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Full-Text Articles in Education

Contents Jan 2015

Contents

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.


Title Page, In Memory Of Donna Sterling, Ph.D. Jan 2015

Title Page, In Memory Of Donna Sterling, Ph.D.

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.


Science Education In Virginia, E. Rhoades Jan 2015

Science Education In Virginia, E. Rhoades

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.


Journal Of Mathematics And Science: Collaborative Explorations Jan 2015

Journal Of Mathematics And Science: Collaborative Explorations

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.


Experiences With Problem-Based Learning: Virginia Initiative For Science Teaching And Achievement, C. Phillips, R. Zimmerman, A. Martin Jan 2015

Experiences With Problem-Based Learning: Virginia Initiative For Science Teaching And Achievement, C. Phillips, R. Zimmerman, A. Martin

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) provides high-quality professional development for teachers and administrators to enhance the quality of their science instructional programs. One emphasis of this program is helping teachers learn to implement Problem-Based Learning in the elementary science classroom. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has the potential to produce significant positive outcomes for students, such as increased student engagement, and opportunities for in-depth critical thinking [1]. Teachers find PBL challenging because it does take additional time for planning and material acquisition, but experience has shown that the benefits outweigh these challenges. Setting clear goals, identifying specific learning …


New Vistas In Science Education, K. Waite, B. Healy Jan 2015

New Vistas In Science Education, K. Waite, B. Healy

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

In the summer of 2012, a colleague and I attended the four-week Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) Elementary Summer Science Institute where we were trained to conduct inquiry-based science teaching in a problem-based learning setting. We then implemented our training in our own academic classrooms by developing a Problem-Based Learning unit meeting the objectives of our Virginia standards-based science curriculum and selecting a topic with tics to our local community. Toward demonstrating that students, teachers, and educational systems stand to benefit from the implementation of this methodology, this article clarifies the following aspects: 1) outlines the problem, …


Science Leadership: Impact Of The New Science Coordinators Academy, E. W. Edmondson, A. Mannarino, V. Reid, D. R. Sterling Jan 2015

Science Leadership: Impact Of The New Science Coordinators Academy, E. W. Edmondson, A. Mannarino, V. Reid, D. R. Sterling

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This article discusses the impact of the New Science Coordinators Academy (NSCA) on two cohorts of participants. The NSCA is one of four components of the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA), a United States Department of Education (USED) science education reform grant. The NSCA is designed to support new school district science coordinators (with less than five years of experience) and to continue building the state science education infrastructure. Research in education leadership traditionally focuses on teacher leaders, principals, and district office personnel. Interestingly, research on district office personnel rarely distinguishes between the different roles of district …


The Stability Of Boats: A Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Exercise, G. Rublein Jan 2015

The Stability Of Boats: A Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Exercise, G. Rublein

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

In what might be called genuine Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), an engineering construct subject to well-understood physical principles is analyzed mathematically to yield predicted behavior. In this article, we provide just such an example. The mathematics is at the high school level. Among other things, one actually sees an application of the quadratic formula. Experimental verification of the results may be realized with simple materials.


Views Of Coaching Practice Expressed By School-Based Coaches, D. A. Yopp, E. A. Burroughs, A. Barlow, J. T. Sutton Jan 2015

Views Of Coaching Practice Expressed By School-Based Coaches, D. A. Yopp, E. A. Burroughs, A. Barlow, J. T. Sutton

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This study reports on the views of coaching expressed by school-based coaches and coaching experts in response to observing the practice of a novice coach featured in a video. Researchers hypothesized that a coach participant's observations about another coach's practice would be a useful tool for examining participants' beliefs about coaching. Researchers compared responses from school-based coaches to the responses of coaching experts and views expressed in leading coaching literature in order to examine the variation in school-based coaches' views. Analysis of responses from both practicing coaches and coaching experts revealed eight themes that describe components of the videotaped coaching …


A Note On Knights, Knaves, And Truth Tables, H. Reinhart, J. Boyd Jan 2015

A Note On Knights, Knaves, And Truth Tables, H. Reinhart, J. Boyd

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Student and teacher (in the order above) have taken on a project of trying to understand something about Boolean algebra, logic circuits, and applications with the aid of Mathematica. We quickly recognized that the logical puzzles popularized by Raymond Smullyan that involve Knights (truth tellers) and Knaves (liars) are ideally suited for analysis by Boolean methods and truth tables. with a big boost from Mathematica. Not only is there a lot of mathematics to be learned, there is a great deal of fun to be had. The topic seems to us to be an ideal vehicle for exposing young high …


Aims & Scope Jan 2015

Aims & Scope

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.


