunchtime Enjoyment Activity and Play (LEAP) school playground intervention. This research presents the process evaluation of a school playground intervention using RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) as the theoretical evaluation framework. Data collection consisted of a mixed methods approach for two and a half years including a teacher …

Session B-7: 3d Printing For The Next Generation Learners, Britta Mckenna, Lawrence Bergie

Britta McKenna

Are you thinking about creating a Maker Space or purchasing a 3D printer for your school or classroom? Or are you just interested in seeing new technology up close and personal with the ability to ask questions to a maker space rookie and her sidekick the techno geek? Check out this lively session where we'll 3D scan something (or somebody) and print it out on our 3D printer, doodle with our 3D pens and ask all the practical questions (like how much does all this cost?) We'll share examples of how we are introducing new technology to our students, faculty …

Session B-3: So What More Is There For My Talented Stem Students?, Britta Mckenna

Britta McKenna

Take a tour through IMSA STEM offerings for your talented students. Learn about the IMSA Kids Institute school year FunShops and summer camps, IMSA FUSION after-school program (grades 4-8), IMSA online offerings and new RISE course, Mentor Matching Engine, CoolHub STEM collaboration platform, and IMSA TALENT STEM entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students.

Why Did They Come Here? - The Influences And Expectations Of First-Year Students’ College Experience, Louis S. Nadelson, Carrie Semmelroth, Gregory Martinez, Matthew Featherstone, Casey Alexander Fuhriman, Andrew Sell

Carrie Semmelroth

Students’ expectations and experiences with university life are influenced by a number of variables. Many universities develop programs or promote aspects of existing programs to market the university’s image. This research was motivated by our desire to determine the relationships between first-year students’ college expectations and experiences, their awareness of the university’s programming and projected image, the influence of the programming and image on their decision to attend the institution, and the students’ personal characteristics. Our survey of 351 first-year students revealed positive perceptions of their university expectations and experiences, a mixture of influences on their decision to attend the …

Class 6 Proficiency In Afghanistan 2013: Outcomes Of A Learning Assessment Of Mathematical, Reading And Writing Literacy, Tom Lumley, Juliette Mendelovits, Rachel Stanyon, Ross Turner, Maurice Walker

Maurice Walker

In 2012, the Ministry of Education, Afghanistan, engaged the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) as a partner to support the development of a national learning assessment program in Afghanistan. To achieve this goal, the Learning Assessment unit of the Ministry of Education and ACER have collaborated to design and implement the Monitoring Trends in Educational Growth (MTEG) program in Afghanistan. MTEG is designed as a long-term monitoring program with one focus on trends in achievement outcomes in single class levels over time, and another focus on the growth of achievement in cohorts throughout the school cycle, from Class 3 …

Service-Learning: A Valuable Means Of Preparing Pre-Service Teachers For A Teaching Practicum., Anne Coffey, Shane Lavery

Shane D Lavery

Abstract The use of service-learning as a teaching methodology is in its infancy within Australian tertiary institutions. Parker et. al., (2009) noted that, until recently, community service-learning has been under-utilised within the Australian higher education system. Within teacher education programs, service-learning has been used primarily as a means of providing real-life experiences for pre-service teachers as well as developing their personal and professional skills. The research conducted in this study focused on ways involvement in a service-learning experience could contribute to the preparation of pre-service secondary teachers for their first teaching practicum. The participants included Bachelor of Education, Master of …

Time For Teaching To Establish Its Own Professional Certification Authority, Lawrence C. Ingvarson

Dr Lawrence Ingvarson (Consultant)

The British Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that his government would be supporting a proposal from the teaching profession to establish its own, teacher-led College of Teaching, fully independent of government. The announcement followed the release of a ‘Blueprint’ for an independent professional body developed by a broad cross-section of the education community, with professional certification as its core, unique function. The Blueprint provided the government with clear evidence of leadership at the level of the profession. This article argues that the teaching profession in Australia should work toward establishing its own blueprint for an Australian College of Teaching …

Using Inquiry-Based Teaching And Kids Inquiry Conferences To Strengthen Elementary Science Instruction And To Encourage More Students To Pursue Science Careers, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

For the past 20 years, there has been a push to improve the teaching and learning of science in elementary schools. One strong reason for this was the release of the National Science Education Standards (NRC 1996). The Standards articulated not only what K-12 students should know (science content standards), but also how science teachers needed to teach (teaching standards) and be continuously supported (professional development standards). The Standards also considered ways to support inquiry-based and meaningful science learning for K-12 students (program and system standards). According to the NRC, one ot:·the four reasons underpinning all of this is because …

Quality Teaching & Professional Learning : Uncritical Reflections Of A Critical Friend, Tony Yeigh

Dr Tony Yeigh

This paper discusses how the acquisition, development and exercise of knowledge and skills in relation to quality teaching (QT) practices have impacted upon professional learning within a number of QT inquiry projects. The emphasis is upon how the major challenges and limitations of professional learning have occurred within the social context of collaborative inquiry, and how these challenges and limitations helped shape the professional learning. The paper offers an interpretation of the methodologies and evaluative aspects of teacher professional learning as these have interacted with QT. From this perspective a metacognitive model of professional learning is proposed, aimed at linking …

Knowledgeable Learning And Conceptual Change: Value Adding To Teacher Training, Tony Yeigh

Dr Tony Yeigh

This report concerns the use of pre and post responses to an online questionnaire as evidence of knowledgeable learning by education students at a regional Australian university. Factor analysis was used to reveal conceptual changes in the students’ thinking about classroom management across a unit of learning they had undertaken. These changes primarily involved movement from an authoritarian, rule-based management approach, toward a more differentiated, inclusive approach to management. The implications these changes have for unit delivery, as well as for validation of the engagement process, are discussed, and recommendations made concerning ongoing research and the design of online learning.