Presenting Precious Knowledge: Using Film To Model Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy And Youth Civic Activism For Social Studies Teachers, Hillary Parkhouse Jan 2015

Presenting Precious Knowledge: Using Film To Model Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy And Youth Civic Activism For Social Studies Teachers, Hillary Parkhouse

Teaching and Learning Publications

In this paper, I examine the potential for developing preservice social studies teachers’ understanding of transformational resistance, Latin@ civil rights movements, and culturally sustaining pedagogy through a project using the film Precious Knowledge. This documentary depicts high school students in a Mexican American Studies (MAS) program using civil disobedience to protest Arizona’s ban of the program. The teachers prepared for the screening by reading and responding to scholarly articles on Latin@ school engagement and Chican@ student activism. After viewing the film and engaging in small group and whole class discussions, participants reported that they learned about current and past Chican@ …


Understanding Cognition Across Modalities For The Assessment Of Digital Resources, Valeriana Colon Jan 2015

Understanding Cognition Across Modalities For The Assessment Of Digital Resources, Valeriana Colon

Teaching and Learning Publications

Drawing from the theories of the cognitive process, this paper explores the transmission, retention and transformation of information across oral, written, and digital modes of communication and how these concepts can be used to examine the assessment of digital resource tools. The exploration of interactions across modes of communication is used to gain an understanding of the interaction between the student, digital resource and teacher. Cognitive theory is considered as a basis for the assessment of digital resource tools. Lastly, principles for the assessment of digital resource tools are presented along with how assessment can be incorporated in the educational …


Women Of Faith In Science: The Double Glass Ceiling, K. Y. Michael Jan 2015

Women Of Faith In Science: The Double Glass Ceiling, K. Y. Michael

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The majority of female pre-service elementary school teachers pursuing licensure is choosing English as their cognate rather than mathematics or science. The reason females are not choosing science as their cognate may be due to the fact that science has long been considered a masculine pursuit. To complicate the issue, pre-service female teachers of deep religious faith are further challenged to navigate the dichotomy of science and religion. As a result, women, and especially women of deep religious faith, are at risk of not participating in science studies. The author suggests that there is room in the science classroom for …


Stemteach: Preparing The Next Generation Of Mathematics And Science Teachers, G. Bunn, D. Dailey, A. Cotabish Jan 2015

Stemteach: Preparing The Next Generation Of Mathematics And Science Teachers, G. Bunn, D. Dailey, A. Cotabish

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

With an increasing demand for individuals prepared in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), one university responded to this call by changing its teacher preparation program. Better-prepared mathematics and science teachers have the opportunity to engage and excite students, thereby preparing and promoting more of them to enter the STEM professions. The described program is a replication of the national UTeach model that recruits content majors in mathematics and science to explore the teaching profession during a first-semester course that includes an early field experience in the elementary grades. This field experience is designed to be engaging for both the …


Analyzing The Gender Gap On An Entrance Exam For Mathematically Talented Students, J. Butterfield, H. Keynes, J. Rogness, J. Sukiennik Jan 2015

Analyzing The Gender Gap On An Entrance Exam For Mathematically Talented Students, J. Butterfield, H. Keynes, J. Rogness, J. Sukiennik

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

We investigate the qualifying entrance exam for the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP), a five-year accelerated program covering high school- and undergraduate-level mathematics. The exam is used to assess the computational, numerical reasoning, and geometric skills of hundreds of fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade students annually. It has accurately identified qualified students in past years, but female participants consistently have had lower overall scores. Based on our belief that they are equally well qualified, in 2011 we began an extensive investigation into the structure and content of the exam to determine the possible sources for these differences. After …


From Local To Global: Making The Leap In Teacher Education, Hillary Parkhouse, Jocelyn Glazier, Ariel Tichnor-Wagner, Jessie Montana Cain Jan 2015

From Local To Global: Making The Leap In Teacher Education, Hillary Parkhouse, Jocelyn Glazier, Ariel Tichnor-Wagner, Jessie Montana Cain

Teaching and Learning Publications

As the world becomes increasingly globalized, teachers must prepare a diverse group of students with new skills and mindsets necessary to engage in this global environment. This requires changes in teacher education, including expansion of instructional lenses from the local to the global. This case study examined how one teacher educator attempted to incorporate global competency into her course on culturally responsive teaching. Using surveys, document analysis, observations, and interviews with both the instructor and her students, the researchers found that some global competencies were developed. Ultimately, however, many areas of global competence were not addressed, due to the course’s …


The National Board Certification Process As Professional Development: Perceptions About The Impact That Characteristics Of The Process Had On Professional Growth, Heather J. Bumgarner Jan 2015

The National Board Certification Process As Professional Development: Perceptions About The Impact That Characteristics Of The Process Had On Professional Growth, Heather J. Bumgarner

Theses and Dissertations

Professional development is used by teachers to improve their teaching to enhance student learning, and research indicates that the National Board Certification (NBC) process contains high-quality professional development characteristics. Engagement in the NBC process can lead to professional growth by changing teachers’ knowledge, instructional practices, and students’ learning. This quantitative study investigated the extent to which characteristics of the NBC process influenced National Board Certified Teachers’ (NBCTs) professional growth. Using an online survey, the study collected responses from 119 NBCTs who participated in a specific NBC support program. Key findings included that all 20 high-quality professional development characteristics investigated had …


Impact Of A Science Methods Course On Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Knowledge And Confidence Of Teaching With Scientific Inquiry And Problem-Based Learning, L. Y. Whiteman, T. M. Walker, T. L. Spencer Jan 2015

Impact Of A Science Methods Course On Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Knowledge And Confidence Of Teaching With Scientific Inquiry And Problem-Based Learning, L. Y. Whiteman, T. M. Walker, T. L. Spencer

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of an elementary science methods course on pre-service teachers' knowledge and confidence of teaching with inquiry and problem-based instructional strategies. Changes in pre-service teachers' knowledge and confidence were measured before and after completing the course activities using a pilot survey entitled "Science Pedagogical Content Knowledge & Confidence (PCKC) Survey." An integrated lecture/laboratory elementary science methods course engaged participants with hands-on activities designed to increase their pedagogical content knowledge: including theory, planning and implementation of inquiry, and problem-based learning. The results indicated that pre-service teachers' knowledge and confidence improved as a …


Pedagogy For Librarians, Megan Hodge Jan 2015

Pedagogy For Librarians, Megan Hodge

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Most librarians are required to take classes on reference, collection development, and information organization in library school; courses on pedagogy, on the other hand, are usually optional, if they’re offered at all. This leads most librarians who end up with instruction duties to learn on the job. Activities and assessments can be learned on the fly fairly easily, but these often have little to no bearing on how much students actually absorb and recall weeks later because alone, they are usually insufficient to ensure deep learning. This chapter seeks to add the basics of pedagogy, a subject comprehensively covered in …


Exploring Stakeholders' Perceptions Of The Evaluation Of Early Fieldwork Experience In An Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program, Amber R. Peacock Jan 2015

Exploring Stakeholders' Perceptions Of The Evaluation Of Early Fieldwork Experience In An Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Program, Amber R. Peacock

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a qualitative meta-evaluation of the early field experience (EFE) program at a small, private, undergraduate teacher preparation program in Virginia focusing on the perceptions of preservice teachers, cooperating teachers and course instructors about the EFE evaluation objectives, evaluation experience, and resulting data usage. The EFE evaluation protocol at the study site is explored using a participatory-oriented evaluation model that solicited the perceptions of stakeholders. Analysis of EFE evaluation documents and semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders were conducted to explore the extent to which (1) official EFE objectives are congruent with the EFE evaluation, (2) the intended evaluation …


First-Year Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Integrate 21st Century Skills Into The Technology-Rich Classroom, Tracie Omohundro Jan 2015

First-Year Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Integrate 21st Century Skills Into The Technology-Rich Classroom, Tracie Omohundro

Theses and Dissertations

School districts continue to integrate emerging technologies and expectations for 21st century teaching and learning. This movement began with release of Goals 2000 (1994) and has continued through National Education Technology Plan (2010) that noted the “challenge for our education system is to leverage technology to create relevant learning experiences that mirror students’ daily lives and the reality of their futures.” In order to meet that challenge, schools must enlist teachers who are prepared to teach 21st century skills in the technology-rich classroom. Teacher education programs also need to align their preparation models to prepare teachers for that …