Tying It All Together: Implications For Classrooms, Schools, And Districts, Ryan Flessner, Kenneth Zeichner, Kalani Eggington

Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner, Kenneth Zeichner, and Kalani Eggington's contribution to "Creating Equitable Classrooms through Action Research"

Scientific & Technological Perspective: Future Of Energy Storage With Graphene Oxide (Go), Radhey Shyam Meena

Radhey Shyam Meena

Graphene is a 2D “flat-mat” consisting of a honeycomb-like structure of carbon atoms with sp2 bonding character for each carbon. It exhibits excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, and can be synthesized in a number of ways. Most syntheses involve first oxidizing graphite to Graphene Oxide (GO), Functional and synthesis diversity of Graphene Oxide (GO) has led to various fundamental and applied scientific explorations. GO can be viewed as an in-plane, hybrid 2D lattice consisting of sp2 and sp3 carbon regions. Engineering the type and distribution of sp3 regions can tune the physical properties of resultant GO. This paper reviews …

Book Review: Transforming Teacher Education: Reflections From The Field, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Book review of: Transforming teacher education: Reflections from the field D. Carroll, H. Featherstone, J. Featherstone, S. Feiman‐Nemser and D. Roosevelt (Eds), 2007 Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press 266 pp. ISBN 978‐1‐8917‐9233‐5

Five Strategies To Support All Teachers: Suggestions To Get Off The Slippery Slope Of "Cookbook" Science Teaching, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Many teachers shudder at the thought of implementing an inquiry curriculum. Perhaps they envision a rowdy classroom with little learning. Maybe they wonder, "How will this connect to all the standards?" Fortunately, these legitimate concerns can be addressed, and all students can engage in thoughtfully constructed inquiry science experiences. In this article, we outline five strategies that we have used with elementary school teachers as they moved from a "cookbook" approach in science to an approach that is inquiry-based. Having presented these five strategies in a linear format, we know that on the surface this may seem close to the …

Understanding Community Voices As A Force In Teacher Education, Ryan Flessner, Paula A. Magee

Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner and Paula Magee's contribution to "Flessner, R., Miller, G. R., Patrizio, K. M., & Horwitz, J. R. (Eds.). (2012). Agency through teacher education: Reflection, community, and learning. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education."

Working Toward A Third Space In The Teaching Of Elementary Mathematics, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Building on work in the area of third space theory, this study documents one teacher’s efforts to create third spaces in an elementary mathematics classroom. In an attempt to link the worlds of theory and practice, I examine how the work of other theorists and researchers – inside and outside the field of education – can create new lenses for classroom practitioners. In addition, the article provides evidence that third spaces may be more difficult to realize than others have described. Rather than forcing a third space to emerge, what this study finds more important is creating an environment that …

Book Review: Talking Diversity With Teachers And Teacher Educators, Ryan Flessner, Susan C. Adamson

Ryan Flessner

Book review of "Cruz, B., Ellerbrock, C. R., Vásquez, A., & Howes, E. V. (2014). Talking diversity with teachers and teacher educators: Exercises and critical conversations across the curriculum." by Ryan Flessner and Susan C. Adamson.

Collaborating To Improve Inquiry-Based Teaching In Elementary Science And Mathematics Methods Courses, Paula A. Magee, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

This study examines the effect of promoting inquiry-based teaching (IBT) through collaboration between a science methods course and mathematics methods course in an elementary teacher education program. During the collaboration, preservice elementary teacher (PST) candidates experienced 3 different types of inquiry as a way to foster increased understanding of inquiry based teaching (IBT). The experiences included a PST driven science inquiry and a mathematics inquiry where PSTs were learners and a science inquiry where PSTs were teachers. During and following the semester of the collaboration, data were collected to assess the impact of the inquiry experiences on the PSTs’ understanding …

Reggio Emilia Approach, Ena Shelley, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Article in Ainsworth, James, ed. Sociology of Education: An A-to-Z Guide. Thousand Oaks, US: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2013.

Revisiting Reflection: Utilizing Third Spaces In Teacher Education, Ryan Flessner

Ryan Flessner

Much has been written about the importance of reflective practice. What is missing is reflective work on the part of teacher educators to address the mismatch between university-based methods courses and the realities of classroom life. With examples from a third grade mathematics classroom as well as a university-based mathematics methods course, this article explores ways educators can employ third space theory as a way to engage in purposeful reflection into their teaching practices.

Guest Editors' Column: The Solo Librarian, Audrey Church, Frances Reeve

Frances M. Reeve

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the guest editor discusses the various stories of solo school librarians in the U.S.

Definitely Not Alone!, Audrey Church

Audrey P. Church

The article discusses the importance of technological innovations for solo school librarians in accomplishing their tasks in various schools in the U.S. It notes that the availability of web sites allows librarians to have an easy and constant access to professional information including several conferences and opportunities, continuing education, and grants. Electronic (e) mails and social media will also promote connections and communications among professionals.

Voices From The Ivory Tower, Gail Dickinson, Robin Boltz, Renee E. Franklin, Audrey Church, Carol A. Doll

Audrey P. Church

Perspectives on the move from being a school librarian to teaching and researching with those preparing to enter the field are provided. Personal perspectives of a doctoral student, an assistant professor, an associate professor, and a full professor are provided.

What Do Elementary School Librarians Know And Believe About Students With Color Vision Deficiencies?, Karla Collins

Karla Collins

Colour vision deficiencies affect approximately eight percent of the male population, yet the condition is often overlooked in the educational setting despite the pervasiveness of colour in the school. The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school librarians provide instruction and prepare the library environment to meet the needs of students with colour vision deficiencies. Findings indicate that elementary school librarians in Virginia did not feel knowledgeable about colour vision deficiencies but were interested in knowing more and expressed a desire to make changes. The case study participants'ʹ knowledge increased from pre-­‐‑test to post-­‐‑test. There were noticeable …

Profiles Of Teachers In Selected Curriculum Areas: Further Analyses Of The Staff In Australia’S Schools 2013 Survey, Paul R. Weldon, Julie Mcmillan, Glenn Rowley, Phillip Mckenzie

Dr Julie McMillan

This report was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education (formerly the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations). It was designed to analyse the characteristics and profiles of the teachers teaching in selected learning (or curriculum) areas in primary and secondary schools. The intent was to use the data collected through the Staff in Australia’s Schools 2013 (SiAS) project to provide a more detailed analysis of the teachers concerned than was provided in the main survey report (McKenzie et al., 2014 ) . The SiAS project was designed to provide a detailed picture of the Australian teacher workforce, …

Breathing Life Into Information Literacy Skills: Results Of A Faculty-Librarian Collaboration, Divonna M. Stebick, Janelle L. Wertzberger, Margaret E. Flora, Joseph W. Miller

Janelle Wertzberger

When an education professor and a reference librarian sought to improve the quality of undergraduate student research, their partnership led to a new focus on assessing the research process in addition to the product. In this study, we reflect on our collaborative experience introducing information literacy as the foundation for undergraduate teacher education research. We examine the outcomes of this collaboration, focusing on the assessment of the process. Using a mixed methods approach, we found that direct instruction supporting effective research strategies positively impacted student projects. Our data also suggest that undergraduate students benefit from not only sound research strategies, …

Session A-3: Personalized Learning With Ementoring, Carl Heine, Jacki Naughton

Carl Heine

Discover effective ways to bring together high school students and mentors for personalized distance learning and research in STEM with teacher supervision. This session explores how schools, higher education and businesses use the Mentor Matching Engine, a free resource developed by IMSA, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition and Northwestern University. Finding mentors for your students has never been easier.

Session B-5: Mentor Matching Engine, Jackie Naughton, Carl Heine

Carl Heine

Participants will tour the Mentor Matching Engine (MME), a robust platform available to Illinois high school students for conducting research with assistance from online mentors. IMSA, in partnership with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition and Northwestern University, administer MME as part of the state's R&D Learning Exchange. In addition, participants will discover powerful models of personalized learning and the outstanding results.

Enhancing Student Experience In Team-Based Project Courses Using Essence Reflection Meetings, Todd Sedano, Cécile Péraire

Cécile Péraire

Background: Many software engineering curriculum contain a team-based project course. This is the case of Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley’s masters of science in software engineering. In this context, we have been using Essence Reflection Meetings for five semesters with 17 teams and approximately 70 students. During these meetings, the teams reflect on various project’s dimensions based on a systems thinking framework. The positive results have been published in research papers.

Activity and Discussions: Participants will learn about Essence Reflection Meetings for team-based project courses by practicing in a classroom environment. They will discuss challenges and solutions for team-based project …

Step Away From The Podium: A Year Of “Untethered” Teaching, Ryan Ingersoll, Robbin Riedy

Ryan Ingersoll

Our experiment in the untethered classroom is not about the technology—it is not about using the latest, neatest gadgets. This is about facilitating deeper learning; learning that goes beyond rote memorization and surface recall. This year Ryan Ingersoll, the Head of Library Technology, and Robbin Riedy, the Assistant Director of Educational Technology and Media, are facilitating three faculty learning communities on “untethered” teaching. These Communities of Practice are primarily utilizing iPads, Apple TVs and an app called Splashtop in order to re-imagine the classroom in a more collaborative and relationship friendly fashion. Discussions that we have with our faculty include …